Warrior Trail Runs Cape Cod

A classic Cape trail explores the pristine peninsula of Sandy Neck Beach, which juts eastward from the Sandwich/Barnstable town line and forms the sheltering northern border of the Great Marshes and Barnstable Harbor. It is a vast wildlife habitat for ducks, geese, herons, egrets, deer, and foxes. The 11 mile marsh trail is a combination of sandy dunes, dirt road patched in places, and rocky beach. Level of difficulty: difficult. Trail surface: dirt, sand, rocks. Estimated finish time: 3-4 hours.

A classic Cape trail explores the pristine peninsula of Sandy Neck Beach, which juts eastward from the Sandwich/Barnstable town line and forms the sheltering northern border of the Great Marshes and Barnstable Harbor. It is a vast wildlife habitat for ducks, geese, herons, egrets, deer, and foxes. The 11 mile marsh trail is a combination of sandy dunes, dirt road patched in places, and rocky beach. Level of difficulty: difficult. Trail surface: dirt, sand, rocks. Estimated finish time: 3-4 hours.

This 7 mile trek explores the dunes, salt marshes, and upland forests on Griffin Island, Great Island, and Great Beach Hill- all part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The area contains one of the longest continuous expanses of undeveloped beach on Cape Cod, and it abounds in wildlife. Level of difficulty: difficult. Trail surface: dirt, sand. Estimated finish time: 2-3 hours.

This 7 mile trek explores the dunes, salt marshes, and upland forests on Griffin Island, Great Island, and Great Beach Hill- all part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The area contains one of the longest continuous expanses of undeveloped beach on Cape Cod, and it abounds in wildlife. Level of difficulty: difficult. Trail surface: dirt, sand. Estimated finish time: 2-3 hours.

This 6.5 mile jog/fast walk in Cape Cod National Seashore takes you from the Province Lands Visitor Center to Race Point Lighthouse, on the westernmost tip of Provincetown. The route uses the paved Province Lands Bicycle Trail, the sandy Atlantic shoreline, and a dirt road atop a dike across Hatches Harbor- a beautiful salt marsh. Level of difficulty: difficult. Trail surface: dirt, pavement, sand. Estimated finish time: 2-3 hours.

This 6.5 mile jog/fast walk in Cape Cod National Seashore takes you from the Province Lands Visitor Center to Race Point Lighthouse, on the westernmost tip of Provincetown. The route uses the paved Province Lands Bicycle Trail, the sandy Atlantic shoreline, and a dirt road atop a dike across Hatches Harbor- a beautiful salt marsh. Level of difficulty: difficult. Estimated finish time: 2-3 hours.

Nickerson State Park is one of Cape Cod’s wooded gems, providing year-round public access to almost 2,000 acres of open space. A wide variety of trees and shrubs adds to the scenery and is a birder’s paradise. The nicely shaded 4-6 mile scenic loop combines a dirt path around a pond and a section of paved bike trail. Level of difficulty: moderate. Trail surface: dirt, sand, pavement. Estimated finish time: 1.5-2.5 hours.