See the Astounding Cape Cod Foliage

Leaf Peeping 

Leaf peeping is a great outdoor activity in the fall on Cape Cod.

Many of the Cape Cod hiking trails can get quite crowded in the fall as they become lined with brilliant color that, quite frankly, you really have to see to believe.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go far to experience the popular hiking trails on Cape Cod in autumn. Just head to The Cape Cod National Seashore!

Head to Provincetown for Brilliant Cape Cod Foliage

With some 27,700 acres of federally-protected undeveloped uplands, bogs, pitch pine forests, sand dunes, and ponds in six towns (Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown), the Seashore takes up almost half of the town of Wellfleet and about 70 percent of Truro.

In addition to six glorious ocean beaches, the Cape Cod National Seashore boasts nine hiking trails that meander through varied terrain. You can get free hike and bike maps at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham which is open all year round.

Meandering Down Even More Trails…

Right behind the Salt Pond Visitor Center are several fantastic trails, including the quarter-mile Buttonbush Trail, which has a guide rope and Braille map interpretations along the way—good not only for the sight impaired, but for people who want to experience what life is like without the sense that most of us take for granted. Close your eyes and try it.

Another nearby trail takes a wooded route out to the 1.2 miles Salt Pond trail which passes by the Salt Pond, along Nauset Marsh and circles back to the Visitor Center; you can also walk or bike on the 2 mile bike trail that leads out to Coast Guard Beach, past Doane Rock—a good place to stop and picnic – even in the fall!

One of favorite walking spots among locals is the National Seashore’s Fort Hill in Eastham, where one and a half miles of trails meander through fields with stunning water and marsh views, through woods and a cedar swamp. You’re likely to spot rabbits, birds, and other wildlife, but watch out for monster poison ivy plants on the edge of the trail!

A Challenging Walking Spot

The Seashore’s longest and most difficult trail is called Great Island in Wellfleet. Accessible by driving out past the harbor to the parking area, the trail is a hilly 8 miles (round trip) through soft sand, pitch pines, and marshes that offers breathtaking views of Wellfleet Bay.

Visit Cape Cod In The Fall!

Don’t fall victim to the autumn tourist traps in other parts of New England. You can experience true beauty and brilliant Cape Cod foliage without breaking the bank. This coastal region of Massachusetts has so much to offer leaf peepers, avid hikers – even families with young children!

Check out some of the incredible Cape Cod hotel packages going on right now at Bayside Resort Hotel – voted #1 mid-Cape hotel resort! Their deals are listed HERE.