Hidden Cape Cod National Seashore
Happy New Year! I’m here to show you that even in January, the Cape is the perfect getaway! Cape Cod National Seashore is synonymous with summer, and rightly so. Waves crashing on pristine beaches with a backdrop of sheer dunes is a typical scene. Beaches that afford amazing summer experiences are (depending on the beach) less crowded than smaller beaches found in the Upper Cape. Given that the calendar is on the first of January, a sunny 80 something degree summer beach adventure is not what this post is about. Instead, we are investigating the hidden Cape Cod National Seashore.
The National Seashore lines the perimeter of most of the outer to lower cape, rounding Provincetown and heading back south. If Cape Cod represents a flexed arm, the National Seashore would outline the elbow up to the fist and back down. Sites such as Race Point Beach, Marconi Beach, Highland Lighthouse, and Coast Guard Beach are extremely beautiful (and popular) vacation destinations in the summer. The Provincelands encompasses such a tangle of biking paths that wind through a dense forest of pitch pine that it’s easy to get lost for hours. The recreation is unmatched as there is always more to explore at the National Seashore.
Speaking of that, three gems of the Cape Cod National Seashore are perfect any time of the year. Yes, of course, the beaches are always beautiful, but these spots are just a bit off the beaten path.
Atlantic White Cedar Trail
The Atlantic White Cedar Trail in Wellfleet hides in plain sight. The entrance to it is at the parking lot for Marconi Beach. Marconi is a breathtaking beach, typical of the national seashore. It has sloping dunes that level out to a white sandy beach with the expanse of the Atlantic on the horizon. Nearby is the site of the first transatlantic message which was sent between the United States and England in 1903. A pavilion marks the location and provides information. From here, an overlook provides views of the gorgeous beach and ocean.
Across the parking lot, the Atlantic White Cedar Trail’s sandy path meanders to and fro through a pine forest. Eventually, the path dips into the swamp full of the namesake Atlantic White Cedar trees. Given the offseason visit, my three-year-old son thoroughly enjoyed running unencumbered down the path. On our walk, a blue jay provided company for the majority of the walk. We noticed it near at the onset of our walk and it followed us through every twist and turn and even continued on our way back.
Walk info:
The walk is 1.2 miles in length; the National Park Service recommends an hour to visit. During my visit, with an active toddler, our walk’s pace changed from that of a snail to that of a cheetah, but overall it was more like 45 minutes. It is a great walk for kids as it is not too strenuous and the boardwalk through the swamp presents a great deal of novelty. It is located at 195 Marconi Station Road.
Three Sisters Lighthouses
The Nauset Lighthouse in Eastham is one of the emblems of Cape Cod. It stands erect, keeping a watchful eye over the ocean, proudly adorned in red and white paint, capped in black. It looks as if it has always been here. The Nauset Light was actually part of a pair along with the Chatham Light but was moved north to Eastham in 1923.
The lights that the Nauset Light replaced were called the Three Sisters. Driving on Cable Road from Route 6 towards Nauset Light Beach, you may notice three landlocked lighthouses on the northern side of the road. These are the Three Sisters, now only guiding visitors to their park. The three lighthouses were built in 1892 to replace three others that overlooked Nauset Beach. Once Nauset replaced the Three Sisters, their future became uncertain. After various twists and turns in their respective histories, the three lighthouses were rehabilitated and finally opened to the public in 1989 at their park in Eastham.
Park Info:
Park on the north side of Cable Road near the entrance to the property. The sisters sit proudly awaiting visitors. Two of the three lighthouses are missing their beacons. The park is small but provides a neat jaunt around to view them up close. Seasonally (and when the government is not shut down), rangers hold tours. To the unaware, the jarring sight of three lighthouses providing watch over a forest seems absurd. That is why the Three Sisters make my list of hidden gems of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Fort Hill
My final hidden gem has proper signage and is right off of Route 6. To the unknowing observer, this looks like a field overlooking salt marshes and inlets. There is no question that Fort Hill is beautiful. The Edward Penniman House, in the striking French Second Empire style, is on the property and the area has a unique history that signposts detail in depth. Arriving on Fort Hill Road an arch made of whalebone greets the visitor on the far side of the Penniman property.
Although I have been visiting Fort Hill for years, the Red Maple Swamp Trail was news to me. Of course, my adventurous toddler discovered it. During my last visit, I parked in the lot closer to the Penniman House. Instead of walking to the farther lot, I let my son dictate which way we would walk. Our walk seemed to end abruptly at the pavilion closest to the water. I figured that our walk would continue towards the right farther into the land.
He decided to hang a left instead and we ventured down into the Red Maple Swamp Trail. This trail was a fun unknown diversion. Heading past the pavilion, the trail begins with a boardwalk through the swamp. The boardwalk seemingly meanders forever, which my son found exhilarating! Seeing water on both sides of the boardwalk is neat, and it’s wide enough to accommodate many visitors.
After the boardwalk ends, the trail climbs uphill (not too steep) and hooks back up to the trail close to the parking lot. Fort Hill has always been a rewarding walk. The scenery is stunning, the walks rambling, as the smell of salt water permeates through the air. With Danny’s newfound path, it makes the experience here even more rewarding.
Park Info:
Fort Hill Road is on the eastern side of Route 6 not far past the Orleans rotary. A brown Cape Cod National Seashore sign points the way.
Hidden Gems of the National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore is striking. Its riches are numerous, from the beauty of the beaches to the vast number of bike trails, but it still has many places that are seemingly undiscovered, or should I say, less discovered. With Cape Cod only a short drive from where I live, it becomes the perfect backyard road trip.
The proliferation of mini-golf courses and honky-tonk atmosphere of Route 28 is fun and of course, Route 6A is one of the prettiest roads in America (in my opinion). Although a little farther away, the National Seashore’s natural beauty is unrivaled. These hidden gems are visitable at any time of the year. My traveling happened in November and December and it was just as fun as in June.
Both Wellfleet and Eastham have other really cool places to check out while you’re visiting these. Downtown Wellfleet is very quaint with many worthwhile shops. Wellfleet has many other nature preserves too such as the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. One famous emblem of Cape Cod is the windmill. The Eastham Windmill is the oldest on the Cape and is located in a park on Route 6 (appropriately named, Windmill Park).
Click here for more information on the national seashore.
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