Fort Hill Trail

I can honestly say that I have never seen nature trails as populated as recently. The view driving past Ellisville State Park in Plymouth last Saturday was reminiscent of a beach parking lot in the summer, packed. At least once you’re out of the parking lot, the ability to social distance is plentiful. With closures at nature conservancies such as The Trustees and Mass Audubon, the chances for walks are getting slimmer. On one gorgeous day, my family and I visited a favorite, Fort Hill in Eastham, Massachusetts.

Fort Hill Eastham Trail — A view of Nauset Bay from the Fort Hill Trail in Eastham, MA

Fort Hill is a perfect location for a nature walk. I have been here a handful of times. My most recent trip in autumn of 2018 is recorded here as part of a post about hidden gems on the Outer Cape. For kids, it has different terrain that is ripe for exploration including swampland traversed by a boardwalk, sweeping coastal vistas, and even smaller marshland trails.

Fort Hill Eastham — About to start our walk on the Fort Hill Trail in Eastham.

Red Maple Swamp Trail

Our friend Katie and her kids met us there. She prepared a nature walk scavenger hunt which was perfect for the four-year-olds. The two boys decided to travel through the swampland first. They literally ran full tilt across the boardwalk along the Red Maple Swamp Trail. This loop of about a mile winds through thick swampland.

Ending the loop at Skiff Hill, there is a large boulder that was used by Native Peoples to sharpen tools. Here the Nauset bay comes into view. Bide awhile before continuing on to what else Fort Hill has in store.

Atop the boulder at Skiff Hill (notice the marks below Danny,’s on the left, feet)

Fort Hill Eastham Reeds — Reeds on the Fort Hill Trail

The Fort Hill Trail portion of the walk traced the coastal edge of the property. There are small offshoots heading into marshland closer to the bay, but it wasn’t in the cards for our company. At Fort Hill, there are two choices of parking lots, one across from the Penniman House and one closer to the water. Tours are given here at Penniman’s home. It is an ornate home built for whaler Edward Penniman in the Second Empire style.

The coastal trail loops to the second parking lot where the choice is to either walk on the road back or retrace your steps. After the earlier run exhausted the kids, they focused back on the scavenger hunt during the coastal portion. Here they found a big tree, a little tree, and even an unusual rock. The loop is about a mile and a half.

Checking off items on the scavenger hunt

The Fort Hill Trail was a perfect diversion during an unsure time. The views are unmatched and it is a relatively unknown stretch of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Certainly, a visit here is worth your while any time of the year. For now, the trails are open but the Penniman House and any programs are currently closed. The park is located on Fort Hill Road in Eastham, MA.

Red Maple Swamp Trail

Fort Hill Trail

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