Trail Highlight: Cape Cod Pathways
Are you looking for a long weekend hike in Barnstable? What about a short jaunt through the woods before or after work? We recommend Cape Cod Pathways.
Last weekend we explored the section of the trail that starts at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable and loops through the Old Jail Lane Conservation Area. These trails have several loops, including a 1.15 mile loop and a 3.69 mile loop, among others. We trekked along the 1.15 mile loop, then went back for another round with the 3.69 mile route!
These trails are not stroller friendly, and we would classify them as moderate difficulty based on the hills and length of the longer sections. That being said, we still think it would be a great loop to try with kids for a hiking adventure through varying scenery!
The 1.15 mile route follows the green trail, connecting with the red trail to loop back to the start. This trail had a few hills in the beginning and near the end, and winds through a few different scenic areas. The first 1/3 goes past highway exit 68 then turns back to go through a small tree-lined valley that leads to to the red and green trail conjunction. Even in the winter, the evergreens create a beautiful forest scene across the ridge of Cape Cod. We passed beech trees with their noisy leaves still clinging to the branches, and when you gaze upwards the trees gently curved over the trail under the bright blue sky. We really lucked out with the beautiful weather (and all the trees blocked the heavy breeze, which meant we were sweating a few minutes into the hike!).
The 3.69 route starts at the same place as the shorter route, but continues on the red trail, joining up with the blue trail that is a part of the Old Jail Lane Conservation Area. This trail has additional hills, including an especially deep one along the middle part of the red trail. This valley adds an interesting layer to the scenery: you get to see the trail and the surrounding area from a number of levels, both on high and down through the low trail dips!
The trails also get wider throughout the Old Jail Lane Conservation Area, giving ample walking space for a family outing or socially-distant meetup with friends. There area a few spots along the trail where, especially in the winter, you can pause to see Sandy Neck and Cape Cod Bay through the trees. After exploring the Old Jail Lane Conservation Area, we looped back along the red trail all the way back to the parking area at Cape Cod Community College.
Click below to explore the trails we took. Make sure you tag us in your hiking photos so we can see your adventures, too!
Cape Cod Pathways are a regional trail system that wind through Cape Cod. Barnstable has one of the most complete sections, with trails stretching from Sandwich to Yarmouth nearly uninterrupted! While the goal is to connect from town to town across the Cape, there are numerous loops and side trails, leaving us with about 21 miles of trail to explore in Barnstable alone.
Spotted along the red loop on the way back.
What to know before you hike:
This section of the trail is not stroller friendly, and can be quite challenging if you are mobility impaired. There are a few steep sections and several hills and dips to navigate through.
Dogs must be leashed at all times on these trails.
No motorized vehicles are allowed, including e-bikes of any kind.
Visit the link below to watch a video on general trail safety and preparedness.