Overview
The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a paved recreational path that runs 25.5 miles from South Yarmouth to Wellfleet, MA. The terrain is relatively flat with some minor grades on certain sections in the Lower/Outer Cape areas, specifically the towns of Orleans and Wellfleet. It unquestionably offers the greatest variety in scenery and natural topography of all the area’s regional bike paths.
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Area Details
The Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT) currently stretches from South Yarmouth all the way to Lecount Hollow Rd. in South Wellfleet. The name stems from an old railroad right of way it follows from the original trailhead in South Dennis, which trains running on transported passengers and freight to Cape Cod in the early 1800s until around 1960.
The CCRT is maintained by the MA Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). Recently, MA DCR outlined plans for Phase III construction to extend it from Homer Park in Yarmouth to Mary Dunn Rd. in Barnstable. This project includes building a dedicated bridge over Willow St. as part of that new route.
The CCRT is a safe and enjoyable way to spend a pleasant Cape Cod day. Running through Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet, the asphalt paved path is ideal for cyclists, walkers, inline skaters and runners. It also passes by many scenic local points of interest, numerous kettle ponds and recreational areas like Nickerson State Park in Brewster.
Several CCRT improvements have been completed since 2002, including construction of the Harwich path bridge over Route 6. and a second bridge in Orleans. In 2004, the path was connected with Chatham by a newly built spur called the Old Colony Trail which runs 4.25 miles from the Harwich bike rotary to Depot Rd.
During 2005-2007, a 12-mile section of the CCRT between Brewster and Wellfleet (plus adjacent parking lots) underwent repaving. New landscaping and improvements were also installed at key intersections. This renovation and rejuvenation project was completed at a cost of $6.3 million.
During 2015-2016, the CCRT was extended west from its original South Dennis trailhead to Homer Park in Yarmouth as Phase I of a longer term plan to connect Mid and Upper Cape towns with the trail. This project added two bridges spanning Route 134 in South Dennis and Station Ave. in South Yarmouth respectively plus 3.7 miles of new paved path. An overflow parking lot for South Dennis was also built on Old Bass River Rd. Additionally, the Station Ave. bridge received a dedicated parking area with facilities adjacent to Yarmouth Commons shopping plaza.
Phase II comprised building a Bass River path bridge connecting the new previously completed trail sections between South Dennis and Yarmouth. It was finished in Summer 2018 after a year of construction focusing on dredging the riverbed, erecting the bridge, installing rip rap revetment, and wetland restoration. As mentioned above, Phase III will connect Homer Park at Townhouse Rd. in Yarmouth to Mary Dunn Rd. in Barnstable. The project includes adding a dedicated bridge over Willow St. plus crossings at Forest Rd.and West Yarmouth Rd.
As part of this new construction, the Yarmouth trail section beyond Homer Park will also intersect with Higgins Crowell Rd. and feature an 80-space trailhead parking lot north of its roundabout in West Yarmouth.