Winter is our favorite time to enjoy the natural beauty of Cape Cod marshes and woodlands. The combination of stark frozen landscapes and an off-season peacefulness make these walking paths particularly wonderful. It’s also a great time to enjoy the woods and marshes without worrying too much about ticks (although even on the coldest days it can’t hurt to check for ticks after being outside). Also good to remember that these paths can be very icy, especially when steep, so soles with a good grip need to be worn. We recommend Beth Schwarzman’s book “The Nature of Cape Cod”; it has more information on these paths and many more across Cape Cod.
Nickerson State Park, Route 6A, Brewster
With 1,779 acres of land, Nickerson State park is considered a birder’s heaven. You really get a sense of the unique Cape terrain; it tells a vivid natural history of time with its 2 kettle ponds created by glaciers and sandy soil supporting only the hardiest pitch pines. Listen for a unique crystalline sound as the ice on the water hits the shore; it adds to the magical stillness of the place.
Botanical Trails, Route 6A Yarmouthport, behind the Yarmouthport Post Office
This is a very short walk of just 1 mile that features a romantic 150-year-old weeping beech tree. It is a great walk for children or anyone who has trouble getting around as there aren’t too many hills or obstacles.
Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, Route 6A, Yarmouthport (Audubon Society)
One of my favorites because of the different types of terrain and large variety of native trees – many marked with handy signage. This walk is very short at just 101 acres but has features like small ponds, marsh, meadow and a beach walk with an incredible view of Sandy Neck.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster “John Wing†and “South†Trails
Because these trails (each about a mile) go through marshland, you may not be able to complete the walk unless you have waterproof wading boots on, so best to check the tides before you go. Muddy feet are worth it with these paths, as they lead to one of the most beautiful and quiet beaches on Cape Cod. At low tide it is a good hour and twenty minute walk to reach the water, at high tide the walk from parking lot to the sea is just 20-25 minutes. The ocean views are incredible from every angle and distance on the path.
Bridge Creek Conservation Area, behind Fire Station, Route 149, West Barnstable
With a great variety of terrain this path will take you through areas that were once farmland. You will see several 200 year old rock walls that separated these farms; one guide book describes it as the closest thing you will come to seeing how the land looked to early settlers. I prefer this path in winter, as it has a great deal of deer and with them come ticks. Also a visit in the summer found the path quite overgrown, but a recent winter visit showed it to be clear of brush. Regardless of the season you will see clubmosses everywhere – take your imagination back to millions of years ago when this was the dominant plant organism across the globe. There are a lot of small hills and marshy spots which makes it interesting, but something to think about if you have difficulty walking on uneven terrain.
Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary Barnstable, Parking on Bumps River Road (Audobon Society)
A short path with just 178 acres, this had a variety of scenery most notably some very pretty white pines. In the 19th century Skunknett Brook was dammed for a mill, but the marsh has since recovered. At low tide you can see the remains of Atlantic White Cedar stumps, a testament to the hardiness of this type of wood.
Indian Lands Conservation Area, behind the Town Hall Main Street in Dennis
This is a 2-mile walk that will take you along the banks of Bass River. It is a very pretty path with some great opportunities to see wintering birds, I saw my first Common Merganser here this past January. You can hear the woosh of the traffic on Rt 28 at times, but it’s not too noticeable. This land – like so many of the conservation areas – is “recovered” marshland, for many years it was used as cranberry bogs. For history buffs – there are reports of Native Americans artifacts being found here.
Hathaway Pond Recreation Area, Barnstable, Parking on Old Phinney’s Lane
Of all the walks, this one felt the least private or pristine. It is a very well known for being a popular spot in the summer for picnics and swimming; in winter we saw a lot of people walking their dogs or hanging out in the parking lot. It does however have lovely pond views and is worth a visit.
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