by Jeff Shaw
Yours truly is at a bit of a crossroads [intersection pun intended] with the subject of this post. I only own mountain bikes, and of the old, heavy, clunky variety. When biking on Cape Cod, I tend to stick to the paved Cape Cod Rail Trail and spur trails, mostly to avoid traffic and take advantage of a direct way to travel through multiple towns. But also because the surface is silky smooth for these middle aged body.
While I have messed around on plenty of multi-use trails that dot Cape Cod, I wouldn’t say any of them are necessarily mountain bike [designated multi-use] trails. The nuance may not matter, but when talking to mountain bikers, most usually have a level of expectation if a trail is recommended. Is it single track, hilly, congested, etc.?
Despite plenty of mountain biking trails options at my fingertips, I tend to stick to nearby haunts like the single tracks of Town Well Field Conservation Area in Brewster, wider paths of the woods between Red River and Mill Pond in Harwich and of course, the flagship Nickerson State Park in Brewster, with plenty of trail options scattered among 1,900 acres.
I’ve also heard good things about the many fire roads of the Outer Cape, though have only popped into a few areas during hikes or runs. Point being, there is tons to explore.
But for those who prefer a GPS address and designated zones, visit New England Mountain Bike Associaiton’s (NEMBA) Cape Cod Chapter for all you need to know about mountain biking on Cape Cod.
Below are NEMBA’s recommended trails with a brief description of the trail (you’ll have to go there to learn about the scenery!):
Barnstable
Old Jail Lane/Hathaway’s
“Primarily double-track over rolling hills. There are a few fast downhills and a few challenging climbs. They seem remote as you wind your way through deep woods.”
West Barnstable Conservation Area
“One of Cape Cod’s prime riding areas. About 21 miles of singletrack that wind throughout the trail. The majority of singletrack is short and steep with some very twisted sections. Though the trails are not very technical, they’re full of short steep climbs, which make for a great aerobic roller coaster ride.”
Willow Street
“One of the best riding locations on the Cape and also one of the least known comprises two separate riding areas. On the first, explore over 20 miles of enjoyable sometimes hilly singletracks located in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area (Camp Greenbough). For your second adventure, you’ll be in Yarmouth (Higgins Crowell) where you can discover over fifteen miles of trails.
Bourne
Four Ponds
“One of the most enjoyable trails is Four Pond’s Pine Trail, a smooth never straight singletrack snaking through the woods. A relaxed ride where you’ll get a chance to explore some wonderful trails immersed in nature.”
Brewster
Nickerson State Park
“The singletracks are the trail’s big draw. It’s the almost total lack of stones and rocks. The trails here define the word “buffed.”
Falmouth
Beebe Woods
“The trails are fun, mostly non-technical and circle around quite a bit. It will take you at least a couple of hours to explore them all. Just a short ride from downtown as well as being only a few hundred yards from the Shining Sea Bikeway.”
Crane/Otis
“The riding at “Otis” mostly consists of fast singletrack that runs up, down and around a long series of drumlins that head north paralleling route 28 heading north. There are some very technical trails and some very long hills. Expect to spend a lot of time exploring.”
Mashpee
Mashpee River Woodlands
Most of the trails are singletracks. The most scenic wind through the woods on ground that’s high above the Mashpee River. The views are spectacular. The trails twist through the trees climbing and descending short hills. These scenic trails look entirely different in the opposite direction.”
Sandwich
Maple Swamp
“Reaching from 40 feet above sea level to 250 feet above sea level, Maple Swamp has spectacular views.”
Yarmouth
The Badlands
“The riding at the Badlands ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. Many of the singletracks are smooth and flowy, completely lacking in rocks or roots as they glide up, down and around some very gentile hills. On the other extreme is the Badland Trail itself is a deviously constructed singletrack that winds itself over and around every defilement, rock, crevice and drop that could be found at a long-abandoned sandpit. You’ll know when you’re on it because it will be unlike anything else you’ve ever ridden.”
Camp Greenough
“The trails in the Scout camp are really fun, fast-flowing singletracks, moderately hilly with a few technical climbs and descents. To the north of the railroad tracks there’s a route to Grays Beach. This is a fun ride, which goes right through the parking lot for the Yarmouthport Village Store, where you can stop for refreshments.”
Higgins Crowell
“Lots of flat singletracks flowing through the woods interspersed with an occasional jeep road. Some of the trails circumnavigate cranberry bogs while others delve so deeply into the woods that all traffic noise disappears and all you’ll hear are birdcalls or the occasional passing airplane. There are few sandy areas, few technical obstacles and almost no hills. This makes Higgins Crowell the perfect place for a relaxing ride, a ride with newer riders or a ride with kids on small wheel bikes.”
What trails would you recommend mountain bikers check out on their next ride?
April 26, 2025