Lauren Collins
This spring season has certainly tested our patience here in New England. There's been plenty of rain, wind and cold, and not so many warm sunny days.
On those rare days this spring when the sun has been out and the air feels warm, I feel you really owe it to yourself to get outside and soak it all in!
On this Cape Cod adventure my husband Ryan, our friends Debbie and Bobby, and our dogs Rosie and Piper trekked through some of the most impressive sand dunes and landscapes found anywhere on the Cape.
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The Drive Out
Getting to this location is an adventure in itself. This is a pretty special spot, so please make sure you are logged-in to My Fishing Cape Cod with your username and password in order to access the exact location.
If you are not yet a member, then you can learn more about membership and start a 30 day trial here. After you login or start a membership, you will be able to see a map of where we hiked below.
I grew up on the shoreline in Connecticut, and we certainly had beaches, but none that you could easily drive out on to! When Ryan first took me to this spot several years ago, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread, that we were actually going to drive out onto the beach!
(Note: You'll need to purchase a sticker to have driving access onto most of Cape Cod's beaches and driving is not permitted everywhere.)
So after taking some air out of the tires, we started our trek into the sand and out onto the beach. In the offseason, many Cape beaches allow dogs, so of course we brought Rosie too! The dogs were so excited in the truck, they could barely contain themselves. The crying and whimpering and pawing in the backseat was so funny to watch.
It's an amazing place to find sea glass, look for whales, let your dog play with other dogs (in the offseason) and see folks on horseback.
One thing about Cape Cod and it's environment is that you never know what you might find out on the beach. Sometimes it's a washed up sunfish, and other times it's a giant bell buoy!
I'm guessing it must have come loose in one of our crazy storms this past winter, and how cool is it, that somehow, the buoy stayed upright like that. Those buoys are massive and VERY heavy, which goes to show just how strong the ocean can be.
Showing Friends the Beauty of Cape Cod
For this hike I had one of my best friends since grade school, Debbie, who came to visit us with her new finance Bobby, and their adorable rescue pup Piper!
Debbie had never been to the Cape before, so naturally we thought this hike would be a great place to start her adventure on Cape.
Scenes From The Trail
This hike is about 4.5 miles, so packing water and snacks is a must. I also recommend layering for this walk, because you'll start off chilly, then towards the middle of the hike you'll be quite warm, and once you get out to the dunes and marshes you might want to layer up again. You'll also want to wear your sunglasses, because the glare out in the dunes on a sunny day is almost like having snow blindness!
Below is another map that outlines the 4.5 mile hike we took through the beautiful forests, dunes and other landscapes. Again you'll have to make sure you are logged-in with your username and password in order to view the map.
So after parking the truck and gathering our gear, we started our trek up the trail and into the woods. The dogs were so excited and anticipation was at an all-time high after being in the truck, so naturally they took off running and playing together.
Rosie was so happy!
When you get to the first fork in the trail, take a right. This will take you into the scrub pine forest, which feels more like a fairytale forest than a regular forest.
As you meander your way through the woods, you'll notice signs with horses on them. Keep following these signs as you go. These are basically the only trail markers out there.
You'll also notice cranberry bogs peppered throughout the area. When fresh, you can eat them - but emphasis on when fresh!
When you arrive at the second fork, you can go either straight or right.
If you stay straight, it will take you to the marsh, but if you stay right, it will take you out to the dunes, which is my favorite part of this trail.
Either is fine (it will take you on a big loop anyways) but on this day we stayed to the right because we wanted to show our friends some of the most spectacular "dunescapes" on the Cape.
When you're in the woods, the wind blows above your head, so you're more protected, but out here in the dunes is where you might want an extra layer!
When you first get out to the dunes the trail takes you up a slightly steep hill, but once up there, it's a great place to stop and take photos and maybe even have a picnic if you packed one.
The views are beautiful, and it's a great place to spot wildlife too! Ryan and I have seen deer, fox and coyotes from this hill, so keep your eyes out!
You'll see a lot of tracks too if you look for them.
After stopping to take a much needed water break, it was time to keep trekking along.
I highly recommend purchasing a collapsable water dish for your dog. The one above is made of silicone, costs less than $5, and is easy to store in a backpack.
The walk from here on is a little more intense...
The sand becomes deeper and you have to go up and down quite a few dunes as you hike along.
We had so much sand in our shoes!
Sneakers were probably not the best choice, but honestly with that much sand, it's bound to get into your socks somehow.
This trail is definitely at least an intermediate level trail (if not slightly more challenging) but the rewards are great.
Out here, all you hear is the wind, peepers and chirping birds.
Tucked in among the dunes you may find little pools of rainwater.
Sadly for Ryan (and all the other fishermen reading this) there are of course no fish in these pools.
Sometimes though the tidal pools flood into the trail, and at times we had to make our own path around the water.
I imagine if you do this trail a little later in the season, it won't be as flooded. Today however, Rosie had to make her own path quite a few times!
After getting through the dunes, you will eventually come to another fork where you will go left, which will take you out to the marshes.
Here you will find a few lonely cottages and shacks scattered throughout the marsh.
The walk becomes a little easier from here on, which is certainly appreciated!
If you have binoculars with you, then this is a great time to check out the nests out in the marshes, to look for Osprey and other birdlife.
Out on the marsh "road" you'll see two cottages with green trim on them, and soon after will be another fork in the road.
Stay left, and soon you'll find yourself back in the woods, where you will join up on the trail you started with, which will lead you back to where you parked.
After about 4.5 miles and 2.5 hours of hiking, we finally made it back to the truck.
The dogs were certainly pooped by the end of this hike, and the ride home was peaceful and quiet.
In Conclusion
For me personally, the greatest part about a hike like this is the ability for me to clear my mind and just enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful landscapes around me.
For many of us, we all crave that quick escape.
Out there on this trail you feel worlds away from reality. There are no roads, no cars, no buildings, and no sounds other than the noise of the ocean, wind through the trees and occasional wildlife.
This trail is very special to me. Ryan first took me here years ago when we first started dating, and we have been back so many times since then.
If you're up for a challenging yet rewarding hike, then this is the adventure for you. Plan a whole day around it. Pack a lunch and have a picnic on a dune.
Take it all in and enjoy every second of it, because when you get back on the highway and into the hustle and bustle of the world, you can just think back to how it felt to be out in those Cape dunes, and how freeing it felt to be alone in that vastness.
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Great article! GREAT pic of Rosie falling asleep on the way home!!!
Mike
Thanks Mike! She could barely keep her eyes open for the next 24+ hours!
Great article!
Thank you!
Looks like everyone had a great time! What a great place to take a hike. Have you ever tried the Great Island Trail in Wellfleet? That is an awesome hike, but beware, there are places that may cover up during high tide. Happy trails!!
Oh yes we LOVE the Great Island Trail!!
Beautiful walk Lauren! I didn’t know about the trails at Sandy Neck, thanks for the info! We went to Sandy Neck after we did the Canal clean up last weekend and walked on the beach.What a gorgeous beach! and I imagine there is great fishing off that beach too! Thanks again! Love learning about new walks and explorations.So much to see!
Hey Leslie! So good seeing you all last weekend! I hope you can go back to Sandy Neck again – the hiking really is wonderful and there is a ton of good sea glass up and down that beach too! Anywhere you see a trail marker (trails 1 – 6) are trails you can take that are all gorgeous. Thanks of reading!
It is a spiritual walk. Thanks Lauren.
I know you’re a big fan of Sandy neck trails 🙂 Thanks for reading!