By LANNAN M. O’BRIEN
There’s something about taking a bike ride on the Cape. You can have the best of everything, and your experience can be tailored to your mood: Want to feel the salty breeze as you ride along the coastline, or get off the pavement to test your mountain biking skills? Seeking a safe, easy-riding path for a family outing? You’re in luck because there are beautiful bike routes for every skill level, style—and yes, even every mood—right here on the Upper Cape.
Biking destinations
Cape Cod Canal Bikeway
Bourne and Sandwich
One of the best-known attractions on the Upper Cape is that manmade waterway that separates our communities from the rest of the world: the Cape Cod Canal. In warmer months, the bikeway that runs along both sides of the canal is a popular spot for bicycling, jogging, running, rollerblading and, for many, taking the dog for a nice, long walk. The grassy areas along the waterway are used by fishermen awaiting their next catch, and recreation areas with picnic tables provide the perfect spot for a picnic after your ride.
The bikeway runs the length of the canal on both sides, about seven miles, though slightly less on the mainland side. The path is paved and level, with separate lanes for those traveling in each direction, making it a great destination for families with kids. Views of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges (particularly at sunset) and the boats and barges passing by are the perfect excuse for a stop mid-route.
Learn more: nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/cape-cod-canal
Shining Sea Bikeway
Falmouth
“And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.” These are words from the patriotic song we all know, “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates, who once called Falmouth home—and they are also the namesake of Falmouth’s treasured recreational trail, the Shining Sea Bikeway.
Running 10.7 miles from North Falmouth to Woods Hole, this paved path follows the old New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad route, which once traveled from Buzzards Bay through Falmouth and Woods Hole. Whistle posts and an old watering house are still visible along the trail as are old pieces of track, reminders of a bygone era. A coveted destination for locals and visitors, the Shining Sea Bikeway is enjoyed by all ages and abilities, from parents with little bikers to competitive cyclists training for race day. Perhaps most important, it is true to its name: the route not only offers stunning views of Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay but also local ponds, cranberry bogs, rivers and farms, as well as Little and Great Sippewissett marshes (names derived from the Wampanoag language that mean “little cove” or “little river”). Despite being a popular attraction, visiting this trail gives the feeling you’ve been let in on a well-kept secret, as if someone lifted a curtain and whispered, Psst! This is how the Cape is meant to be seen.
Learn more: savebuzzardsbay.org/places-to-go/shining-sea-bikeway
Paths less traveled
Beebe Woods/Peterson Farm
Falmouth
The paths that run through these adjacent conservation lands are somewhat of a trek through local history, active farmland, remnants of old buildings and boulders left by glaciers are just a few of the sights you’ll pass in this lesser-known-to-visitors recreational spot. While the properties are popular for nature walks, they also make a fun trip for mountain bikers—the two parcels total 488 acres, offering plenty of trails to explore on your journey.
Learn more: Beebe Woods: savebuzzardsbay.org/places-to-go/beebe-woods
Peterson Farm: savebuzzardsbay.org/places-to-go/peterson-farm
Mashpee River Woodlands
Mashpee
A hidden gem beloved by locals, the Mashpee Woodlands is home to winding trails and hills ideal for the avid mountain biker—especially one who appreciates a good view. The trails are primarily singletracks, curving through the trees for a total of four miles. Those in search of scenery will find it on paths that climb high over wooded hills, ultimately overlooking the Mashpee River.
Learn more: thetrustees.org/place/mashpee-river-reservation
Four Ponds Conservation Area
Pocasset
Learn more: savebuzzardsbay.org/places-to-go/four-ponds-conservation-area-bourne-town-forest
For the avid cyclist
Claire Saltonstall Bikeway
Traveling from Boston to both Provincetown and Woods Hole for a total of 135 miles is a route called the Claire Saltonstall Bikeway (also known as State Bicycle Route 1). The bikeway was established in 1987 in memory of Claire Saltonstall, the daughter of Senator William L. Saltonstall who died after being hit by a motor vehicle while bicycling in 1974. Starting on the Charles River Bike Path, it enters Cape Cod by crossing the Sagamore Bridge, then branches in two: one route follows Route 6 to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading for the tip of the Cape, and the other takes Route 28 toward Falmouth, leading bikers to the Shining Sea Bikeway and, ultimately, Woods Hole. Whichever part of the bikeway you decide to explore, be sure to map it beforehand—the route was once well-marked, but many signs have gone missing in the years since it was mapped.
Learn more: bikenewengland.com/2016/03/25/boston-to-provincetown-cycling-route