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Province Lands Bike Trail Guide
If you’ve ever wanted a bike ride where the scenery shifts dramatically from mile to mile and where you wonder if you are still on the same trail, the Province Lands Bike Trail is your answer. Winding through the Cape Cod National Seashore at the outermost tip of the Cape, this trail is unlike anything else in New England. The landscape shifts constantly beneath your wheels, from dense pitch pine and scrub oak forest to wide open sand dunes, all while the Atlantic glitters just beyond the ridgeline.
At roughly eight miles of paved loops, the Province Lands Bike Trail is accessible enough for casual riders but visually dramatic enough to leave even seasoned cyclists a little awestruck. While it’s certainly one of those places that makes you glad you came to the Cape in the first place, you’ll still find that there are plenty more things to do on Cape Cod. The village of Wellfleet draws art lovers with its celebrated gallery scene and raw bar culture. Chatham offers one of the most charming main streets on the Eastern Seaboard, with independent shops, excellent seafood, and a lighthouse worth every cliché ever written about it. And let’s not forget about our own town of Harwich, where you’re not only centrally located, but surrounded by great shops, restaurants, beaches, bike trails, and so much more.
Whether your travel style leans toward the cultural, the culinary, or the completely restorative, the mid-Cape rewards all of it. Beyond these exciting Cape Cod adventures, what elevates the entire trip is where you stay. Our Boutique Cape Cod Inn is widely regarded as one of the best places to stay on Cape Cod. Once you’re here, it’s easy to understand why. Our adults-only property is set on 1.5 acres with gardens and a walking labyrinth that invite you to slow down in ways that most accommodations simply don’t. Book your stay today!
Riding the Province Lands Bike Trail: What to Know Before You Go
Though there are plenty of great places to ride a bike on the Cape, there’s something truly special about the Province Lands Bike Trail. The main loop runs about five miles, with an additional spur out to Race Point Beach and another to Herring Cove, so you can tailor the distance to your energy and your appetite for views.
The dune shacks visible from the Province Lands Bike Trail carry real history, having sheltered writers, artists, and wanderers for generations. The National Seashore designation of Cape Cod means the landscape is protected and largely undisturbed, so what you see today from the Province Lands Bike Trail is roughly what Thoreau would have seen walking the Outer Cape in the 1850s.
The Province Lands Bike Trail runs 5.25 miles as a loop, but with extensions out to Herring Cove Beach, Race Point Beach, and Bennett Pond, you can easily push that to over seven miles of riding through some of the most ecologically diverse terrain on the Outer Cape. The paved network winds through the full 4,000 wild acres of the Province Lands area, moving from dense pitch pine forest or open parabolic dunes to low-lying cranberry bogs, sometimes within the span of a single mile.
The Beech Forest section of the Province Lands Bike Trail offers a striking contrast to the surrounding dune landscape. And if the timing is right at Race Point or Herring Cove, you may spot whales, seals, or the occasional dolphin just offshore, which is not something many Cape Cod bike trails offer. Bring a swimsuit if you want to make a proper afternoon of it, because both beaches are accessible from the trail.
The Province Lands Bike Trail starts at the Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Point Road in Provincetown, where ample parking is available year-round, and trail maps can be picked up at the trailhead behind the observatory. If needed, rent a bike from places like Ptown Bike Rentals. A quick note on trail rules within the Cape Cod National Seashore: bikes are welcome on the designated paved trails, paved roads, parking areas, and fire roads, but are not permitted on hiking trails or beaches. Plan your route accordingly, and give yourself more time than you think you need.
If you’re looking for more places to ride your bike, don’t miss the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Stretching over 25 miles from Yarmouth to Wellfleet along a former railroad corridor, it’s flat, scenic, and approachable for a wide range of riders, making it one of the most beloved rail-to-trail conversions in the country. It’s also easily accessible right from our Inn, where you can use complimentary bikes while you stay. The trail passes through salt marshes, cranberry bogs, and kettle pond landscapes, with plenty of spots to stop for a swim or a bite along the way.
Right in Harwich, the Old Colony Rail Trail is another rails-to-trails gem that deserves a spot on any cycling itinerary. Branching off the Cape Cod Rail Trail at the Harwich bike rotary, it runs about seven miles east through pitch pine woods and past freshwater ponds before arriving in Chatham, one of the most beautiful villages on the Cape. From the trail’s end on Crowell Road, it’s an easy ride to Chatham’s Main Street, the lighthouse, and some of the best seafood on the lower Cape. For something a bit different, try the hilly, dedicated paved bike paths in Nickerson State Park in nearby Brewster. The park’s trail network winds through over 1,900 acres of pitch pine and oak forest, with access to kettle ponds perfect for a mid-ride swim. It connects directly to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, so riders can combine a stretch of the main trail with a loop through the park.
Best Places to Stay in Cape Cod
There’s a version of a Cape vacation that’s rushed, overpriced, and leaves you needing a vacation from your vacation. That’s not what you’ll find when you stay at our luxury, adults-only Inn. We bring together thoughtful hospitality that you’d expect from a high-end boutique property, without the stuffiness that sometimes comes with it. Our concierge service means you don’t have to hunt down reservations or logistics on your own. We absolutely love sharing our tips and tricks for making the most of your time on the Cape, including helping you book the best Cape Cod tours and experiences!
A daily gourmet breakfast means your mornings always start off right. Our complimentary bikes mean spontaneous exploration is always on the table. And our gardens, labyrinth, and pool across 1.5 private acres mean that our property itself is a destination, not just a place to sleep. A stay here is a lodging experience at its finest. Reserve your room now!