9 Cape Cod Boardwalks for Scenic, Peaceful Walks
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Aside from the 500+ miles of pristine coastline, Cape Cod boardwalks are my favorite places to appreciate the Cape’s scenic views.
Don’t be mistaken, these are not boardwalks lined with shops, rides, and restaurants like in other places. These ones are in peaceful and scenic places, best for slow mornings or restorative evening walks in my experience.
Fit them into your Cape Cod itinerary for low-cost solo exploring, a quiet photo adventure, birdwatching, or a spectacular sunset stroll or bike ride.
Note: Updated June 2026. Always check town or National Seashore pages before visiting, especially after winter storms.
Quick Guide to Cape Cod Boardwalks
I’d use this list less like a checklist and more like a mood board. Pick one or two boardwalks to add to your itinerary based on the town you’re staying in, the time of day, and the kind of quiet you’re craving.
Before diving into the details, here’s a comparison chart to help you make a quick decision.
| Boardwalk | Best For | Cost | Bathrooms | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Hole (currently closed for repairs) | sunset, marsh, Cape Cod Bay | $25 seasonal parking fee during day | Seasonal | No dogs |
| Sandwich | Beach walk, marsh views, sunset | $20 seasonal parking fee during day | No bathrooms | Off-season only |
| Parkers River Landing | Nantucket Sound, picnic, book break | Free | Onsite | Leashed dogs allowed in park, not on boardwalk |
| Taylor Bray Farm | Animals, picnic, quiet marsh | Free, donations appreciated | Limited or none | No dogs |
| Coast Guard Beach | biking, birdwatching, Nauset Bay | Free from Salt Pond Visitor Center | Year-round at Salt Pond, seasonal nearby | Off-season only |
| Red Maple Swamp | Fall colors, Nauset Marsh | Free | Seasonal near Hemenway Landing | No dogs |
| Uncle Tim’s Bridge | Wellfleet stroll, low tide crabs | Free | Nearby at Town Hall | Leashed dogs appear allowed |
| Atlantic White Cedar Swamp | All-season hiking, peaceful | Free to hike | Seasonal | No dogs |
| Beech Forest | Birdwatching, kettle ponds | Free to hike | Seasonal | No dogs |
Map of Boardwalks on Cape Cod
Quiet, Scenic Boardwalks for an Easy Cape Cod Day
I grew up on Cape Cod, and these are the boardwalks I return to for a walk with with a friend or an easy solo outing. Always with a camera in hand!
Sandwich Boardwalk in Sandwich
A truly unique treasure in the town of Sandwich, the Sandwich Boardwalk connects Town Neck Beach to the beautiful surrounding marshland. The boardwalk crosses over a tidal creek where kids jump into while the tide is high on hot summer days.
The Sandwich Boardwalk may also be known as the “Plank Walk” or the “Mill Creek Foot Bridge.” The boardwalk was originally constructed in 1875 and has been damaged by storms and rebuilt several times. Most notably, it was wrecked by Hurricane Bob in 1991 and reconstructed with funds raised from the sale of personalized planks.
More recent storms also damaged it, prompting the town to seek a more permanent solution to reconstruct the boardwalk, which they completed in 2024, ensuring many future generations can enjoy it.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: I prefer a sunset walk or lunch on the beach in the off season
- Parking: There are two parking lots, one at each end of the boardwalk. Use the Boardwalk Road lot to start from the marsh side or the Wood Avenue lot to start from Town Neck Beach.
- Cost: $20 fee for both lots from 9am to 4pm, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
- Bathrooms: No bathrooms.
- Dogs: Dogs can only walk the boardwalk in the off-season from September to May.
- Accessibility: The boardwalk is fully ADA compliant, but accessing the beach requires climbing up sand dunes.
Parkers River Landing Boardwalk in Yarmouth
The newest boardwalk to enjoy on Cape Cod is a MUST visit! More than thirty years in the making, Yarmouth’s newest park finally opened to the public in 2026, and is home to one of the most beautiful boardwalks I’ve experienced so far.
Located on Route 28 in Yarmouth, Parkers Rivers Landing Park features the only boardwalk on Cape Cod to face Nantucket Sound. The boardwalk loops through the salt marsh adjacent to Lewis Pond, with a number of overlooks and seating areas to enjoy the view out to Seagull Beach.
In addition to the star of the show, there is a kayak launch, a wooden ship playground, over a mile of walkable paths, and space in the center for future community events. It’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon.
Plan your visit
- Best Time to Visit: I suggest bringing breakfast from Bagel & Beyond and a book to read early to mid-morning.
- Parking: Plenty of parking available.
- Cost: Free
- Bathrooms: Public restrooms onsite.
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed in the park while leashed, but not on the boardwalk, as far as I understand.
- Accessibility: The boardwalk is fully ADA compliant.
Bass Hole Boardwalk in Yarmouth
Of all the Cape Cod boardwalks, Bass Hole Boardwalk might be the most well-known, and is for sure a special place for visitors and locals alike.
Located next to Gray’s Beach in Yarmouth Port, Bass Hole stretches a quarter mile into the surrounding marshland. At low tide, watch tiny crabs scurry about the mud under the sea grass and keep an eye out for baby seals looking for a place to rest during high tide.
Sit on a bench on the spacious viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk to enjoy the views of Cape Cod Bay. In addition to the boardwalk and beach, there is a playground and a covered picnic area.
Make the most of your time there and explore the surrounding trails in the marsh and forest!
Plan Your Visit:
Bass Hole Boardwalk is closed for repairs after damage from a blizzard in February 2026. Check the Town of Yarmouth Facebook page for updates on its reopening status.
- Best Time to Visit: Plan for sunset out at the end of the boardwalk.
- Parking: The lot does fill up fast in during the summer. Some additional parking along the road to the beach, but not recommended.
- Cost: $25 from 8am to 4pm, mid-May to early September.
- Bathrooms: Seasonal bathrooms are located right off the parking lot.
- Dogs: Dogs are not allowed to walk the boardwalk.
Boardwalk at Taylor Bray Farm in Yarmouth
You might miss this one if you didn’t know it was there! The highlight of Taylor Bray Farm, aside from its history dating back to the 17th century, is all the animals that live there. Like, the Scottish Highland cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and my personal favorite, Sam and Nestor, the Taylor Bray Farm donkeys.
While you are there enjoying the history and animals, look for the boardwalk amongst the towering phragmites, an invasive plant we hate, btw. The boardwalk leads to a viewing platform overlooking the Black Flats Marsh, with Cape Cod Bay and Chapin Beach in the distance.
Black Flats Marsh, and the tidal Chase Garden Creek that runs through it, are home to many species of fish and aquatic animals, plus many bird species, including osprey and some endangered birds.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: Lunchtime visit in the summer or fall. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while you’re there.
- Parking: Free on-site parking is available at the farm.
- Cost: The farm is free to visit, however but the non-profit Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association accepts donations to help care for the property and animals.
- Bathrooms: Sometimes they’ve had a porta potty for use, but otherwise I think there are no public restrooms available.
- Dogs: Not allowed on the property.
- Accessibility: The grounds are completely open to explore, but there are no specific accessible paths available. Expect natural, uneven surfaces in some areas.
Coast Guard Beach Boardwalk in Eastham
Coast Guard Beach Boardwalk is a prominent feature on the Nauset Bike Trail, and has some spectacular views of Nauset Bay, a marshy inlet protected by barrier beaches.
This bike trail connects three Cape Cod National Seashore areas: the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Doane Rock Picnic Area, and Coast Guard Beach, and you can access the trail at any of these locations.
I suggest traveling the entire 1.6-mile trail to Coast Guard Beach and back, making the total trip 3.2-miles. Birdwatchers will love this trail, so remember to bring your binoculars!
Do not skip exploring inside the Salt Pond Visitor Center. Inside there is a National Park store, a cultural museum with exhibits ranging from Wampanoag history to modern tourism and a beautiful glacial history map of Cape Cod. This is a great first stop on your way to other Cape Cod National Seashore sites.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: To beat the heat and summer crowds, walk or bike the trail early in the morning or later in the afternoon. The fall is especially nice for a quieter visit and birdwatching.
- Parking: Free parking is available at Salt Pond Visitor Center. Doane Picnic Area has a two-hour parking limit. Coast Guard Beach has seasonal fees, and from mid-June through Labor Day, the beach lot is restricted to Eastham residents and vehicles with handicap placards. Most summer visitors use the Little Creek shuttle to reach the beach.
- Cost: Free if you park at the Salt Pond Visitor Center and use the trail. Seasonal Cape Cod National Seashore beach parking fees apply at the Coast Guard Beach side.
- Bathrooms: Public bathrooms are available at Salt Pond Visitor Center year round and seasonally at Coast Guard Beach and Doane Rock Picnic Area.
- Dogs: Leashed pets are allowed on the Nauset Bike Trail from November 1 through April 30. They are not allowed on the trail during the main visitor season.
- Accessibility: The entire trail is paved and wheelchair accessible, however there are some hills along the trail. Salt Pond Visitor Center is fully accessible, and Coast Guard Beach has accessible parking, restrooms, changing facilities, and beach wheelchairs.
Red Maple Swamp Trail in Eastham
The Red Maple Swamp Trail is yet another Cape Cod National Seashore treasure in Eastham. Located on the opposite side of Nauset Bay from the Nauset Bike Trail, this trail has even greater views of Nauset Marsh and winds through the swamp with thick red maple stands.
Combine this trail with the Fort Hill Trail to see additional attractions like the beautiful, historic Captain Penniman House, a former whaling captain’s house.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: Fall is the best time to visit, when the red maples turn bright shades of red and orange. Spring and summer are also peaceful, but expect more bugs in the swampy sections.
- Parking: Free parking is available at the Fort Hill trailhead or Hemenway Landing. You can enter the Red Maple Swamp Trail from either the Fort Hill Trail or Hemenway Landing.
- Cost: Free to visit.
- Bathrooms: Seasonal restrooms are available near Hemenway Landing.
- Dogs: No dogs are allowed on this trail.
- Accessibility: This is an easy trail with boardwalk sections, steps down into the trail, and slight elevation change. It is not the best option for wheelchairs or strollers.
Uncle Tim’s Bridge in Wellfleet
Technically a bridge but still charming – and one of my favorite spots in Wellfleet, Uncle Tim’s Bridge is just a block from Main Street in Wellfleet. It is named after Timothy E. Daniels, a beloved man who owned a shop across the street from the bridge in the 1800s.
The boardwalk leads to the tadpole-shaped Hamblen Island on the other side of Duck Creek, where you can walk the trails around and across the island.
My favorite part of these trails is getting an up-close view of the remnants of the Duck Creek Railway Bridge. And at low tide, watching as thousands of fiddler crabs scurry about the exposed mud in the marsh.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: Low tide is the best time to visit if you want to see fiddler crabs in the marsh. Download the Tide Alert app! Early morning, late afternoon, or the off-season are best for a quieter walk.
- Parking: Parking near the bridge is very limited. There is a small public parking lot about 400 feet from the bridge near Bank Street and Commercial Street. You can also park in the lot behind Town Hall or along Main Street, and walk down.
- Cost: Free to visit.
- Bathrooms: The closest public restrooms are located on the side of the Town Hall building.
- Dogs: Leashed dogs appear to be allowed on the bridge and Hamblen Island trails, but check posted signs when you arrive.
- Accessibility: The bridge itself is accessible, but the trails on the island are sandy and uneven, so not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers.
Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail in Wellfleet
Yet another Cape Cod National Seashore trail with a must-see boardwalk! The Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail is near the Marconi Wireless Station, where the first radio transmission to cross the Atlantic from the United States happened.
The 1.2-mile trail loops through a stand of Atlantic White Cedar trees, a rare sight after decades of cutting them down and draining and filling the swampland where they grow best. This swamp is more ethereal than other swamps I’ve been to, with its moss-covered hummocks and canopy-distorted light shimmering down. “Enchanting” and “fairy tale-like” are often used to describe it – and they are not wrong.
I’ve hiked this trail during all four seasons, and it’s beautiful any time of year, so you can’t go wrong.
Side Note: I’ve read some reviews of the two swamp trails of the CCNS complaining that there isn’t much of a “view of the swamp” on these trails, but these reviewers are mistaking marshland with swampland. A swamp is a forested wetland ecosystem, while a marsh is a wetland ecosystem dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants. The trees on the two swamp trails are part of the view!
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: Fall is beautiful, but this trail is worth visiting in any season. Go in the morning or late afternoon in summer for a quieter walk and cooler temperatures.
- Parking: Parking is available at the Marconi Station Site parking area in South Wellfleet. Follow signs for the Marconi Site and White Cedar Swamp.
- Cost: Free to hike. Seasonal Cape Cod National Seashore entrance fees may apply if you also visit nearby Marconi Beach.
- Bathrooms: Seasonal bathrooms are available at the trailhead.
- Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
- Accessibility: This is a moderate trail with some slopes, hills, steep stairs, soft sand, and boardwalk sections through the swamp. It is not the best option for wheelchairs or strollers.
Beech Forest Trail in Provincetown
Last but not least on my list of Cape Cod boardwalks is the Beech Forest Trail in the Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown. The one-mile loop trail skirts Beech Forest and Blackwater Ponds, ascends Provincetown’s steep dunes and meanders through a thick beech tree forest that could be the way Cape Cod looked before it was colonized.
Keep an eye out for the Pilgrim Monument, which you can see hovering above the tree line at a certain point on the trail. In the spring, the ponds are covered with beautiful lily pads that bloom come summertime.
Plan Your Visit:
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall are best for birdwatching, especially during migration. Summer is beautiful too, but go in the morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and a quieter walk.
- Parking: Free parking is available at the Beech Forest parking area on Race Point Road in Provincetown. The Province Lands Bicycle Trail can also be accessed from this parking area.
- Cost: Free to hike. Cape Cod National Seashore entrance fees may apply at nearby beaches.
- Bathrooms: Seasonal bathrooms are available at the trailhead.
- Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
- Accessibility: This trail is rated easy and has some boardwalk sections, but there is also soft sand. The extension loop has steep log steps, so it is not the best option for wheelchairs or strollers.
Which Cape Cod Boardwalk Should You Visit First?
Don’t try to cram visiting all the boardwalks on this list into one trip, although I would not fault you if you tried! Choose one or two based on your trip’s vibe, where you’re staying, etc.
For sunset, Bass Hole Boardwalk is my top pick, as long as it has reopened after repairs. The marsh, Cape Cod Bay views, and quiet end-of-day light make it a popular place for a reason.
For a peaceful solo walk, I would go with Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail. This one feels the most tucked away and atmospheric, especially if you want a slower walk through the woods.
For a boardwalk you can pair with a town stroll, Uncle Tim’s Bridge in Wellfleet is the easiest choice. Walk the bridge, explore Hamblen Island, then wander back toward Main Street for shops, galleries, or something to eat.
If you’re visiting in the fall, Red Maple Swamp Trail is the one to prioritize. The bright red maples and nearby Fort Hill views make it one of the best seasonal walks on Cape Cod.
If you’re visiting the Cape for the first time, start with the Sandwich Boardwalk. It is scenic, historic, easy to find, and gives you that classic Cape Cod mix of beach, marsh, and salt air in one short walk.
You really can’t go wrong with any of them, but those are my suggestions! Then choose where to stay based on which boardwalks and towns you decide to explore.
Related Reading
- 4 Beautiful Walks on Cape Cod | A Local’s Favorite Spots!
- 10 Classic Things to Do On Cape Cod in the Summer
- Ultimate Guide to Camping on Cape Cod
- 12 Movies Filmed on Cape Cod & the Islands
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