Snail Road

Take Route 6, heading toward Provincetown. You’ll come to an intersection, marked by a sign saying “To Route 6A, Provincetown,” with a small parking area on the right. Park in that lot and start hiking. This trek, along Snail Road (the only trail here, but it has no sign), requires stamina — it’s about 1.5 miles each way — difficult to say exactly, because the dunes are high and the sand is soft. The view from the summit blew me away. In front of me was the Atlantic; behind me was Cape Cod Bay and the peak of Race Point Light; and to the right, Pilgrim Monument was visible, as well as miles of rolling dunes. It reminded me of an Edward Hopper painting. I saw only one person on my walk, and the beach at the end of the trail was empty.