Hidden Trails of Cape Cod

The trails shown here aren’t included in Cape Cod National Seashore literature, but it’s perfectly permissible to walk them, and they all have legal parking areas.

When my husband worked for the trails division, he told me about the special places there that the public just isn’t aware of. I was surprised at the solitude I was able to find. I was feeling very Thoreau-esque … it was that quiet.

After living on Cape Cod year-round for 22 years, I’ve become a bit jaded. A beach, I thought, is just a beach. I stand corrected: The trails I’ve hiked in the past few days have led to the most exceptional beaches I’ve ever seen on the Cape.