Cape Cod is a large area, stretching 65 miles from the bridge to Provincetown, with a breadth between 1 and 20 miles, and 400 miles of shoreline. There are 15 distinct ‘towns’, generally divided into four ‘regions’: Upper Cape (Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich & Mashpee), Mid-Cape (Barnstable, Yarmouth & Dennis), Lower Cape (Harwich, Brewster, Chatham & Orleans), & Outer Cape (Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro & Provincetown). Below is our list of best Cape runs, including ‘favorites’, and by area and theme.

Five Favorite Cape Runs

  1. Falmouth – By the Water
  2. Province Lands Dunes
  3. Bay Side Beaches
  4. Cape Cod Canal
  5. Chatham Tour

Best Cape Runs By Theme

Beaches. Bay side beaches (Brewster, Orleans); Scusset Beach; Sandy Neck Beach

Multi-Use Trails. Cape Cod Canal Trail; Shining Sea Bike Path (Falmouth to Woods Hole); Cape Cod Rail Trail (Dennis to Wellfleet); Province Lands Trail (Provincetown); Nickerson State Park bike trails (Brewster)

Trail Running. Sandy Neck (Barnstable); Great Island (Wellfleet)

Runs Along the Water. Falmouth Waterside Run; Hyannis Harbor; Cape Cod Canal

Pretty Towns & Architecture.  Sandwich Tour, Osterville Tour; Hyannis Port Loop; Chatham Tour; Wellfleet Tour; Provincetown Tour

Nature Trails & Wildlife. Sandy Neck; Great Island; Nauset Marsh Trail

Hills. Nickerson State Park; Truro/North Truro; Province Lands trail

Shade on a Hot Day: Trails in Nickerson State Park; Cape Cod Rail Trail

Best Cape Runs By Geography (see map on Cape Cod Overview page)

Upper Cape: Cape Cod Canal; Shining Sea Bike Path; Falmouth 10k Course; Sandwich Tour; Monomoscoy Island

Mid-Cape: Hyannis/Hyannis Port routes; Cape Cod Rail Trail; Osterville Loop; Yarmouth Route

Lower Cape: Nickerson State Park; Chatham Tour; Bay Beaches

Outer Cape: Salt Pond Visitor Center Trails; Wellfleet Tour; Province Lands trail; Provincetown; National Seashore Beaches