Always Wear A Helmet

Brief History of the Rail Trail

Before the first railroad tracks were laid, the Cape was a relatively isolated area, accessible only by packet boat or stagecoach.  By 1848, the Old Colony Railroad Company laid tracks that connected Boston and Sandwich.  Railroad track extensions continued and by 1873, Old Colony had linked Boston with Cape Cod's outermost point of Provincetown, offering a miraculously short, five-hour journey.

As the Cape's popularity as a summer resort increased, the railroad was heavily used to transport visitors from New York and Connecticut, as well as other parts of Massachusetts.  With the growing number of visitors came train-loads of food and other provisions needed to meet their needs.  But the railroad's importance was soon surpassed by the automobile.  Bridges to carry cars over Cape Cod Canal were opened in 1935, and in 1937 passenger service to the towns east of Dennis ended.  Trains continued to haul freight until the mid-1960's, but then the tracks were torn up and the station-houses were razed or vandalized.  If you look carefully as you ride along the rail, you can still see occasional relics of the Cape's rail days.

The development of the Cape Cod Rail Trail has been a cooperative effort by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Massachusetts Highway Department.  DEM received its first funding to acquire the corridor in 1976.   Two years later the first section of trail was completed.  It has long been a goal to have the trail become part of a Cape-wide bicycle system.  There are several expansion opportunities currently under study or underway including:  to the north toward Provincetown; toward the Cape Cod Canal; from Harwich through Chatham; and a connection through Orleans.

Parking:

Free parking for trail users is available at:

• The trailhead at Route 134 in South Dennis

• Headwaters Road in Harwich

• Route 137 in Brewster

• Nickerson State Park in Brewster

• Orleans Center

• Cape Cod National Seashore at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham, one-half mile from the Locust Road intersection with the trail

• National Seashore at Marconi Area

• The trailhead at LeCount Hollow Road in South Wellfleet

THE BIKE DEPOT  -  New bike shop as of June, 2000.  Check it out - some really neat antique "grandpa" bikes - new bikes - rental bikes, baby seats, Alley Cat trailers, car racks - accessories - group rates and family packages with lunch.  

Directions from Mid-Cape Highway (Route 6):  Take Exit 9 - Dennis.  Turn South onto Route 134.  At 3rd traffic light, take left onto Upper County Road.  Take very first left onto Great Western Road.  Approximately 1 mile take right onto Depot Street and the Rail Trail crossing.

Open 7 days, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tel:  (508) 430-4375 Located in the historic Ocean Spray Screen House overlooking the rail trail as it enters the scenic Harwich forests and bogs.	Rental rates include helmets, bottled water and a map of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  Car racks included on 3-day and weekly rentals.  Ample parking to the rear of the Depot.  Website will be available shortly.
	Bikes for Christmas giving due in the end of October.  Other shops are in this building also.

While cycling and listening to the news of the area, contract has been awarded to construct a bridge over one of the areas where the bike path currently feeds into one of the major auto routes.  Completion is due Spring of 2001.  Another contract is in process for a bridge over another area in order to bypass auto traffic.  

Above market just off the Rail Trail about a mile from Nickerson State Park - follow signs to the Herb Farm (located on Route 6A) where you can stop for organic fruits, vegetables, baked goods, etc.  Wheaton Terrier waited very patiently for his owner to return from her shopping.  Below art gallery and Peddler's Grill in same area.