You haven’t truly experienced the Cape until you explore it on your bike. The region has multiple bike paths that allow you to pedal through most towns, and you’ll see some secluded spots like forests and kettle ponds along the way, too.

Selecting suitable trails to visit can be challenging because there are so many options. Here’s a look at five of the best bike paths to consider during your Cape Cod vacation.

1) Cape Cod Rail Trail

The best-known bike path on the Cape is the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 25-mile route between Yarmouth and Wellfleet. The trail passes through multiple downtown areas as it meanders around the Cape and also gets close to world-class attractions like Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

You can enter the Cape Cod Rail Trail in multiple locations, too, as there are trailheads in places like West Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet. The abundance of trailheads with parking ensures you can begin and end your journey wherever you wish or explore multiple sections of the trail throughout your stay.

2) Shining Sea Bikeway

The Shining Sea Bikeway is another fantastic bike trail you might want to check out during your vacation. This path extends for 10.7 miles between Woods Hole and North Falmouth, passing multiple communities, including Falmouth Village, along the way.

If you choose to ride the Shining Sea Bikeway, you’ll encounter numerous ponds, two marshes, and a cranberry bog and have the opportunity to ride along the always scenic Vineyard Sound for a short distance. The result is a beautiful ride and the chance to see much of what Falmouth has to offer.

3) Province Lands Trail

Provincetown, MA, has a lot going for it, as it’s quickly becoming one of the Cape’s top vacation destinations. One reason for its popularity is Race Point Beach, which is just north of downtown and features dunes and a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean.

You don’t have to drive to Race Point Beach if you bring your bike to Cape Cod because you can ride Province Lands Trail. This 5.45-mile path starts north of downtown Provincetown and heads through Beech Forest before emerging on Race Point Beach and its unobstructed oceanfront views. There’s a visitor’s center you can check out along the way, too, helping you learn about this region and its incredibly unique geography.

4) Cape Cod Canal Bikeway

The most leisurely ride on this list of the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway, a series of two seven-mile paved trails sitting on either side of the Cape Cod Canal. These trails are flat and well-maintained, making them the perfect spot for the entire family to go for a ride.

Despite their low difficulty, though, the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway’s trails provide scenic views over the water and the chance to witness some pretty large ships passing through the waterway. There are restaurants and bars in Buzzards Bay, Bourne, and Sandwich, too, so you can drop in for a bite to eat or a drink once you complete your ride.

5) Old Colony Rail Trail

The Cape Cod Rail Trail connects to another pathway called the Old Colony Rail Trail in Harwich, which continues into Chatham. So, if you start your ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and come to a fork in the path, you’ll have a decision to make.

The Old Colony Rail Trail is eight miles long and ends near downtown Chatham. However, depending on how you want to complete your ride, you can easily take some quiet town roads to Chatham Harbor, the Chatham Pier Fish Market, or Lighthouse Beach. The trail is relatively easy and passes through residential neighborhoods and forests. However, you’ll have to pay attention when you reach the Chatham Municipal Airport because the trail ends for a short distance before restarting on the airport’s south side.

Renting a Bike on the Cape

Although it’s usually best to bring your own bike to Cape Cod, it isn’t always possible. Fortunately, there are multiple places to rent bikes on the Cape, and you can sometimes receive free rentals with your Cape Cod vacation rental.

Xplorie is a perk our renters receive free of charge with their Kinlin Grover vacation rental, and free bike rentals are available to our guests through this service.

At the Dennis Cycle Center, you’ll receive one complimentary four-hour bike rental every day of your stay. At the same time, the Little Capistrano Bike Shop, which has locations in Eastham and Wellfleet, offers one free eight-hour rental of a mountain bike, cruiser, or hybrid every day of your stay. You can also grab a free two- or four-hour hybrid bike rental every day of your visit from PTown Bikes in Provincetown.

Thanks to these complimentary bike rentals, your options are endless. You can save money while exploring some of the most beautiful bike trails found anywhere on the East Coast from your Cape Cod vacation rental.