The Great Island Trail This trail follows sandy stretches between the elevated heights of Great Island and Great Beach Hill. Its higher elevations punctuate spectacular vistas that emerge from an even-aged, pitch-pine forest. Part of this trail leads to a colonial-era tavern site (no remains visible). Other sections skirt salt marsh embayments.

A picnic area is adjacent to the parking area.

Allow three to five hours to explore the Great Island.

The Great Island Trail is located at the corner of Griffin Island and Chequessett Neck Road. From US-6, follow green signs to Wellfleet Center; turn left onto East Commercial Street (follow the signs to Wellfleet Harbor); continue along the shoreline from the town pier via Chequessett Neck Road to the Great Island parking area. (Keep water view on the left after leaving US-6.)

The National Park Service has a video overview of the Great Island Trail.

Cape Cod is a large peninsula extending 60 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Massachusetts. Located on the outer portion of the Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore’s 44,600 acres encompass a rich mosaic of marine, estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. These systems and their associated habitats reflect the Cape’s glacial origin, dynamic natural processes, and at least 9,000 years of human activity. Geomorphic shoreline change, groundwater fluctuations, tidal dynamics including rising sea level, and atmospheric deposition are among the many physical processes that continue to shape the Seashore’s ecosystems. Marine and estuarine systems include beaches, sand spits, tidal flats, salt marshes, and soft-bottom benthos. Freshwater ecosystems include kettle ponds, vernal pools, sphagnum bogs, and swamps. Terrestrial systems include pitch pine and scrub oak forests, heathlands, dunes, and sandplain grasslands. Many of these habitats are globally uncommon and the species that occupy them are correspondingly rare.

Great Island Trail
3.9-8.8 miles round trip (3.9 for tavern loop round trip to the parking area; 8.8 for a round trip to Jeremy Point overlook including tavern loop.)

The park’s most difficult trail; is mostly soft sand; some log steps; portions are submerged at high tide; hats, sturdy footgear, and drinking water advised; portable toilets. Leashed pets are allowed between the upper/lower parking areas along the trail to the first cut and out onto the beach.

Please Stay on Designated Trails
Beach access is via designated trail only. Do not traverse the dune to reach the beach. Please stay on designated trails to protect fragile resources.

Shorebird Area
Temporary detours and closures may be in effect during shorebird nesting periods.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike on the Great Island Trail.