Each summer, millions of New England residents visit Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard to enjoy their popular beaches, shops, and restaurants. Drivers who have found themselves stuck in traffic on Route 3 know this all too well. But the Cape and Vineyard also offer hiking, biking, and paddling opportunities in which the crowds virtually disappear.

“No matter how popular it is in the height of the season, you can still find places where you are almost on your own,” says Michael O’Connor, author of Discover Cape Cod, released this spring by AMC Books. “A big reason is the Cape Cod National Seashore. There are 40 miles of oceanfront beach and more than 40,000 acres of uplands, woodlands, marsh, tidal areas, and ocean front.”

This summer, you can discover the roads less traveled on the Cape and Vineyard by exploring the following hidden gems.

Cape Cod

Hiking
Punkhorn Parklands

Located in the extreme southwest corner of Brewster on the border with Harwich, Punkhorn Parklands comprises an intriguing environment. The forest of oak, pine, and other mixed hardwoods has reclaimed land that was once drained for cranberry bogs or provided fuel and water for 19th century Cape industry, including timber harvesting and granite quarrying.
At more than 800 acres, Punkhorn Parklands provides plenty of space for more than just hiking—it is also a destination for fishing, mountain biking, and riding horses.

The recreation area is laced by dirt roads and cart paths, with colorful names including Deep Punkhorn Path, Black Duck Cartway, and Eagle Point Cartway. As hikers explore, they will pass a large body of water—Upper Mill Pond—and smaller bodies of water such as Calf Field Pond, Balog’s Pond, and Tucker’s Pond.

“You get a feeling of isolation,” says Pat Sarantis, a member of AMC’s Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter who visits Punkhorn Parklands yearly. “Even the houses and the roads that are in the area are all hidden. You don’t see them.”

Fun Fact: The word “punkhorn” comes from an American Indian word meaning “place of spongy wood.”

Rating and Distance: Moderate, 5 miles

How to get there: From Route 6 East, take Exit 9B in Dennis. Go north on Route 134 for 1.7 miles and then take a right on Satucket Road. Travel 3 miles just past Stony Brook Road. Take a right onto Old Run Hill Road and follow it 1.5 miles to where it turns into a parking area.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

NEXT PAGE