beech forest

Sarracenia

This was our favorite hike during our very short visit to the area. The chickadees came very close in one area of the trail. There are names in front of some of the main trees. The hike was enjoyable because of the variety of trees and plants making up the forest.The one thing that can be done to improve the trail is to have better signs showing where all the trails are. We saw a secondary trail but did not take it since there were no signs explaining where it went. We just did the trail around the lake which was very nice. Beautiful views of the forest, some changing colors. The trail was not too crowded on a weekday.

iris_fulva

This was the best hike of the cape, but be sure you actually visit the beech grove! You can miss it if you only do the loop around the lake. The beech grove also has plants called "beech drops" associated with it. These plants are root parasites of the beech tree, and you'll probably miss them if you aren't looking for them. They're not "pretty", but they're an evolutionary / botanical novelty that shouldn't be missed.

Seasidegirl42

Love this one mile nature walk ! A must! Bring bird seed if you want the birds to eat from your hand!

louisy516

You'll get a great workout here on bike, roller blade, or by foot. There are very steep hills and at the highest points you will be treated to a panoramic view of the ocean and surrounding beaches. It's magical and it smells of pine and all things good. Fresh air and surrounded by natures beauty. Don't miss it.

TheNutleyNut

They are incredible! Beautiful vistas. Great exercise! A must do!My BF and I go to Ptown a lot. Of it's summer, we do these trails.

travelboy60

This is the quieter trail with fewer walkers and kids. Highly recommended. The views are quite different and a nice change of pace from the other trails through the seashore.

935ChrisB935

If you locate this trail you will see a tree at the beginning. This is where, if you are patient, you can stand with a hand full of bird seed and the chickadees and titmice will come and eat right out of your hand. There is no other place like this! Young and old alike love this.

Beckyetz

I've been going here since I was a child. The trails are lovely. We had the strangest experience once when we heard a strange bird squawking--even my father who is a world-class birder didn't know what it was--and when we finally saw the bird--it was a green parrot! We later heard from a local it had made it 3 years there so far through the Cape winters.

Tetonted1995

This is a lovley hiking trial on Race Point RD. The trail Head is a This is a great nature trail where birds love to be fed. I have been able to get some great photographs. The entire trial winds around a midsized pond surrounded by scrub pine and shrubs. The perfect way to start an early day.

bajan64

Treat yourself to a lovely bike ride away from the crowds downtown and to a glimpse of what the Cape used to look like many, many years ago.Couple of words of warning: wear insect repellent as the mosquitoes can be bad depending on location and time of year. Greenheads (horse flies) in July can be annoying but only are in particular parts of the trail. Do no race your bikes or ride recklessly: there are several people who have to be medevac'd out every year for accidents involving lack of helmets and or/unsafe riding.

scubarich13

This was a great little hike. I appreciate that the NPS has boardwalks in the swampy parts of the trails on the Cape. Don't do what I did. Or forgot as the case may be. This sandy trail winds around a lily pad covered swamp. This means bugs. Lot and lots of bugs. Put on some sting bug repellent. Extra deet for me pleaseOtherwise this was a great little hike. We had a three year old with us who rose on my shoulders for most of the time. Only one incline and that was on the extension. We saw a frog hopping around the trail at one point too which was exciting for the little one

jeffl499

Nicely set trail through a grove of beech trees around a large pond near the Visitors Center. Set among the beeches are black and white oaks, red cedar and even a tupelo or two along with various shrubs -- bayberry, blueberry and inkberry. There is a short diversion on one side that opens up onto a dock on another pond with a leg that takes the high road above it. Takes about an hour if you follow the longer route. An interesting encounter at the entrance with a family of Canadian geese with somewhat fiesty goslings. This was right next to a sign about an experiment with alligator head decoys designed to scare the geese (who have become a menace) away. Either a set of parents who are courageous or have not encountered their new reptile neighbors.

mbamman

hiked all the trails from eastham all the way to race point and this one was my favorite. geese, large variety of bird species, turtles, fox, snakes, squirrels, and HEARD an otter (think it was an otter), but couldn't get a snapshot.

JacGB2014

I walked the trail but leave enough time if you do this...a bicycle is probably best way to enjoy the forest - and it was a lonely place. The sounds of nature and landscapes were wonderful - unlike anywhere I've been before. I saw foxes and deer - so peaceful - quite a magical place.

heneedsfood

P-town doesn't have to be all about the restaurants, clubs, crowds and traffic. There's a part of the cape that's less than five minutes drive from the centre of town yet feels a million miles from anywhere. The Beech Forest is a tranquil and secluded place for the nature lover in all of us. Walkers and bikers take to the tracks that wind up and down small hills, around marshy ponds with the occasional place to stop and read botanical signs or spot birdlife, chipmunks, turtles and foxes. It's a magical place. The smell of the forest, the peaceful sounds and those beautiful colours and textures overhead and beneath the feet.