Mountain Biking on Cape Cod

a work in progress

Cape Cod offers many cycling opportunities. There are many off road bike trails starting just over the Bourne Bridge at the Otis Air Base. These trails provide dependable riding year round for riders with intermediate or better abilities. Care must be taken to ride ONLY south of Connery Blvd., the main road from the Otis Rotary and to park only in marked areas. Also, DO NOT RIDE near the National Cemetery and the Base Housing Area. Please respect the security of this military facility.

Travel south on MA Rt 28 to MA Rt 151, follow MA Rt 151 east toward Mashpee. Within two miles you come to the first of several parking lots for the Francis Crane Wildlife Management Area. This lot is opposite Turner Road. Beginner will want to travel farther to the traffic light at Sandwich Road. There turn left and follow Sandwich Road north to the first parking area on the left. This flat area is a great place to get the feel of a mountain bike but without the sharp change in land that is found on other areas of the Cape.

Crossing the Bourne Bridge and traveling south on MA Rt 28 brings you to Falmouth and Beebe's Woods. From MA Rt 28 turn right on Depot Road after the Falmouth Square Inn. Beebe's Woods is at the end of this road. This conservation area near the center of Falmouth provides easy riding on fire roads and more challenging single track.

From the Sagamore Bridge and traveling east on US Rt 6 brings you to Barnstable and the Trail of Tears. These trails provide the intermediate rider with a number of technical trails.

A group from the Cape Cod and Island Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association ride from True Wheel Cycles' (Pocasset, MA) every Saturday morning at 7:00 AM, Sunday morning at 8:30AM and Wednesday night at 6:00PM. Please park to the rear of the shops.

Rider should be aware of Lyme Disease bourn by deer ticks. Very small, deer ticks are active from April until October. During the snowy winter of 95-96, deer ticks were found on the snow cover in March. Wear light colored clothes and be sure to check yourself after a ride. The ticks must be attached for 24 hours to transfer the bacteria that causes the disease.

For information or to suggest changes to this page contact Ted Rowan at tedrowan@massed.net

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