rv camping in parking lots at national seashore cape cod

The reports are correct I was attacked right from the start. I was warned beforehand about mosquitoes, so I applied repellent and was lucky I did. See the Hiking Trails web page for an interactive location map. There are only a few spots in the “parking lot,” but you can also park along the road. The Hatches Harbor parking lot is located on the west side of the Province Lands area of Cape Cod National Seashore off of Province Lands Road. In fact, I might go so far as to say that it is one of the prettiest areas on the upper cape. It is 1.75 miles as well, one way, but while the scenery along the road from Race Point Beach never changes-ocean on one side, dunes on the other-the Hatches Harbor Trail leads through a variety of terrains. You can also reach the Race Point Lighthouse by hiking from the Hatches Harbor parking lot on what I’ll call the Hatches Harbor Trail-there is no official name that I know of. Road from Race Point Beach to Race Point Lighthouse HATHCES HARBOR ROUTE Keep in mind that if shore birds end up nesting in a place that will block vehicle or foot traffic, the tours may be cancelled.įor more information on rentals and tours, see the Race Point Light Station website. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. The lighthouse is open for tours on the first and third Saturdays from June through early October. See the Cape Cod National Seashore Oversand Beach Driving web page for information. Those who want to stay at the lightkeeper’s house or the whistle house must provide their own transportation (4-Wheel Drive required) and must obtain an Off-Road Vehicle permit from the National Park Service. The facilities can be reserved for weddings as well. The brick whistle house was restored in 2008 and is also available for rent. The ALF modernized the keeper’s house, and it is now available for overnight stays. Since 1995, Race Point Lighthouse has been maintained by the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), though it is still owned by the U. The whistle house held a steam whistle that replaced the 1845 fog bell. The house still stands, as does a brick whistle house built in 1888. The Race Point Lighthouse was electrified in 1957 and automated in 1972, so a lightkeeper was no longer needed.

At that time a new lightkeeper’s house was also built, though it has been modified a number of times since then. This lighthouse lasted until 1876, at which time it was replaced with the current structure, a 45-foot tower with a cast iron exterior and a brick interior. In 1845 it was extended five feet and a fog bell was installed.

Made of stone, it stood 25 feet tall and could be seen nineteen miles out to sea. The guide has a map of the two trails and discusses the history of the area.See the Lighthouses web page for an interactive location map.Ī lighthouse at Race Point was first erected in 1816 and was the third lighthouse on Cape Cod. Be sure to pick up a trail guide from the brochure box next to the identification sign. The official start of both the Fort Hill and Red Maple Swamp trails is at the far left corner of the first parking lot. There is no fee to park at either of these. The parking lot holds fifteen vehicles, and if it fills up there is an overflow parking lot at the very end of the road that holds another dozen vehicles (.2 mile farther down). The Fort Hill area has its own parking lot located just past the Captain Edward Penniman House on Fort Hill Road. This review, however, only covers the Fort Hill Trail. If you are looking for a longer hike, the trails can be combined into one, large oval. Together the two form a Figure-8, with the center of the two loops being common to both. An adjacent low-lying swamp can be explored on the Red Maple Swamp Trail.

Today visitors to Cape Cod National Seashore are invited to take a short hike around the area on the Fort Hill Trail. Being the highest point in their settlement, it was a natural defense, though it is not known if an actual fort was ever built here. When a small group of Pilgrims first came over from across the bay at Plymouth to settle Cape Cod in 1644, Fort Hill was where they built a meeting house.

See the Hiking Trails web page for an interactive location map.ĭifficulty: Not easy, but less than moderate-hilly terrain

Rv camping in parking lots at national seashore cape cod