Hiking Cape Cod: Head of the Meadow loop in Truro

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

NORTH TRURO — This is a loop hike I mapped out to take advantage of the quiet, lovely and convenient Head of the Meadow Bike Trail. Part of the loop runs along the beach, where you can often see lots of seals resting on a low tide sandbar. A portion of the walk runs through the epic dunes of the Provincelands.

I started this 5-mile walk at the Cape Cod National Seashore's Head of the Meadow Beach parking lot. In the summer, there is a fee to park there. A free parking alternative would be starting the hike at the Pilgrim Heights parking area off Route 6 and taking the Pilgrim Spring Trail down to the bike trail. This would add about a half mile to the hike.

The start of my epic hike at Head of the Meadow Beach in North Truro.
The start of my epic hike at Head of the Meadow Beach in North Truro.

The great thing about Head of the Meadow Beach is that, even on the hottest, busiest summer day, there is almost always room in the parking lot. So I paid my fee and headed out onto the beach for the first leg of the journey, walking to the left (north) for about 2 miles.

Soon I was wildly alone, way down the beach. In the distance, I heard an odd groaning. It was giant gray seals taking a rest on a sandbar. The tide was turning as I approached the blubber-fest. Seals started sliding off the sandbar, maybe 100 of 'em, and started bobbing, snout-up in a tide pool near shore.

Smooth sailing along the Head of the Meadow bike trail in North Truro.
Smooth sailing along the Head of the Meadow bike trail in North Truro.

Keep your eyes peeled for the off-road vehicle entrance, about 2 miles down the beach. Turn inland, and you will see the vast Provincelands stretching to the north. After about a half-mile on the sandy off-road vehicle corridor, you will arrive at the northern end of the Head of the Meadow Bike Trail. Walk south along the bike trail.

A map of the approximately five-mile hike, with route outlined in red. I started at the Head of the Meadow Beach parking lot, headed north along the beach, then cut inland on an ORV road to the Head of the Meadow bike trail, which took me back to my car--a great loop!
A map of the approximately five-mile hike, with route outlined in red. I started at the Head of the Meadow Beach parking lot, headed north along the beach, then cut inland on an ORV road to the Head of the Meadow bike trail, which took me back to my car--a great loop!

The bike trail was recently resurfaced and is a great spot for young bikers to hone their craft. It's smooth, flat and scenic and will take you back to the Head of the Meadow Beach parking lot.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hiking Cape Cod ventures to Truro's Head of the Meadow loop