Truro Short Walks on Cape Cod
South Pamet
From Ballston
Beach, walk back on South Pamet Road about 200
yards. Just before the bend
a foot path leads south and then southeast.
At the intersection with a wider
track, head east. About 100 yards
into the clear, a foot path goes
sharply right, that is directly south,
straight up to the top of the ridge.
Pause at the military
crest for a spectacular view of the ocean.
Continue southwest for about one-quarter
mile until you come to an
east-west fire road. Turn
left, walking southeast, then south on this
road for another one-half mile.
When you come
to the intersection of fire roads, turn left and
walk east for one-quarter mile.
At the fork, bear right, to the
southeast. In another 0.3
mile, you will be just west of the lookout,
intersecting a foot path that goes
east and west.
Walk up east to
the top of the lookout. The view is stupendous,
not to mention the wind. To
the north you can see the radar domes
of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Highland Light flashes to
their left. More than 180
degrees of the ocean is visible. To the
west, a sliver of Cape Cod Bay appears
above the ridge line. Some
of its cape shore is to the left,
and Plymouth shore is to the right.
To return to Ballston
Beach, walk west on the foot path. It is
much used and easy to follow through
the short pitch pine woods. Cross
the fire roads that intersect it.
The direction is generally west,
with some meandering to the southwest.
After a mile, the path turns
sharply right. Ignore the
faint continuation to the west, which is a
false trail. Walking north,
you will reach a major fire road heading
east and west.
Walk west until
you come to a rail fence, and beyond to a paved
road, which is Collins Road.
Walk north on it to South Pamet Road
and return to Ballston Beach.
This loop is just short of four miles.
Paradise Hollow
A shorter version of the Paradise Hollow walk is described in detail
in the guide for the Long Walk. Topo maps and a sketch map are
applicable to both. See www.cctrails.org/paradise.htm
High Head
Park at the National
Seashore parking lot at the end of Head of
the
Meadow Road, east of Route 6
in Truro. Follow brown Seashore signs.
From the parking lot, walk back
to the entrance to where the bicycle
trail begins, marked by a sign (001).
It is a two mile, paved path that ends
at High Head Road. Walk along
the edge of the path. Grass is easier
on the legs, and it feels more like
a hike. A detailed map of the
bicycle trails is at Map
of National Seashore Bicycle Trails in Eastham
and Truro.
From Route 6 in Wellfleet, just north of the last sign to Wellfleet Center,
turn east on Gull Pond road. In about one mile, drive north on Schoolhouse
Road to the driveway to Gull Pond Landing, and park. Walk west to
(001), then north to (002). Continue on this road to (003), then east to
(004).
If you wish you can continue east to a fork and then right to a footpath
which will take you out to the ocean. This is the route of our Truro Ponds
long walk. You will then have to backtrack to (004); you cannot walk
around Horseleech Pond.
Walk northwest to (005), then circle Round Pond to (006) and continue
southwest on what is Slough Road past (007) to (008), on Old Kings
Highway. Walk south on it briefly to the base of hill at (009). Walk
east past a house on your left, then pick up a foot path that circles up
the hill to (010).
Continue south on the path to (002), on Schoolhouse Road, and thence
to (001) and return. The total walk is 3.5 to 4 miles, depending on
detours. Hortense Kelly, who pioneered this route, would take her
Eastham Hiking Club to visit Thoreau's famous "Wellfleet Oysterman's
House" on Williams Pond. But that is private property.
Ryder Beach
Park at the south end of Ryder Beach road in the beach parking lot (001)..
Walk south past Ryder Hollow Road to a sandy road leading east, at
a sign that says "Private Homes." At the fork (002), bear right. Continuing
east, when you pass No. 69, look for a foot path that goes east (003) up
and over the hill. You will pass a large sign stating "Pedestrians
Welcome!"
The old road continues east. In about one-half mile from Ryder Beach,
you reach a well-defined woods road that is the old railroad bed (004).
Follow it southeast to the triangle of paved roads (005). Head west
on Bound Brook Island Road. Visit the Atwood-Higgins homestead (006),
preferably with someone who knows the history.
Then walk west briefly to (007) where a wide foot path begins behind
a rail fence. Follow this path northwest out to a spectacular lookout at
(008). Walk due south on the foot path to (009) where a branching road
from Bound Brook Road heads west.
Walk on that road to (010), then west on a foot path to the beach (011).
Trudge north on the beach, admiring the view, to (012) and then inland
to return to the parking lot. A little less than four miles.
