Cape Cod & the Islands boast state and local parks with fun activities all year

Chappaquiddick Island is separated from Martha’s Vineyard by a narrow strait. Access is by boat or by ferry that shuttles back and forth continuously from Edgartown. On this lovely and uncrowded island visitors find a sandy beach, salt ponds and meadows, great blue heron, sandpipers and fishermen casting in the surf. The eastern barrier beach extends seven miles from Wasque Point past the Cape Poge Lighthouse to Cape Poge Gut.
Hiking of moderate difficulty can be done on 14 miles of trails for walkers and over-sand vehicles. Tours of the lighthouse, and kayak and seaside exploration tours are offer daily from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Van transportation is offered for tour participants directly from the Chappaquiddick side of the ferry landing. Call 508.627.3599 for more information.
Trail map.

Forty miles of pristine beachrd, marshes, fresh water ponds, woodlands, cranberry bogs, and historic lighthouses. Many walking and biking trails. Six oceanside swimming beaches are life guarded June through August. Eleven self-guided nature trails are open year-round.
There are two visitor centers: Salt Pond Visitor Center at 50 Doane Road, Eastham, offers orientation movies, a bookstore, a museum, and restrooms. Open year-round, daily. (508-255-3421). The Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Point Road, Provincetown, has an observation deck with a 360-degree view of the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. Oopen Memorial Day to October 31, (508-487-1256).
Beach Fees: Per day vehicle, $15; motorcycle, $5; walker and bicyclists, $3; annual pass, $45.

Correllus State Forest occupies over 5,100 acres in the center of Martha's Vineyard. It is best for hiking and cycling on its 15 miles of bicycling and walking paths. It is also the focus of one of the largest environmental restoration projects in the country. Here, visitors can see many rare species and examples of grasslands, heathlands, barrens, and woodlands, dominated by mixed oak-pine. See Trail map for hiking and biking.

This is a large camping park in the inland pine woods of Cape Cod. Swimming and fishing is done at eight fresh-water kettle ponds. Ponds are stocked year-round with trout. The park is filled with walking, hiking, and biking trails. An eight-mile bicycling trail within the park connects to the 22-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, a former railroad bed now dedicated to walking and biking. Visitors may swim and canoe and kayak at Flax Pond; enjoy the wildlife or fish (catch-and-release) at Higgins Pond, or enjoy staff-led nature learning programs. Four hundred camp sites include yurt camping. You cannot see Cape Cod Bay from this inland park, but the bay is within walking or bicycling distance.
Trail map.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Campsite map.

Carriage roads and foot trails of moderate difficulty pass around and through groves of holly on this peninsula owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations. The property has two freshwater ponds, and views of the large, freshwater Mashpee Pond and Wakeby Pond. Both ponds are stocked with fish. Area is good for bird watching. Four miles of walking trails. Seasonal parking is closer to the property than year-round parking.
Open: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
Free admission.