username
X
password
register
for free!
 help
 Home FAQ Contribute Camp Granada Surveys Shop
 TrailDEX Filter Areas A to Z Easy Hikes in Season Dog Hikes in Season
 MapRoute Editor Route Editor Route CloudRoute Scout Route Scout Foliage DEX Wildflower DEX
Publish a Guide
Trail/Hike Guide
 GPS Route
Recorded Track of a Hike
 Triplog
Review/Journal of a Hike
 Photoset
Photos of a Hike
help
  HAZ Forum
ArticlesGuidesRoutes
 
Photosets
 Recent Photosets
Liked PixelMASTERS
Avatars Tagged Notes
 
 Comments
triplogs   photosets   labels comments more
Great Island Trail - 1 member in 1 triplog has rated this an average 5 ( 1 to 5 best )
1 triplog
login for filter options
Jul 26 2018
avatar

 Guides 41
 Routes 1,626
 Photos 14,983
 Triplogs 2,760

69 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
Great Island TrailSoutheast, MA
Great Island Trail
Southeast, MA
Hiking avatar Jul 26 2018
The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760
Hiking9.94 Miles 346 AEG
Hiking9.94 Miles   3 Hrs   45 Mns   2.88 mph
346 ft AEG      18 Mns Break12 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
Eaglet
Two miles west of downtown Wellfleet is the parking lot and trailhead for the Great Island Trail. Hiking with my son Ben, our plan for the day was to sample as many of the routes on the island that we could, while reaching my goal of getting to the southernmost tip, Jeremy Point.

I'd drawn up as many of the routes as I could find information on. (No where near as easy as HAZ). I took the trail down and out of the woods, opening up to great views of Wellfleet Bay. The area called "The Gut" comes into view. This narrow land mass connects Griffin Island to Great Island. Soft sand in spots, makes walking a bit arduous.

At Great Island we followed The Tavern Trail (and footprints) CW along the shoreline (missing the first turn up to higher ground). We saw the board showing info from the excavation in 1969-70 of the Samuel Smith Tavern (circa 1690-1740). We thought this was the site, but I later found out there is a foundation still visible, that we missed. Gotta go back I guess....

We followed The Tavern Trail to the Wellfleet Bay Overlook (my favorite spot) and then some use trails off Great Island, over to the Great Beach Hill area.

I'd planned to get up Great Beach hill, but we were on a schedule.

I'd read that Jeremy Point was only accessible during low tide. I'd say you just need to plan to be out there and back, when you are at least an hour either side of High Tide. From Great Beach Hill RT to Jeremy Point is a 2.6 miles. Just you, a narrow strip of land, Piping Plovers and a couple of inquisitive Grey Seals out there, less than 20' away, are all we saw. Great White Sharks and Sea Turtles are in the area, but we saw none.

We saw many Casts of Fiddler Crabs out there :next: [ youtube video ]

To save time, we hiked the beach on the bay side, most of the way back.

This was my favorite hike on the Cape so far and great to spend it with one of my sons.
_____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
  1 archive
average hiking speed 2.88 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

FAQ
helpcommentissue

end of page marker