Category Archives: Cape Cod Hiking

Looking Back Toward Coast Guard Station On Cape Cod.

There is quite a large pond that has formed right near the end of Coast Guard Beach by Nauset Spit. You used to be able to  walk the trail part-way back on the marsh side of the beach, but I’m not sure if that is possible now. Does anyone know if that trail is walkable?

Our First Butterfly Of The Season On The Beech Forest Trail In Provincetown On Cape Cod.

We saw our first butterfly of the season on the Beech Forest Trail. What a treat! It was a Mourning Cloak butterfly and it was just gorgeous! (Click on blog link for other photo.)

We saw a “flutter” on the trail but, by the time we realized what it was, it had flown away. We never expected to see a butterfly in April! By the time we finished our hike, we had seen about 10 of them on the sandy trail, in the trees and on the bushes.

“In their adult form, Mourning Cloaks showcase a rich maroon or brown hue when their wings are spread, bordered by pale yellow edges and accented with black and iridescent blue spots. The underside of their wings presents dull gray striations, maintaining the pale yellow borders.”

You can see by the 2nd photo how they camouflage right into their surroundings when their wings are closed. Have you seen any butterflies yet this spring?

 

The Boardwalks On The Beech Forest Trail In Provincetown On Cape Cod.

We’ve hiked the Beech Forest Trail hundreds of times and have never seen it as wet as it is this spring.  (Click on blog link for other photos.)

Thank goodness the Cape Cod National Seashore has done such a great job installing the many boardwalks along the trail. They certainly are needed to keep dry this year.

Have you hiked the Beech Forest Trail lately? The reflections in the little pools are really pretty.

Garter Snake On The Red Maple Swamp Trail At Fort Hill On Cape Cod.

I heard a little rustle in the leaves as we were walking along the boardwalk on the Red Maple Swamp Trail. It didn’t sound like an animal as the sound was too consistent. I thought perhaps it was a snake. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

I had never seen a Garter Snake before so it was pretty cool when we spotted it among the leaves and dead branches on the side of the trail. “Garter snakes are indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length is about 22 inches.”

Have you ever seen a Garter Snake?