Hike Cape Cod with experts: Appalachian Mountain Club offers cool treks

When I first washed ashore on Cape Cod, the entire peninsula was a huge mystery. I suspected that the ocean might be nearby because I could smell salt on the breeze, and even small stores stocked pails and shovels.

An exhaustive investigation proved my wild theory correct. I discovered a vast, surfy puddle on the east side of Wellfleet, later identified as the Atlantic Ocean. On the western side of town, I found a calm blue dollop, which longtime residents called Cape Cod Bay.

Feeling rather smug with my Magellan-esque accomplishments, I rested up for a few years and turned my attention to watching sports on TV, drinking a few beers and floating around in my inflatable seahorse.

Then, one day, I stumbled across a topographic map of Wellfleet. Suddenly, I realized there were vast territories to explore, not just in my town but all over the Cape. This started my "Lost Again" hiking phase, where I would end up deep in the woods, hoping that I would somehow find my way back to civilization and cheeseburgers.

I grew to love hiking and checking out all the cool places on the Cape. But I can't recommend my bumbling approach, which often saw me emerge from the woods in a strange place, saying things like "Dude, where's my car?" or "Is this Eastham or Sandwich?"

There had to be an easier way to figure out the Cape hiking game. I was mulling this over the other day when I received an email from Robin McIntyre, Cape hike chair for the Appalachian Mountain Club's Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter. She sang the praises of the group hiking experience.

Shortly thereafter, we had an intriguing chat. I was gobsmacked to discover that her organization offers a bunch of guided group hikes on Cape Cod and beyond. As a noted pinchpenny, I was delighted to learn that all the Cape Cod hikes are free and you don't have to be a club member.

But it might be fun to join the nonprofit Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which has been around since 1876 and seeks to "protect the mountains, forests, waters, and trails you love in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions," according to their website.

Robin told me that the club's group hikes provide a safer way for folks to enjoy hiking on Cape Cod.

"If you're by yourself and you turn your ankle, who is going to know you're in the woods?" she pointed out. She also said the hiking groups cook up a real sense of camaraderie and are led by people who know the trails and terrain.

Then, Robin showed me something amazing that sealed the deal. Her club's website has an easy to navigate listing of upcoming hikes on Cape Cod that includes dates, times, a detailed overview of the hike and contact info for the hike leader.

There are lots of hikes to choose from, and most of them don't require registration. "Show and go," is how Robin put it.

The Cape hikes are typically scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays from September to May. Upcoming hikes in February include Beebe Woods in Falmouth, the Long Nook area in Truro and Scorton Creek in Sandwich.

"We tend to do four to five miles in about two hours," said Robin, who added that hike leaders pre-walk the trails to make sure conditions are good.

The takeaway? Don't be like me, the chowderheaded lost guy. For folks who want to get a handle on Cape hiking possibilities, and especially for people who have just moved here, these Appalachian Mountain Club group hikes might open up a world of adventure.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod hiking: Appalachian Mountain Club offers cool group walks