Our family will be going to Cape Cod for a long weekend in mid June. We want to do the Cape Cod trail but we have a 7 year old who is just learning to ride. Therefore, we want limit it to five miles and want to start at the best spot where we could get the best views but avoid any road (car traffic) riding. (A few years ago we did Martha?s Vineyard and were disappointed with one trail that went straight onto a road and the cars were whizzing by us at a good clip). Would appreciate your recommendations. If it matters, we will be staying in Hyannis.

Also, since we don?t have a bike rack, we cannot take our own bikes, we will need to rent bikes. Are there bike rentals only at the start of the trail?

Thank you.

Hi. We are so excited to be going back to Cape Cod this summer and I can't wait to do another section of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

You can rent bikes at the start of the trail in Dennis. I think this is a nice section - but admitedly, the only section we've ever done (from Dennis about 5-6 miles one way and then turning around). For the majority of the trail, there is no traffic, but there are several places where you have to cross a street. If you ride in front, I think you can safely manage these.

We have biked the Cape Cod Rail Trail on several occasions, the last one as a family.

I really like the part of the trail that covers Brewster (Nickerson State Park is beautiful and has alot of ponds to take a quick dip), Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.

Having said that, I really cannot remember too much road biking there, but it was a while ago.

We rented at the Idle Times Bike Shop in Eastham. Thay were very helpful and the bikes were in good condition.

I would check out the internet for a site that maps out the trail, and then you will be able to see how many roads are around.

Good luck and wear helmuts!!

I think the most beautiful is Province Lands Bike Trail in Provincetown. Through the dunes to Race Point. Did it with my kids many years ago. I think there is a bike rental shop at the trail beginning. If not, I'm sure there are many places in town.

We are regular bikers on the outer cape part of the rail trail (Eastham to Orleans). This is beautiful and there are several rental places along the trail with parking available BUT be warned that this part of the trail, at least, is NOT flat. My kids found the hills quite noticeable (I'm being polite here).

When my youngest was at the not-quite-independent biker stage, we rented a trail-a-bike or whatever those mini-bikes that attach to mine are called. This worked REALLY well and the last year we did this I could actually feel him helping me along, but we didn't have to wait for him or listen to the hill complaints.

Also, this part of the trail crosses a few (non-highway) roads, but it is completely off-road and protected; perfect except maybe for the hills. The trail is inland so the views are of ponds and typical Cape Cod landscape, not ocean or bay. There also used to be a place in Orleans where you got dumped onto the road, but I believe this may have changed in the last couple of years.

I know that there's a more extensive section of rail trail on the upper cape (i.e., the area where you'll be staying), but haven't biked it. I *can* tell you that the Provincetown dunes trail is GORGEOUS but incredibly hilly, so I'd avoid it with your 7yo (or plan to walk). Also, it's quite a distance from the parking through the dunes to the water.