Hike Barnstable Events

The Hike Barnstable Challenge starts Saturday, June 3 (National Trails Day) and ends on Monday, September 4.

Commit to walking 40 miles over the course of the 13-week challenge, focusing on trails and pathways in the Town of Barnstable and its seven villages (Barnstable, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Osterville, Marstons Mills, and West Barnstable) by printing the Tracker/Finisher Form. Want to let your friends and family know what you are up to? Just download the Hike Barnstable logo here or above to post on social media.

By pre-registering for the Hike Barnstable Challenge, you will be notified of special health and wellness programs by our Hike Barnstable Challenge sponsor, Cape Cod Healthcare, as well as other partners like Community Health Center. You’ll also receive our bi-monthly e-newsletter including updates on Hike Barnstable related events and fun facts.

Any walk within the Town of Barnstable (Barnstable, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Osterville, Marstons Mills, and West Barnstable) that is at least a mile can be recorded in your log. You can also repeat walks/hikes or count miles hiked while participating in one of our programs or a partner program.

We will count a 30 minute nature outing as the equivalent of a 1-mile hike for purposes of the challenge and gaining the benefits of immersing yourself in nature. This can include sitting in nature to take in the sun, and activities of your choosing that take place outdoors in your neighborhood, parks, and on trails.

Hikers and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in Hike Barnstable. Seasonal and year-round residents, visitors, families, as well as young and old walkers alike can find trails throughout the Town of Barnstable that fit their special interests and abilities. We encourage family members to hike together, but indicate that on their tracking log/finisher form so that each person can receive their own certificate and sticker.

Barnstable Land Trust recently printed four (4) new trail guides which can also be accessed here or by following the links below.

Barnstable Trail Guide (English)

Barnstable Trial Guide (Portuguese)

Cape Cod Pathways Trail Guide

Eagle Pond and Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide

In particular, the Barnstable Trail Guide represents 34 different locations and almost 95 miles of hiking trails so it is a handy resource! These can be found online at blt.org, at visitor centers, local libraries, and BLT’s Conservation Center on Route 6A (near Cape Cod Community College).

You can also find additional maps on the Town of Barnstable website for Sandy Neck Beach Park and other Town of Barnstable Conservation Trails here.

Online and smartphone health apps are great at tracking miles as well as sites like All Trails, Walkster, Map My Walk, and Strava. Also, BLT’s trail maps provide trail distance estimates. When you are done, just share the completed tracking/finisher form to info@blt.org or mail it to Barnstable Land Trust’s Conservation Center at 1540 Main Street, West Barnstable, MA 02668.

All hikers who complete the challenge will get a Hike Barnstable Certificate of Completion emailed to them as well as a thank you note from BLT’s Executive Director and a BLT Hike Barnstable sticker which will be mailed when the Challenge ends. Plus, you get to feel healthier and enjoy the memories of enjoying some of Cape Cod’s most special natural places!

Barnstable Land Trust is a community-supported nonprofit that has protected 1,100+ acres, also worked with the Town of Barnstable in preserving and protecting over 11,000 additional acres of land. In addition to the Town, there are many other partners who are part of the Hike Barnstable Challenge:

• Town of Barnstable: Department of Natural Resources, Department of Recreation, Conservation Division

• Cape Cod Healthcare

• Community Health Center

• Local Libraries

• Cape Cod Children’s Museum

• Get Outside Cape Cod

• Cape Cod Nordic Walking Club

• Appalachian Mountain Club/Cape Cod

• Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District’s Pollinator Pathway Trail

Words games, crafts, and other resources will be added to the Activities & Resources page throughout the summer so keep checking it out!

For many years, the medical field has documented how hikes and walks can improve your overall health physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our sponsor, Cape Cod Healthcare, agrees. By participating in Hike Barnstable you can: recharge your mind; connect with family, friends, and yourself; boost memory and concentration; increase energy levels; burn calories; increase creativity; learn healthy habits; and gain mental awareness. Pre-register to be notified of special health and wellness programs by our Hike Barnstable Challenge sponsor, Cape Cod Healthcare, as well as other partners like Community Health Center.

Do you know about Barnstable Land Trust’s Words in the Wild initiative which launches each Earth Day? As of 2023, BLT has worked with a total of 9 local poets who have created inspiring site-specific poems on special trails and properties throughout the Town of Barnstable. We promise a little extra inspiration for every trailside poem that you discover, so as a reward, you can add .5 miles to your tracking log/finisher form. Discover all 9 and you can log an extra 4.5 miles! Hint: Look for trailside poems at Pogorelc Sanctuary (West Barnstable), Fuller Farm (Marstons Mills), Ropes Field (Cotuit), Eagle Pond (Cotuit), Bell Farm (Cotuit), Lowell Park Woodlands (Cotuit), Bansfield Meadow (Osterville), Seapuit Road/Main Street (Osterville) and Coombs Bogs (Centerville).

Please tag and follow Barnstable Land Trust on social media using @barnstablelandtrust, #HikeBarnstable, or #BLT40. And please share photos of your travels - we can’t wait to be inspired!