Great One Mile Beech Forest Trail: A Step Back in Time

Provincetown’s Beech Forest

In Provincetown’s Beech Forest, catch a glimpse of what Cape Cod looked like when the Mayflower landed in the early seventeenth century. At that time, much of the Cape was covered in pine-oak forests and groves of hickory, red maple, birch, and beech trees.

Over the next two hundred years, settlers cleared most of these forests to make room for houses, gardens, and animal pastures.

Beech Forest Trail

Today, the Beech Forest is one of the most densely wooded sections of the Cape. A walking trail meanders through the forested dunes, encircling the shallow waters of Blackwater and Beech Ponds.

The Beech Forest Trail climbs the dunes in one or two places but is mostly level. Most of the trail surface is hard-packed sand, although a wooden boardwalk helps visitors keep their feet dry near the ponds.

Ponds and Wetlands

Beech Forest, Beech Pond, and Blackwater Pond are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, encompassing unspoiled parts of the Cape’s Atlantic coastal pine’s barren ecosystem.

The beginning of the mile-long Beech Forest Trail loop takes visitors along the edge of Blackwater Pond. This shallow pond, covered in a blanket of lily pads, inspired Mary Oliver’s powerful poem “In Blackwater Woods.”

The poem, which discusses life and loss, is a fitting tribute to a body of water that is slowly being taken over by plants and absorbed into the surrounding forest.

The walking trail continues past Blackwater Pond. At the 0.4-mile mark, there’s a fork in the trail. Turn left here to skip over the trail’s more challenging terrain or stay straight to do the full loop.

On the more difficult section of the loop, the Beech Forest trail climbs over a steep sand dune then undulates over the gentle dunes underfoot until it meets up with the shortcut on the left.

The last leg of the Beech Forest Trail is, arguably, the most beautiful. About a quarter of a mile past the shortcut, a detour to the left takes visitors to Beech Pond.

Birdwatching on the Trail

The docks at Beech Pond are the best place along the trail to take photographs and watch for birds. This small, shallow pond is a mating and foraging ground for Canada Geese in the spring.

This area is well known for its birdwatching opportunities, including sightings of woodpeckers, warblers, chickadees, and other species. Bird feeders placed along the trail often attract them, making for great wildlife photography or peaceful observation.

Historical Significance of the Trail

The Pilgrims explored this strip of land immediately after landing in Provincetown Harbor and transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau wrote about it in his Cape Cod memoirs. Readers of Mary Oliver’s poetry may catch hints of the poet’s experience while looping around Blackwater Pond.

Beech Forest Trail Year Round

The Beech Forest Trail in Provincetown is great to visit in any season. The landscape changes with the seasons, making it a great hike in spring, summer, and especially during fall when the foliage bursts into color. It is also an excellent bird-watching destination, especially during migration season.

Mosquitoes can be active in the summer months, especially near the pond and wetland areas, so take precautions.  There is usually plenty of parking and a bit of solitude to be found in the Beech Forest.