One of the most pleasant routes on the Cape is found at the elbow of the Cape, in Chatham. Though this route is not an off road path, and it runs along main roads, it is a fine ride, totalling about eight miles in length.
In a small area, Chatham offers a number of things to see, including Chatham's famous lighthouse, Coast Guard Station, and weather facility. You can also stop at the Chatham fish pier where commercial fishing can be seen closeup, and view the breathtaking sights along the shore of the treacherous Chatham bars. The fish pier is a great place to see seals, as they tend to congregate there, attracted by scraps of fish from the fishing boats.
The Chatham bars have become famous because of the erosion that has happened there in recent years, threatening houses and toppling them into the sea and changing accesses to harbors; the storm tides are always changing this area.
There are many beautiful sights right along the path of Chatham's well-planned route. including numerous ocean views. If you tire of biking, it is only a few hundred yards from parts of the trial to Chatham's renowned Main Street shops and restaurants. Main Street in Chatham is a destination itself, bustling in the summer and very quiet in the off season. There are several parking areas along the route. While most of the bicycling is level, be particularly cautious along this route, as sightseers in automobiles or on bicycles may be distracted by the scenery themselves and may not be watching for you.
An extension of the Rail Trail, now called the Old Colony Rail Trail, begun in 2004 and completed in 2006, brings bicyclists from Harwich to Chatham. It runs from Harwich to Chatham center where you can directly connect to the Chatham route.
Chatham Bike Route Map
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