Shining Sea Bikeway
Cape Cod's original rail trail, from cranberry bogs to ocean views
This roam covers 8.8 miles of Massachusetts' first rail trail, which traces 10.7 miles from North Falmouth to Woods Hole along the Cape's glacial coast. Named for Katharine Lee Bates' iconic poem, the trail passes cranberry bogs, salt marshes, and beaches with views of Martha's Vineyard.
- Length
- 8.8 mi
- Time
- 57 min
- by bike
- Stops
- 5 stops
- plus 2 bonus
Starts at Wings Pond & Cranberry Bog, ends at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution · Directions
Unlock the Shining Sea badge
The route, stop by stop
On this route:Shining Sea Bikeway· 7.9 mi
Numbered pins are the stops; gold rings are optional detours.
Ride it with Shift, free
A map of the route, directions to each stop in your maps app, and automatic check-in when you arrive. Finish to unlock the Shining Sea badge.
Stop 1: Wings Pond & Cranberry Bog
Start
An 1860s cranberry bog landscape with a scenic pond overlook
About this stopNext: Bike to Bourne Farm
0.2 mi · 1 min
Stop 2: Bourne Farm
A 49-acre working farm with a rare stone cattle tunnel, one of only a few remaining in Massachusetts
About this stopNext: Bike to Goodwill Park
4 mi · 26 min
4.1 mi separated path
Stop 3: Goodwill Park
A glacial moraine park with Long Pond access and the Moraine Trail loop
About this stopNext: Bike to Falmouth Beach
2.5 mi · 16 min
2.4 mi separated path
Stop 4: Falmouth Beach
A waterfront stretch with views across Vineyard Sound to Martha's Vineyard
About this stopNext: Bike to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
2.1 mi · 14 min
2 mi separated path
Stop 5: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Finish
Home to the Ocean Science Discovery Center, the world's leading ocean research institute
About this stop
Bonus stops
Optional detours near the route, worth the extra few minutes.
Monument to Katharine Lee Bates
Memorial to the Falmouth-born author of America the Beautiful
About this stopNobska Lighthouse
An 1876 lighthouse overlooking the junction of Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay
About this stop
Getting there
How it works
A roam is a self-guided route you follow at your own pace in the free Shift app.
Follow the route
Open this roam in the Shift app and follow it at your own pace.
Check in at each stop
The app checks you in when you arrive. No scanning, no codes. Visit 3 of the 5 stops and the roam is complete.
Unlock the Shining Sea badge
Finish the roam and the Shining Sea badge is yours. Finish all 0 routes in the MassTrails 10 for a bonus badge.
Part of the MassTrails 10. Finish all 0 routes to unlock the Trail Master badge.