The Cape Cod Canal homepage has a great deal of information on all aspects of the canal and the bikeway. There are history, photo, recreation and other links to click on. It also refers to the Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center, a short way off the bikeway.
The Cape Cod Bike Guide has information on all trails on Cape Cod, locations of bike stores, and other information helpful for cycling on the cape. To obtain Cape Cod Canal Bikeway information click on the TRAILS tab and then on the map.
Or go directly to Canal Bikeway information.
A map which can be downloaded shows locations of rest rooms, recreation areas, and directions to the bikeway.
The bikeway is 7.5 miles long on each side of the canal. We bicycled about 26 miles to cover the entire length on both sides. We started from a Canal Recreation Area parking lot near Scusset Beach at the northern end of the bikepath on the mainland side of the canal. We first cycled to the southern end at Bourne. There is a town park, the Bourne Recreation Park at Rt. 28 and Academy Rd, where we ate lunch. We bicycled through the Massachusetts Maritime Academy near here. After riding back about a mile and a half we followed Old Bridge Rd. (which comes to the path) and then followed signs for the Bike and Pedestrian route across the Bourne Bridge on the sidewalk.
After crossing the bridge, we tried to reach the northern end of the path at Bell Rd. but found that it was blocked off by construction (2003 probably open now). We got to the path on construction roads and going down muddy hills. It could have been reached from a parking lot directly under the Bourne Bridge. We then biked the 7.5 miles to the north end where there is a parking lot and picnic area and then followed the Canal Service Road and Tupper Rd. to 6A toward the Sagamore Bridge. Just before the bridge, a small road goes off 6A and leads to the Bike and pedestrian way across the bridge.
This is a wonderful ride; a beautiful smooth path on both sides of the canal. The bridge crossings are good on the sidewalk. The only hills are getting up to the bridges.
Unfortunately, we didn't see any large ships passing through the canal, but there is much to see and do for a day's outing. Here are some pictures of our ride.
First picture.
