Parking
Limited roadside spaces near the south end of Province Lands Road, by Pilgrim’s First Landing and the Provincetown Inn; the reported area holds about two dozen vehicles. Parking fees and overflow options were not verified.
Overview
About Long Point Lighthouse Trail
Why go
- A rare walk across Provincetown Harbor on the granite dike.
- A remote lighthouse, oil house and memorial cross in one outing.
Heads up
- Uneven blocks and low tide points make the dike a fall and stranding hazard.
- Soft sand and full sun make the final approach slow.
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Cape Cod alerts
- CautionSharks active in park waters through OctoberSharks are active in Cape Cod National Seashore waters through October; heed all beach guidelines and signage before entering the water. Check current park conditions before entering the water.Official details
- CautionHarmful algal bloom advisories at Snows and Slough PondsDo not swim in or swallow water at Snows Pond or Slough Pond; the Town of Truro currently lists harmful algal bloom advisories at both ponds.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Cape Cod Tour Guide
Your drive to Long Point Lighthouse Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Cape Cod National Seashore. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Cape Cod audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Long Point Dike and the Lighthouse Walks0:00 / 0:24
“Up ahead is Long Point Dike, an unusual walk across Provincetown Harbor on rough granite blocks. Allow an hour and a half to two hours for the causeway-only round trip, with gaps and sloping stones underfoot.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Cape Cod Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Herring Cove Beach
- Houses That Crossed the Harbor
- Hatches Harbor Trail to Race Point Light
- Beech Forest
- 56 audio storiesacross Cape Cod’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Gray Seal, Coyote, Red Fox, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 32 trails, 55 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Long Point Lighthouse Trail
The walkLong Point Lighthouse Trail is about 5.
Long Point Lighthouse Trail is about 5.5 miles round trip, an out-and-back from Province Lands Road over Long Point Dike and along sandy shoreline to Long Point Light. Allow about four hours. There is little climbing, but uneven granite and soft beach sand make the walk slower than the elevation suggests. This row covers Long Point Light only; the longer two-lighthouse circuit continues to Wood End Light.
Across the dikeThe first stretch crosses Long Point Dike, locally called the Breakwater or the Jetty.
The first stretch crosses Long Point Dike, locally called the Breakwater or the Jetty. The granite blocks get rougher toward the peninsula, with gaps, sloped faces and drops between rocks. It is a balance walk, not a paved path. Low points can be underwater around high tide, and extreme high water can cover the whole crossing. Start near low tide and leave enough time to get back; turn around if water blocks the route.
Sandy shore to the lightFrom the far end of the dike, follow the sandy shoreline route toward Long Point Light.
From the far end of the dike, follow the sandy shoreline route toward Long Point Light. Deep sand slows the walk. Old dock pilings mark the turn toward the sandy path up the dune; keep to the established paths instead of cutting through tall dune grass. If water or a posted bird-protection closure blocks the shore, turn back rather than entering closed or vegetated areas.
At Long Point LightThe tower you see replaced the original light, built here in 1827, in 1875.
The tower you see replaced the original light, built here in 1827, in 1875. An oil house stands nearby, and a dune-top cross honors Provincetown artist Charles S. Darby, who was killed during World War II. It is a memorial, not a grave. The lighthouse buildings are closed to visitors. For a photo, include the cross or sandy path in the foreground with the light behind it.
Parking and trail rulesStart at the roadside spaces near the end of Province Lands Road, by Pilgrim’s First Landing…
Start at the roadside spaces near the end of Province Lands Road, by Pilgrim’s First Landing and the Provincetown Inn. The reported area holds about two dozen vehicles and often fills on busy summer days. There is no shade along the route. Dogs aren’t allowed on this walking trail. Stay on designated paths and obey posted shorebird closures.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Cape Cod
461 sightingsGray SealMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
85 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
300 sightingsRed FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
49 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
264 sightingsHorseshoe CrabMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
74 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cape Cod. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
