Pros & cons
PROS
- Freshwater swamp boardwalk paired with nearby Nauset Marsh views on the loop
- Partially accessible first section with wide boardwalk and edge barriers
CONS
- Hemenway Landing parking often requires a town permit in season
- Mosquitoes and biting flies can be intense in warm months
Primary parking at Fort Hill: small main lot past the Captain Edward Penniman House with an overflow lot 0.2 miles farther. Hemenway Landing has seasonal restrooms; parking there typically requires a Town of Eastham permit in season.
Boardwalk can be slick when wet; mosquitoes and biting flies in warm months; a few steps and a short steeper section limit full accessibility; pets not allowed.
Overview
A compact, easy stroll with a big payoff. The Red Maple Swamp Trail is a 0.8‑mile total, mostly boardwalk wander through a shady freshwater swamp in the Fort Hill area. Expect gentle grades, a few steps down to reach the boardwalk, and an unrushed 20–30 minute outing. It’s best known for fiery foliage when the red maples pop in autumn.
Why go
If you like short, low‑effort walks with a sense of place, this is a gem. The elevated boardwalk keeps your feet dry while you thread between maples and wetland plants, with chances to spot frogs, snakes, and birdlife. Many visitors link it with the adjacent Fort Hill Trail for bluff‑top looks at the salt marsh, outer beach, and ocean—turning a good stroll into a great loop.
Route options
Do the boardwalk as an out‑and‑back for the 0.8‑mile total. For a longer sampler, connect with Fort Hill to make roughly 1.6–1.8 miles; you’ll descend to the swamp, traverse the boardwalk, then climb back toward Indian Rock and the open bluff for those classic marsh views.
Access and parking
Start from Fort Hill (near the Captain Edward Penniman House) or from Hemenway Landing. The Fort Hill area has a small main lot (about fifteen vehicles) with an overflow lot a short drive farther. Hemenway Landing has seasonal restrooms; parking there typically requires a town permit in season, so most visitors should use Fort Hill.
Accessibility
The boardwalk is wide and smooth in many sections, with edge barriers in places. The first ~0.6 miles counterclockwise are generally the most accessible, but there are steps and a brief steeper grade on the wider loop. Full wheelchair or stroller access around the entire loop is unlikely without assistance or adaptive equipment.
Best time to hike
Late September through October is prime—cooler temps, fewer bugs, and the red maples living up to the name. Summer can be buggier and the boardwalk can feel humid; spring is quieter and lush. Go early or late in the day for softer light and easier parking.
Heads up
Mosquitoes and biting flies are a thing in warmer months—bring repellent. The boardwalk can be slick after rain; keep kids close and tread carefully. Pets aren’t allowed on this trail.
Elevation
0.8 mi · 30 minWhere it starts
41.8230, -69.9652Wildlife on this trail
Near Red Maple Swamp Trail
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayHemenway LandingKayak launch and birding window into Nauset MarshTrailhead · Restroom
0.3 mi awayFort HillOpen‑meadow overlook with marsh panoramas and easy loop walkingTrailhead · Parking
0.3 mi awayPenniman HouseOrnate 1868 whaling captain’s home on Fort HillExhibit · Parking
0.3 mi awayFort Hill TrailShort, breezy loop with big Nauset Marsh views and local history.Easy · 1 mi · 45 min
0.4 mi awaySkiff Hill OverlookMarsh and ocean views plus a centuries-old sharpening stoneTrailhead · Parking
1.1 mi awayButtonbush TrailKid-friendly sensory loop with braille signs and a pond boardwalkEasy · 0.3 mi · 15 min
1.1 mi awayNauset Marsh TrailEasy loop with sweeping views of Salt Pond and Nauset MarshEasy · 1.3 mi · 1 hr
1.5 mi awayDoane Loop TrailShort, paved woods loop with history and a giant glacial boulder.Easy · 0.6 mi · 30 min
