At first I was a little disappointed in the trail. We drove from Western Mass to ride it. Looking at the map and considering the name I thought we were going to have great coastal views. But most of it is tree lined. Making it shady, which is nice, but no views. The southern few miles are coastal and along a beach with great views. The trail is in good condition with several benches for breaks. It is heavily used in summer. We made for a nice day by taking the ferry to Marthas Vineyard at the southern end of the trail. Rode a bit around the island, ate then came back. If youre going to make the trip from 2-3 hours away go to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Its longer and lots of fun with spurs off it to the beach. Well worth the drive.

I did the whole trail one way (my wife drives shuttle) on 6/2/2011 and there was no problem with construction. It is a wonderful trail, but a little hard to find the start and the parking in Woods Hole at the Ferry Dock. At about mile 2 from Woods Hole there is a section with many ridges and cracks in the pavement which gives quite a bump. It would be nice if they could fill these. Highly recommended trail. Youker

I love riding this bike trail when I am on Cape Cod.
I was there in May and started at the northernmost point. I got only a few miles and the trail was closed for construction. I had to go back to my car and drive down to the next parking lot. According to the workmen that I encountered, they were installing a culvert so that the water could pass from one side of the trail to the other.

I am wondering if construction is complete now and is the bike trail passable again???
If there is someone from the area, please let us all know.

> Has anyone any idea or info about heading south on Church St (shortly after Little Harbor) to Nobska Rd to Fay Rd. Is the lighthouse on this point?

Casual cyclists who don't mind short, steep climbs may wish to use Church St to view Nobska Light
http://www.lighthouse.cc/nobska

Serious road cyclists might enjoy that 3.25 mile alternative (Woods Hole Rd, Church St, Nobska Rd, Oyster Pond Rd, Surf Dr) from the south end of the Bikeway to its 2.2 mile mark. However I think that the 5.35 mile ride (Carlson Ln, (Old) Palmer Av, Sippewissett Rd, Quissett Rd, School St, Water St, Railroad Av) from about the 4.5 mile marker to the south end of the Bikeway would be much safer and enjoyable. One can always also make the side trip to Nobska Light, while in Woods Hole.


Church St (off Woods Hole Rd) crosses a wooden bridge over the Bikeway (at the .35 mile marker) which goes through the Steamship Authority (Ferry to Marthas Vineyard) parking lot, down will past the private Nobska Beach, just before going uphill to Nobska Light on Nobska Point

It continues as narrow and winding roads briefly along Vineyard Sound and then through woods, with limited sight distances for traffic. Nobska Rd crossing under the Bikeway (at the .7 mile marker) shortly becomes Oyster Pond Rd and finally Surf Dr. There are few (and unmarked) opportunities to rejoin the Bikeway until its 2.2 mile marker (just after Trunk River Beach) where it heads inland along Oyster Pond and then Salt Pond.

I do not recommend Fay Rd, as it is a sunken, private dirt road behind private homes with many deep, often water filled ruts, doesn't offer any worthwhile water views, and only a few (also private) ways of getting back on the Bikeway.

There is an additional Bike shop at the north end of the Shining Sea Bikeway that is not yet on the official map.
http://www.falmouthmass.us/bike/shiningseabikeway_map_2009_logos_lowrez.pdf

The Bike Zone (rentals)
13 County Rd, North Falmouth
508-563-2333
just on the east side of the (active) railroad tracks from the parking lot at the north end of the Shining Sea Bikeway.


The other two bike shops close to the Bikeway (both shown on the map):

Corner Cycle, 115 Palmer Av, Falmouth
508-540-4195
http://www.cornercycle.com
from the 3.6 mile marker (from south to north)
.15 mi east on Depot Av
1st left on North Main St .05 mi
1st right on Palmer Av (MA-28, where it turns)
shop is immediately on left.

Art's Bike Shop, 91 County Rd, North Falmouth
508-563-7379
http://www.artsbikeshop.com
from the 10.7 mile marker (north end of the Bikeway)
.3 mi west on County Rd (westward extension of MA-151)
shop is on right

youre on the ocean for all of ten minutes. but its absolutely lovely and you end up in woods hole where you can explore a beautiful cape cod town. lovely....

My wife and I rode this beautiful trail from the mid point to Woodshole and loved the level path and the closeness to the ocean. I would visit this path over and over again.

My husband & I rode this beautiful trail a few weeks ago. I've read the other comments and liked petri's idea. The only disadvantage I see to that is missing the ride along the ocean (my favorite part.) Has anyone any idea or info about heading south on Church St (shortly after Little Harbor) to Nobska Rd to Fay Rd. Is the lighthouse on this point? From the map, it looks like the trail crosses Fay Rd right before the "ocean ride". This looks like a good partial alternative from Woods Hole, but not being from the area, I'd like some local feedback. Thanks and happy riding.

It's great to see an extension of this popular trail, but it's a shame the extension north of Falmouth wasn't built paralllel to the existing rail line. The state-owned right-of-way was certainly wide-enough, including any bridge underpasses, but the proponents took the less expensive (and politically expedient) route to have the rails lifted, guaranteeing passenger rail service will never return to Falmouth

The comment by Danbury Dave "...plans to add revitalized passenger service in 1994 from NYC, funded to millions, failed miserably." is utter nonsence. Review the Cape Cod Times news articles on the rail service in the 1980s and you'll see how popular this service was.

Rails-to-trails on rail routes that have no future is a great idea. Forcing the abandonment of rail lines with potential does not help the rail trail cause.

Official and more detailed map than currently on TrailLink.com
http://www.falmouthmass.us/bike/shiningseabikeway_map_2009_logos_lowrez.pdf

There are two bike shops close to the Bikeway
(both are shown on the map):

Corner Cycle, 115 Palmer Av, Falmouth
508-540-4195
http://www.cornercycle.com
from the 3.6 mile marker (from south to north)
.15 mi east on Depot Av
1st left on North Main St .05 mi
1st right on Palmer Av (MA-28, where it turns)
shop is on left

Art's Bike Shop, 91 County Rd, North Falmouth
508-563-7379
http://www.artsbikeshop.com
from the 10.7 mile marker (north end of the Bikeway)
.3 mi west on County Rd (westward extension of MA-151)
shop is on right

We rode the full length on Sunday, August 2nd starting at the northern end parking area on Rt. 151.
Easy parking, excellent ride, beautiful trail. Highly recommended. Generally smooth paved surface terminating at the Woods Hole ferry parking area. It was wonderful to see the very young and the very old using the trail among the large number of people walking, jogging, roller blading and biking. Crowded, but not too crowded. A draft map can be found at http://www.capecodbiketrails.com/Map%20PDFs/bikeway_map_w_logos_draft2Jun09.pdf. A good partial alternate return from Woods Hole that we enjoyed was to take Quissett Ave. out of Woods Hole through the Country Club to Oyster Pond Road and use the latter to return to the bike trail.

I just has the pleasure on Sunday of riding the entire Shinning Sea Bikeway. Its almost 11 miles in all each way (I belive it is 10.6 miles from County Rd to Wood's Hole. The old path from Locust St to Woods Hole was nice enough as it passes by the sea, but the new extension is the best rail trail I h ave had the pleasure to ride. The new pavement is outstanding, and it appears that the work done will allow for many years of good pedaling. I saw no signs of any potential roots, bumps etc that on other trails have had so much trouble. In fact, there is actual lnadscaping along much of the path. There are wonderful grassy areas, split rail fences and lookout points. There are many views of the ocean (Buzzard's bay), bogs and meadows. Road crossings are few, especially for this part of the State. Where there are crossings there are Pizza shops, gas stations (for air), small general stores etc.

At the present new trail head at County Rd there is an excellent Pizza shop across Rt 28A (Caution...wlak you bike. This is a dangerous 4 way highway intersection).

The path from Locust St to Wood's Hole was lined with Beach Roses in full bloom, the air perfumed with their wonderful fragrence (yes..stop to smell the roses as they say).

On the way North through North Falmouth we saw several herons and egrets and numerous red wing blackbirds.

Unlike the rail trail out at the mid cape (Dennis-Wellfleet), there are no bike shops on the Shinning Sea Bike way. I imagine its only a matter of time since this is a new trail. There are shops in downtown Falmouth so check anything you need fixed before parking your car and using the trail.

The trail is very wide, and we had no issues with avoinding walkers, joggers or skate boarders of which there were many.

I understand that the trail is going to continue all the way up to the Cape Cod canal at some point. When that happens, it will be one amazing ride.

On the way back south, it was near sunset and we were trated to wonderful sunset views and colors that crossed over the bay and marshes. the temperature was around 67, and the sky was cobalt blue..just a perfect day. i highly recomen this trail, and I am sure you will agree it may be the best trail in New Emgland.
GFS

The Shining Sea Bikeway now begins in North Falmouth at County Rd (extension of MA-151 just west of MA-28A) to Falmouth Village and on to Woods Hole. The 6.5 mile extension officially opens Monday June 29, 2009, but it is paved and many are enjoying it now.

I haven't found any good detailed map of it yet, but Mothers Day when I talked to a Falmouth Bikeways Committee member on the Bikeway, he said they were just finishing it up and it should be available soon. Hopefully it won't be long before it is on the town website, replacing the non-detailed version:
http://www.falmouthmass.us/image.php?img=bike/shining%20sea.jpg

As it says on the website:
The Bikeway traverses through a natural setting of salt marsh, cranberry bogs, ponds and woodlands, to sandy shores and a busy working harbor, traveling across an ancient coastal plain. It's the only bikeway on Cape Cod that has a section along the seashore. More info and links:
http://www.falmouthmass.us/depart.php?depkey=bike

Parking at Skating Lane is limited, but just south of there, closer to Falmouth Village, there is a large lot at Depot Av.
Depot Av is the first right (at the Intergas gas station) on the way to Woods Hole, just 1/2 block south of where MA-28 South turns left (east), cross the bikeway and it is on the left - do not park at the Bus Station.

The parking area on the north side of County Rd hasn't been paved yet, but should be usable.

Note in the introduction. The railroad was ONLY the New Haven Railroad aka New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. Penn-Central existed for a very short time in the 1960s, long after the trains stopped running on the Shining Sea. Trail North of Falmouth Station was part of Penn-Central

Please correct.

"Great trail! I rode this the other day from Falmouth (Center) near the bus (and formerly train) depot. They are doing work on the depot to touch it up. To the right is the platform, still intact.

It actually starts there and behind it they were paving in the afternoon a .7 mile stretch to the north and past the Steamship Authority. Later on when they left, i rode it and it ended under an overpass. If you ride it south it's pretty smooth and it's a rail with trail but it's hard to tell if it was double tracked and you were riding on a former track or siding. The rails are in place for about 1/2 mile and then they disappear near some swamp. There are a few street crossings as well. Lots of use by many family members in the middle of the week on a very hot day.

It crosses over a couple of very small creek bridges later. Then it goes into the small fishing and maritime town of Woods Hole, past the beach on the left and goes through more woods until it joins a parking lot for the tourists for the ferries. It actually becomes a striped yellow bike lane that weaves through the parking lot between rows of cars and ends where the ferries depart. A very nice trail.

There's a huge history at the Woods Hole end detailing not only the history of the line but also the very detailed citizen activist history of trying to restore the rail line and acquiring the rail as trail.

Of note: they now have secure funding for the extension of the trail, some 6.7 miles north to connect to Bourne where the Cape Cod Canal Bike trails traverses both sides of the canal.

Freight ran on it until 1998 and plans to add revitalized passenger service in 1994 from NYC, funded to millions, failed miserably."

"Driving down to Woods Hole to go to Martha's Vineyard, my wife ""discovered"" this trail. We ended up parking at the Steamship Authority parking lot (right next to the trail) and took the path down to the ferry. Enroute we discovered we could have saved the $8 parking fee by parking at one of the free lots next to the trail."

my wife and sons wish this trail was longer. it's just
a wonderful trail

"Last summer, my husband and I had the pleasure of experiencing the Shining Sea Bikeway. It was beautiful! The path winds along the coast, revealing breathtaking views of the surf, sand and natural habitats. There was a small wooden bridge we passed over while pedaling through the tree-covered area of the path. Everyone we encountered on our ride was friendly and courtious. This one is definitely worth the ride."