Whether you are looking for a leisurely beach stroll in the warmer months or a brisk walk in the cold weather, the Harding’s Beach Trail is a short hike with a lot of points of interest along the way.
The trail itself runs along Harding Beach and parts of it feel like you are literally walking inside the dunes. On one side you’ll see glimpses of the ocean and on the other Stage Harbor.
In the fall and winter the trail is a lot less populated (it can get windy, so be careful not to get windsept!) but no less beautiful and much for peaceful; in the spring and summer there is a lot more foot traffic, and you’ll be able to see much more color in the wildflowers.
At the tip of the loop you’ll take in the Stage Harbor Lighthouse (also known as the Harding’s Beach Lighthouse), which is the youngest lighthouse on Cape Cod and deactivated and privatized in 1933. And if you head to the beach side, you’ll see views not only of Nantucket Sound but also the Morris Island part of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.
