Guides

6 Nantucket Hiking Trails That’ll Make You Want To Lace Up

Pretty much all of Nantucket can be seen on foot, making our island perfect for all sorts of scenic hikes. Whether you’re looking for a beachside stroll or a wooded trail-blazing path, the Grey Lady is sure to satisfy even the most avid outdoor explorers. Blaze a new path with a few of our favorite Nantucket hiking trails the next time you’re on island.

Pretty much all of Nantucket can be seen on foot, making our island perfect for all sorts of scenic hikes. Whether you’re looking for a beachside stroll or a wooded trail-blazing path, the Grey Lady is sure to satisfy even the most avid outdoor explorers. Blaze a new path with a few of our favorite Nantucket hiking trails the next time you’re on island.

Everything You Need to Know About Nantucket Hiking Trails

Get ready for an adventure, Nantucket style. On these beautiful Nantucket hiking trails, you’ll get to experience all that makes the island so special—the blooming hydrangeas, the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, the waves crashing on shore—all on your own two feet.

  • Sconset Bluff Walk

Sconset Bluff Walk in Siasconset is one of Nantucket’s most stunning footpaths. Following white picket fence-lined houses with overflowing flower boxes atop a towering cliffside with the ocean crashing beneath, the quiet, peaceful trail is a can’t-miss local favorite.

  • Tupancy Links

Encompassing 73 acres between Nantucket Harbor and Cliff Road, Tupancy Links was founded as a part of the Nantucket Golf Course in 1921 and later gifted to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation to preserve its beauty. The path boasts beautiful bearberry shrubs, pasture rose, huckleberry, and beach plum and ends overlooking the dramatic North Shore.

  • Masquetuck Reservation

Masquetuck Reservation offers visitors a unique look at some of Nantucket’s coveted natural resources. The dreamy walk spreads 13 acres wide, featuring stunning views of cranberry bogs, hardwood forests, and salt marshes.

  • Miacomet Pond

Miacomet Pond, a section of Miacomet Preserve, is a whimsical area filled with seagulls soaring above, fragrant flowers below, and the beauty of both a still pond and the peaceful ocean nearby. Park at Miacomet Road and walk down to the sea for an easy 3.1-mile trek.

  • New Polpis Water Tower Loop

New Polpis Water Tower Loop is situated in between the popular Polpis Bike Path. It offers a clear pathway and a wide-open view of Nantucket’s plains and is perfect for birding and spotting the island’s gentle wildlife, like New England Cottontail and songbirds.  

  • Sanford Farm & Ram Pasture

Originally used during the 17th and 18th centuries for grazing sheep and cows, farming, and harvesting wood, Sandford Farm & Ram Pasture is beloved by walkers, runners, dog owners, and bicyclists. The 780-acre property’s three most popular trails are: the 1.7 mile Northern Loop, which has great views of The North Head of Hummock Pond; the 3.1 mile Barn Walk, which loops around a picturesque historic barn; and the 6 mile Ocean Walk, which leads from the parking lot to an undeveloped beach on the southern shoreline of the island.

Kick Your Feet Up at Periwinkle Inn

After a long day on the hiking trail, retreat back to Periwinkle Inn. Book a stay in the Ahab Room and enjoy a large corner room complete with a plush king-size canopy bed, heated bathroom floors, 100% Egyptian cotton linens, and views of the cobblestone-lined streets.

Would you rather trade your hiking boots for two wheels? Explore some of the best bike tours on the island. From Downtown to Sconset, most bike trails are equally as walkable. Pick your favorite and start exploring today! We can’t wait to show you around Nantucket.


Related Stories