Hard8.7 miPlymouth

8 Ponds Pass Trail

Listed & VerifiedVerified Jun 19, 2026

Saved places stay in your account, on any device.

What is 8 Ponds Pass Trail like?

An 8.7-mile out-and-back route linking multiple town and Wildlands Trust conservation areas, passing Little Island, Great Island, Long, Little Long, Gallows, and Halfway Ponds.

Plan your walk

8 Ponds Pass Trail

Directions to the trailhead

Beaver Dam Conservation Area trailhead, Beaver Dam Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

Check conditions before you go. Trail details from Town of Plymouth (opens in a new tab)

When should you go?

Best time to go

Checking today’s weather and sun times…

Now59°FClear

Wind12 mphFrom the W

Weather and sun times from Open-Meteo for the nearest part of the Cape.

What’s the trail like?

Length: 8.7 mi
Difficulty: Hard
Surface: Natural trail
Dogs: Allowed (leashed)
Kids: Not noted
Accessible: Not noted
Views: Water
Good for: Hiking, Walking, Birding

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Park at the Beaver Dam Road trailhead or the Halfway Pond (Mast Road) trailhead at the opposite end.

Dogs

Allowed (leashed)

Managed by

Town of Plymouth / Wildlands Trust

What you'll see

Pond, Forest, Water views, Dog-friendly, Bird sanctuary

Where is the trailhead?

Beaver Dam Conservation Area trailhead, Beaver Dam Road, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Get directions

Get directions Open in Google Maps

Where else can you walk in Plymouth?

Easy
Manomet Point (Scenic Drive — Stop & View)
Town of Plymouth (Manomet Point Road Landing)
Manomet Point is a rocky headland in Plymouth's Manomet village, where granite boulders, old timber pilings and clear, shallow water meet the open bay. It's best enjoyed as a scenic drive: take it slow along Manomet Point Road, pull over only where it's legal, and take in the view. The point is ringed by private homes, so stay on the public way — the Town of Plymouth's Manomet Point Road Landing is the nearby public access, a small boat ramp.
CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06
See details
Easy
Plymouth Rock & Pilgrim Memorial State Park
Paved · Massachusetts DCR
Pilgrim Memorial State Park is Plymouth's waterfront park, home to Plymouth Rock under its granite portico and to the Mayflower II museum ship (run by Plimoth Patuxet Museums). Paved, accessible paths lead to the Rock, the Pilgrim Mother Garden and the William Bradford statue, with wide views of Plymouth Harbor along the way. The park is open sunrise to sunset, has restrooms, and welcomes dogs.
CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06
See details
Easy · 1 mi
Ellisville Harbor State Park
Mixed · Massachusetts DCR
A coastal state park where a wide ridge trail above the salt marsh delivers sweeping views of Cape Cod Bay before wooden steps descend to a rocky barrier beach.
CCC Visited · Verified 2026-06-25
See details
Easy · 2 mi
Ellisville Harbor State Park Beach Walk
Mixed · Massachusetts DCR
A coastal walk through Ellisville Harbor State Park, transitioning from upland pine forest paths to a barrier beach and tidal marsh overlooking Cape Cod Bay. The harbor mouth is a nesting and staging area for terns and shorebirds. One of the most peaceful and wild coastal walks on the South Shore.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25
See details
Easy · 1.8 mi
Morton Park Trail (Eel River)
Natural trail · Town of Plymouth
A loop trail around Little Pond within Morton Park, following the Eel River corridor. The trail passes through mature pine-oak forest and along the scenic pond shoreline. Connects to the park beach area. Good for families looking for a shaded walk adjacent to the swimming pond.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25
See details
Easy · 4 mi
Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary Loop
Natural trail · Mass Audubon
Trails through the largest freshwater wetland restoration project in New England. Former cranberry bogs have been converted back to natural wetlands, creating exceptional wildlife habitat. Over 200 bird species recorded here. Boardwalk sections span open water areas, and views across the restored marsh are spectacular.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25
See details

Every Plymouth trail Trails across the Cape

Directions

Hard8.7 miPlymouth

8 Ponds Pass Trail

Listed & VerifiedVerified Jun 19, 2026

Saved places stay in your account, on any device.

What is 8 Ponds Pass Trail like?

An 8.7-mile out-and-back route linking multiple town and Wildlands Trust conservation areas, passing Little Island, Great Island, Long, Little Long, Gallows, and Halfway Ponds.

Plan your walk

8 Ponds Pass Trail

Directions to the trailhead

Beaver Dam Conservation Area trailhead, Beaver Dam Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

Check conditions before you go. Trail details from Town of Plymouth (opens in a new tab)

When should you go?

Best time to go

Checking today’s weather and sun times…

Now59°FClear

Wind12 mphFrom the W

Weather and sun times from Open-Meteo for the nearest part of the Cape.

What’s the trail like?

Length: 8.7 mi
Difficulty: Hard
Surface: Natural trail
Dogs: Allowed (leashed)
Kids: Not noted
Accessible: Not noted
Views: Water
Good for: Hiking, Walking, Birding

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Park at the Beaver Dam Road trailhead or the Halfway Pond (Mast Road) trailhead at the opposite end.

Dogs

Allowed (leashed)

Managed by

Town of Plymouth / Wildlands Trust

What you'll see

Pond, Forest, Water views, Dog-friendly, Bird sanctuary

Where is the trailhead?

Beaver Dam Conservation Area trailhead, Beaver Dam Road, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Get directions

Get directions Open in Google Maps

Where else can you walk in Plymouth?

Easy

Manomet Point (Scenic Drive — Stop & View)

Town of Plymouth (Manomet Point Road Landing)

Manomet Point is a rocky headland in Plymouth's Manomet village, where granite boulders, old timber pilings and clear, shallow water meet the open bay. It's best enjoyed as a scenic drive: take it slow along Manomet Point Road, pull over only where it's legal, and take in the view. The point is ringed by private homes, so stay on the public way — the Town of Plymouth's Manomet Point Road Landing is the nearby public access, a small boat ramp.

CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06

See details

Easy

Plymouth Rock & Pilgrim Memorial State Park

Paved · Massachusetts DCR

Pilgrim Memorial State Park is Plymouth's waterfront park, home to Plymouth Rock under its granite portico and to the Mayflower II museum ship (run by Plimoth Patuxet Museums). Paved, accessible paths lead to the Rock, the Pilgrim Mother Garden and the William Bradford statue, with wide views of Plymouth Harbor along the way. The park is open sunrise to sunset, has restrooms, and welcomes dogs.

CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06

See details

Easy · 1 mi

Ellisville Harbor State Park

Mixed · Massachusetts DCR

A coastal state park where a wide ridge trail above the salt marsh delivers sweeping views of Cape Cod Bay before wooden steps descend to a rocky barrier beach.

CCC Visited · Verified 2026-06-25

See details

Easy · 2 mi

Ellisville Harbor State Park Beach Walk

Mixed · Massachusetts DCR

A coastal walk through Ellisville Harbor State Park, transitioning from upland pine forest paths to a barrier beach and tidal marsh overlooking Cape Cod Bay. The harbor mouth is a nesting and staging area for terns and shorebirds. One of the most peaceful and wild coastal walks on the South Shore.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25

See details

Easy · 1.8 mi

Morton Park Trail (Eel River)

Natural trail · Town of Plymouth

A loop trail around Little Pond within Morton Park, following the Eel River corridor. The trail passes through mature pine-oak forest and along the scenic pond shoreline. Connects to the park beach area. Good for families looking for a shaded walk adjacent to the swimming pond.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25

See details

Easy · 4 mi

Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary Loop

Natural trail · Mass Audubon

Trails through the largest freshwater wetland restoration project in New England. Former cranberry bogs have been converted back to natural wetlands, creating exceptional wildlife habitat. Over 200 bird species recorded here. Boardwalk sections span open water areas, and views across the restored marsh are spectacular.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25

See details