The hike is easy, cardiovascular-wise, but the walk across the Long Point Dike is trickier than it looks, especially for older people with balance problems.
An alternative route to the lighthouses is to walk along the shore from the south parking lot of Herring Cove Beach. However, this adds a mile round trip to the hike, if you can even get through. Assuming you want to walk across the dike, the first order of business is to find parking in Provincetown, which is not an easy task.
People park here to hike across the dike, swim, and launch kayaks into the harbor, so there is not a lot of turnover. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to park aside from the road, but there is certainly a fee-based public parking lot somewhere in Provincetown. It is essentially thousands of granite blocks piled up to form an elevated structure, and at first glance it looks about as easy as walking down a cobblestone road. In fact, at the start of the dike the boulders are fairly even, but as you progress towards the Long Point Peninsula things get a little more complicated.
Some rocks are slopped, forming Vs, so you must scurry down one and quickly scamper up the other, and once at the top you might have to jump a couple feet down to the next rock. People are seriously injured from falls all the time and must be rescued. Rocks of the Long Point Dike get progressively more uneven. There is also the tide to consider. At low tide, you are as high as 10 feet above the water—at some points the ground below is completely dry. However, by the time high tide rolls around, the top of the dike is only a few feet above the water.
If you look at the sides of the dike, the dark rocks indicate the typical water height at high tide. Exposed ground at low tide along sections of the Long Point Dike. If the tide is extremely high, the entire dike may be underwater, even the sections that are normally dry. There are as many stories of stranded people having to be rescued from the Long Point Dike as there are those who are injured.
Low section of the Long Point Dike at low tide. Same section as above of the Long Point Dike at high tide. Most people just cross the dike for the novelty of it and return immediately, so the tide might not change that much during their hour-long walk. But if you are hiking to the lighthouses, things may change drastically by the time you get back.
There are six hours between low and high tides, and the hike takes about four hours, so I suggest departing as close to low tide as you can, either an hour or two before or no more than one hour after. I left one hour after low tide and was back about a half hour before high tide. I got across without getting my feet wet even at the low points on the dike.
This hike isn't something to take with your kids, but you'll surely get a lot out of it if you go with a spouse or friends. In addition to the scenery, keep an eye out for wildlife as you cross the breakwater. The area closest to the shore is an accessible shellfishing location, so you'll likely see clams, quahogs, and oysters when you begin.
Depending on the tide, you could see hermit crabs and starfish between the rocks, and a variety of birds carrying fish overhead, as well.
There are also seals in the waters here, which are always a thrill for travelers who get to see them. As you complete your journey across the Provincetown Causeway, you'll notice a lengthy expanse of beach on the other side. The end of this hike is one of the most rewarding on Cape Cod because you'll come across miles of empty beaches on which to spread out and enjoy the serenity. If you walk far enough, you'll also reach Long Point Light Station, offering panoramic views of the entire harbor.
As a bonus, you can take the Long Point Shuttle back to Provincetown from this beach, so you won't have to walk over the breakwater again. Keep in mind that the boat is cash-only; bring money if you'd like a lift back to the mainland. Heading northwest from the Provincetown Causeway takes you to the Wood End Lighthouse and the beach surrounding it. You can walk on the dunes on this beach until you find a secluded spot or, if you're bursting with energy, walk the sands up to Herring Cove Beach.
The pathway to Herring Cove will probably take you a couple of hours to complete, but you'll be within walking distance of downtown Provincetown at the end. No matter which option you choose, you're sure to enjoy your time on this secluded section of sand that's away from the crowds of downtown Provincetown. Before embarking on your hike, look at the tide chart to ensure you'll return before the water rises.
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