Hiking & Nature Trails

Nearly half of Nantucket is protected conservation land, offering miles of trails through moors, forests, and coastal landscapes. The island's gentle terrain makes hiking accessible to all fitness levels, while the unique ecosystems provide a glimpse into Nantucket's wild side.

Sanford Farm

Distance: Up to 6.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: Moors, ocean views, Ram Pasture, Barn

The island's most popular hiking destination. The main trail leads from Madaket Road through rolling moors to the ocean at Cisco. Multiple trail options let you customize distance. Don't miss the views from the Barn overlook.

Windswept Cranberry Bog

Distance: 2 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Working cranberry bog, fall colors

A beautiful walk around Nantucket's largest working cranberry bog. Especially stunning in October when the bogs turn crimson for harvest.

Tupancy Links

Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Harbor views, open grasslands

Near downtown, this easy walk offers spectacular harbor views. Great for sunset.

Sconset Bluff Walk

Distance: 1.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Clifftop views, rose-covered cottages

One of the most scenic walks on the island. Follow the bluffs from Sconset village past million-dollar homes and dramatic ocean views. Combine with a village lunch.

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

Distance: Variable (miles of trails)
Difficulty: Moderate (soft sand)
Highlights: Remote beaches, wildlife, Great Point Lighthouse

Accessed by 4WD or guided tour. One of the wildest places on the island with pristine beaches and abundant wildlife.

• Moorland - Heather, scrub oak, and bayberry covering rolling hills
• Coastal views - Ocean vistas from bluffs and dunes
• Wildlife - Deer, rabbits, hawks, osprey, shorebirds
• Wildflowers - Rosa rugosa, beach plum, bayberry
• Historic sites - Old farms, foundations, stone walls