Fort Hill
A small hill overlooking the Nauset salt marsh, where a boardwalk crosses a red maple swamp, one of Cape Cod's finest short trails.
Fort Hill is in Eastham, within Cape Cod National Seashore. From the grassy summit you can look out over the wide Nauset salt marsh, the sandbars beyond and the Atlantic. The Fort Hill trail and the Red Maple Swamp trail form a loop of about 3 km, and boardwalks cross the swamp forest, which is especially beautiful with autumn foliage. At the foot of the hill you can see the exterior of the Penney House, a 19th-century whaling captain's residence. Admission is free, and the parking lot is small, so visit early in the morning or in the evening.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Cape Cod National Seashore (Salt Pond Visitor Center)
- Coast Guard Beach
- Nauset Beach (Orleans)
- Nauset Light
- Marconi Beach & Marconi Station Site
- Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
- Cape Cod Rail Trail
- Chatham Fish Pier & Main Street