Snail Road Trail Guide
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Start across from the small grove of Pitch and Scrub Pines nearest the
small dirt parking lot and hike in the soft sand up the first of many towering
sand dunes. As you reach the peak, the landscape will unfold and reveal the
Province Lands stretching out for miles. Pilgrim
Lake is to your southeast, Race Point
to the southwest and the mighty Atlantic Ocean
all around. The trail through the dunes continues downwards in elevation
towards the ocean.
Parabolic dunes, which resemble a parabola, spread out over the interior of the Province Lands and are caused by unidirectional winds from the northeast. Migration of the dunes is a natural occurrence, but early settlers have increased its spread through deforestation. Hardwoods like the ones contained in the Beech Hill used to spread out over the Province Lands but were clear to make way for farming and building.
Without the trees acting as anchors for the dunes, the natural effects of wind caused an increase in saltation. Saltation is the technical term for the process of sand movement. Well marked trails for ORV traffic and the replanting of beach grass and pitch pine trees from residents during the 19th century has helped decrease the movement in 1200 acres of the area.
Further along the trail you may past vernal pools. When the winter snow melts and the accumulation of rainwater during spring flood the semi-dural swales of the Province Lands, it creates a temporary freshwater pool. The pools act as a safe breeding ground for insects and amphibians like the Spadefoot frogs and Eastern Box turtle.
For the horticulturalists, Salt-spray roses, Beach plums and seabeach sandwort are beautiful creations that thrive in the dune habitat. Beach plum, a plum native to the Atlantic coast, blossoms during mid-May to June and is used to make many jellies.
Also amongst the Province Lands are the historic dune shacks. 19 in all, the primitive buildings lack indoor plumbing, electricity and are extremely desolate. Many artists and writers stay for the utter solitude and to become better connected with natural environment. Many of the workers from the early life saving service (prior to the creation of the US Coast Guard) lived in these shacks, but now-a-day many are privately owned. However, the Provincetown Community Compact rents out a shack to the public through a highly competitive lottery. Sign up at thecompact.org
As you approach the Atlantic you may notice the shape of the dunes change from parabolic to linear. Linear or fore-dunes are found behind beaches or mark where beaches used to lie and act as a barrier to protect inland freshwater communities. They are formed by onshore winds carrying sand inland but caught by the beach grass.
When you reach the coast you will often see seals basking in the sun or flocks of terns and gulls cooling off in the strong winds which continue to help form the dunes grain by grain.
Parabolic dunes, which resemble a parabola, spread out over the interior of the Province Lands and are caused by unidirectional winds from the northeast. Migration of the dunes is a natural occurrence, but early settlers have increased its spread through deforestation. Hardwoods like the ones contained in the Beech Hill used to spread out over the Province Lands but were clear to make way for farming and building.
Without the trees acting as anchors for the dunes, the natural effects of wind caused an increase in saltation. Saltation is the technical term for the process of sand movement. Well marked trails for ORV traffic and the replanting of beach grass and pitch pine trees from residents during the 19th century has helped decrease the movement in 1200 acres of the area.
Further along the trail you may past vernal pools. When the winter snow melts and the accumulation of rainwater during spring flood the semi-dural swales of the Province Lands, it creates a temporary freshwater pool. The pools act as a safe breeding ground for insects and amphibians like the Spadefoot frogs and Eastern Box turtle.
For the horticulturalists, Salt-spray roses, Beach plums and seabeach sandwort are beautiful creations that thrive in the dune habitat. Beach plum, a plum native to the Atlantic coast, blossoms during mid-May to June and is used to make many jellies.
Also amongst the Province Lands are the historic dune shacks. 19 in all, the primitive buildings lack indoor plumbing, electricity and are extremely desolate. Many artists and writers stay for the utter solitude and to become better connected with natural environment. Many of the workers from the early life saving service (prior to the creation of the US Coast Guard) lived in these shacks, but now-a-day many are privately owned. However, the Provincetown Community Compact rents out a shack to the public through a highly competitive lottery. Sign up at thecompact.org
As you approach the Atlantic you may notice the shape of the dunes change from parabolic to linear. Linear or fore-dunes are found behind beaches or mark where beaches used to lie and act as a barrier to protect inland freshwater communities. They are formed by onshore winds carrying sand inland but caught by the beach grass.
When you reach the coast you will often see seals basking in the sun or flocks of terns and gulls cooling off in the strong winds which continue to help form the dunes grain by grain.
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Please respect the
environment,
wildlife,
and privacy of the dune shack residents
by staying on the trail.
Thank You and enjoy your trek!
Please respect the
environment,
wildlife,
and privacy of the dune shack residents
by staying on the trail.
Thank You and enjoy your trek!
