Leaf litter, bare oaks and nobody else on the trail. The outdoors here is a year-round proposition, and the best months for it are the ones with no ferry queue.
Plate 01
Martha’s Vineyard is a small island, but the outdoor options run deep: conservation trails through forest and coastal heath, a paved bike network, surf beaches, salt ponds for fishing and paddling, and a shoulder season that is arguably better than the summer for all of it.
Hiking and nature trails
The island has a large network of trails, most of them free to walk, at every level of effort.
Cycling
Biking is the easiest way to cover ground here without a car.
Fishing
On the water
By season
Conservation
Several island organisations keep these lands protected and open to the public.
Know Before You Go
Leave no trace, and a few practicalities
Check tides and weather before you go to any beach. Conditions here change faster than the sky suggests.
Marked trails only. The coastal heath and the dune vegetation take years to recover from a shortcut.
Take all your rubbish with you. Several of these sanctuaries have no bins by design.
Give nesting birds and hauled-out seals a wide berth, and keep dogs under control where they are allowed at all.
Sunscreen, insect repellent and more drinking water than you think. Ticks are a real consideration here.
Follow the local fishing and shellfishing rules. They vary by town and by season.
May to June and September to October: better weather odds, far fewer people.
Do not try to do all of this in one visit. Pick two or three: the island is small enough that you can hike in the morning and be in the water by the afternoon.
Keep Reading
More activity guides
Keep Reading
Listen to the island
Watch it first
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