NICKERSON STATE PARK TRAILS:
BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: March 12, 2024
Length: Nickerson SP Loop Trail; 6.6 miles.
Nook Road Trail South; About a mile one way.
Difficulty: Moderate. Paved trail with hills and curves. Some steep hills could be tough for kids on bikes.
Directions:
To Start from the Park Entrance & Cape Cod Rail Trail [Northern End]; From Route 6 take exit 12 to Route 6A west. Travel about 2 miles to the park entrance on your left. Pull into the parking lot on your right. The trails start to the left of the Park Contact Station. Daily parking fee. If you continue along Route 6A take your first left where you'll find a second parking lot next to Barbs Bikes. Free parking. Head left along the Cape Cod Rail Trail and it will take you past a spur into Nickerson SP after 0.2 miles.
Nickerson State Park's 1900 acres offers camping, an amphitheater, hiking and bike trails. This wooded reprieve also includes eight crystal clear fresh water ponds which are not fed by rivers or streams. These are “kettle ponds,” completely dependent on groundwater and precipitation and formed as glaciers retreated from the Cape over 10,000 years ago. Nickerson State Park is directly accessed from the Cape Cod Rail Trail at Mile 10.7. A parking lot is also located at the entrance. The narrow, paved, Nickerson SP Bike Trails, travel through the Western portion of the park. I've combined a Northern Loop & Southern Loop to create the Nickerson SP Loop Trail. See; Map where the individual trails are named. For more information visit; NICKERSON STATE PARK .
Starting from the Cape Cod Rail Trail [Northern End]; A Map Board, picnic tables and restrooms are located here. Travel left, East, through the Nickerson SP parking lot to Deer Park Rd and the Park Contact Station (Maps available). Head right along Deer Park Rd into the park. Immediately look left and spot the Bike Trail sign. This is the start of the Nickerson SP Bike Trails. These paved trails are a bit narrow and in rough shape in spots. Hilly and full of curves like a roller coaster. Fun, but some of the hills are steep. Enter the Deer Park Trail and quickly come to an intersection.
Note; Left, North, simply returns you to Deer Park Rd & Route 6a and the parks entrance. Map Board.
Turn right, South, along the narrow, paved trail as it travels through a Pine and Scrub Oak forest. Cross West back over Deer Park Rd and you'll come to *Intersection A and Map Board. This next section forms part of the Nickerson SP Northern Loop.
Note; Left, Southwest, is the Deer Park Trail.
Turn right along the Ober Trail which travels Southwest along the parks Western Outer Perimeter. At 0.6 miles pass by a spur trail on your left up to an old cemetery. Come to the Middle Trail intersection on your left at 1.2 miles. Continue straight along the isolated Ober Trail. Continue straight, South, past the intersection with the Cedar Trail on your left at 1.7 miles. Come to the Deer Park Trail at *Intersection B and cross Deer Park Rd at 2 miles. This next section forms part of the Nickerson SP Southern Loop. Here you travel South alongside what is now Nook Rd where you'll begin a long descent before re-entering the woods. Cross Nook Rd and come to another intersection at 2.5 miles.
Note; Nook Road Trail heads left, South, alongside Nook Rd.
Instead, continue straight, South, along the Ruth Pond Trail, along the parks outer perimeter, through some open fields before the trail splits. You may take either route as they merge back together before you travel past Ruth Pond. The trail turns Southeast and after 3.8 miles you'll come to *Intersection C and re-join the Nook Road Trail.
Note; You can continue right, East, along the Nook Road Trail and follow it for almost another mile to the Southern End of the park and the end of the trail. You may then return back to the *Intersection C of Nook Road Trail and Ruth Pond Trail or travel North on-road along the park's roads. No Bike Trails along the Eastern Side of the Park.
This next section forms part of the Nickerson SP Southern Loop. Heading left, North, follow the Nook Road Trail back to the Ruth Pond Trail intersection at 4.5 miles. Turn right, crossing Nook Rd as you re-trace your route. Begin a long ascent up the trail. You'll cross Deer Park Rd, returning to *Intersection B at 5 miles. This next section forms part of the Nickerson SP Northern Loop. This time travel right, North, along Deer Park Trail. Pass by a Spur Trail on your right at 5.4 miles.
Note; This Spur Trail will take you to the Park Store, where you can replenish your supplies.
After passing by the Cedar Trail & Middle Trail on your left, the Deer Park Trail turns Northeast, passing by the Park Amphitheatre, before returning to *Intersection A and the Ober Trail at 6.1 miles. Head right across Deer Park Rd and continue North, back along the Deer Park Trail. You'll return to the Nickerson SP parking lot after a 6.6 mile Loop.
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CLICK HERE FOR CAPE COD RAIL TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR NICKERSON SP MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT