Nickerson State Park

This 1,900 acre state park on Cape Cod has several large kettle ponds that are perfect for swimming, fishing, paddling, and hiking around.

Tucked away on Cape Cod you’ll find Nickerson State Park, an incredible recreation area that extends over 1,900 acres and was founded in 1934. With over 400 campsites, miles of hiking and biking trails, coastal wildlife, fishing spots, and many beautiful kettle ponds, which were formed long ago from receding glaciers. Flax Pond and Cliff Pond are the largest and most popular kettle ponds in the park and provide the perfect places for swimming, paddling, and fishing.

When it comes to hiking trails, there are options for every level of explorer! The Little Cliff Pond Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that circumvents Cliff Pond and brings you along its sandy shores and through scrub oaks. The park also connects to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 25.5-mile paved path that’s perfect for long, scenic bike rides. Visitors should keep their eyes peeled for shore birds, bald eagles, deer, and foxes, while anglers can try their luck in catching largemouth bass, yellow perch, and banded killifish.  

It’s easy to lengthen your stay at Nickerson State Park with the hundreds of campsites available on the property. If sleeping outside isn’t exactly your stay, there are also cabins and yurts available by reservation! With tons of beautiful sandy shoreline for picnics and lazing in the sun, spots for swimming and kayaking, and trails for the adventurers out there, Nickerson State Park just about has something for everyone.