Overview
Located directly next to the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Brewster on Route 6A, Nickerson State Park contains eight miles of dedicated paved bike paths. Offering easy access to picnic areas and facilities, this hilly and scenic network provides an enjoyable cycling experience. It winds through beautiful forests around kettle ponds and bogs, offering scenic views of a unique coastal New England pine barrens ecosystem.
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Area Details
Nickerson features great natural scenery and one of the largest variety of tree species on Cape Cod. Here you’ll see beech, red maple, white cedar, scrub oak and pitch pine. Wildlife is also abundant with regular sightings of fox, deer, coyote, osprey, red-tail hawks and other common animals.
This paved path is hilly, winding along the perimeter of the park’s seven wilderness camping areas. It also skirts two of its five pristine ponds at certain points. The trail also passes by freshwater coastal bog areas, which sometimes yield snapping turtle sightings on occasion.
Warning: be sure to watch for patches of pine needles on the pavement – they can be quite slippery!
Nickerson’s landscape is a mix of traditional southern New England cedar forest and Atlantic coastal pine barrens. Lakefront views are especially scenic bordering Ruth and Triangle ponds. These paved paths crisscross this state park’s 1900 acres, so pick up a trail map at the park’s main entrance to cover all of the area’s striking natural diversity.
During season, be prepared for heavy bike and pedestrian traffic throughout the property. Nickerson is inundated with annual summer visitors from June to September. Thus, the larger car park is far more heavily used in-season, making the smaller one a better bet for hassle-free parking.
Parking & Directions
Parking is located in two consecutive lots on the Nickerson State Park side of Route 6A. The first one is smaller, accommodating 15 – 20 cars, and is actually a designated parking area for the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The second larger lot holds 40 – 50 cars, and is technically located inside the park’s main entrance. After turning on the access road, look for your first immediate right. Featuring picnic tables and facilities, this area is an ideal access point for both Nickerson and the Rail Trail.