Nickerson State Park - Brewster, MA

Today I ventured out for a rare solo hike at Nickerson State Park.  At approximately 3* miles, it was a bit longer than my kids typically enjoy, but for this thirty-something mom who's trying desperately to maintain some level of fitness, it was perfect.  Nickerson State Park is owned and operated by Massachusetts' Department of Conservation and Recreation, and daily parking fees ($8/day for MA residents) are charged from Memorial Day through November.  I used my DCR season parking pass and parked at the end of Flax Pond Road, near a beach in between Cliff Pond and Little Cliff Pond.

I did the Cliff Pond Loop trail, which is described as a Signature Hike on DCR's website.  It was well marked with plentiful signage and yellow blazed paint.  The footing was mostly sand, with some pine needles periodically, and was mostly flat with just a few small hills.  

The trail followed the perimeter of the pond and featured a number of breathtakingly beautiful white sandy beaches with crystal clear water.  Today's weather was steamy, so fortunately the trail offered shade throughout.  I was walking at a decently brisk pace, and it took me about an hour.

The park itself is a very popular place to camp and was relatively full when I started the hike around 8:30 am.  I hope to return with the kiddos, though we'd likely choose a shorter hike with them.  

A note about hiking alone: while I went solo today, I do not necessarily advocate hiking alone under many circumstances.  I felt comfortable on this well-traveled trail where I was frequently within sight and hearing distance of other visitors, but I would not typically hike in deep woods by myself.  I carried plenty of water, told my husband my plans, and brought my phone with a downloaded trail map in case I lost service.  Here are some other tips about hiking safety.

*The trail signage said that the trail was 3 miles long; the park website lists this trail at 3.2 miles, but my GPS watch said it was 2.8 miles.  
















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