Biking at Nickerson

Nickerson State Park has an 8-mile paved bike path that winds through the pine woods and connects to the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, which runs through six Cape towns. DCR's signature ride is a choose-your-own loop on the park's Deer Park, Ober and Cedar paths or the Ruth Pond Loop, starting from the lot at the park entrance or from the campgrounds. Expect rolling hills and tight curves.

The Park's Own Bike Paths

DCR's suggested rides describe Nickerson's paths as rolling and winding, rated moderate. They're paved but they aren't a rail trail: the path climbs and drops and bends around the ponds. Expect more work than on the rail trail, especially with small kids or a trailer.

Named paths

• Deer Park, Ober and Cedar trails: the paved paths DCR suggests exploring, shown on the park's trail map.
• Ruth Pond Loop: the Brewster Ponds Coalition says the Ruth Pond Trail starts about 0.3 miles from Fisherman's Landing on Cliff Pond and makes a roughly 2-mile loop past little Ruth Pond. It warns that the path is steep in places, with sharp curves.

DCR asks riders to use caution at the road crossings, where the paths meet park roads.

Connecting to the Cape Cod Rail Trail

The Cape Cod Rail Trail meets the park, and DCR runs a rail-trail parking lot at Nickerson. From there the park's 8-mile path links you to the rail trail, so campers can ride out of the campground and onto it without loading the car. DCR's rail-trail page lists bike rentals among the trail's facilities.

This page sticks to Nickerson. For the rail trail itself, see DCR's Cape Cod Rail Trail page.

Parking for a Bike Ride

Parking at the rail-trail access lot at Nickerson costs $5 for cars with Massachusetts plates and $20 for others. DCR's Nickerson page gives the fee season as May 23 through October 12; its rail-trail page says the Nickerson lot is charged through October 31, so check before an October ride. Day visitors parking inside the park pay the regular day-use fee instead (see parking).

Mountain Biking

DCR lists mountain biking among Nickerson's activities, but not everywhere. Mountain bikes aren't allowed on the Cliff Pond Loop hiking trail. Stick to the paved paths and the unpaved roads DCR's map shows; the map notes that gates on some unpaved roads keep cars out but let other trail users through.

Rules of the Path

• Helmets are required by Massachusetts law for riders 16 and younger, and DCR recommends them for everyone.
• On the rail trail, the speed limit is 15 mph. Keep right except to pass, and give a clear signal before passing.
• Stop at stop signs, and use caution at road crossings.
• The park is open sunrise to sunset. DCR says the rail trail is open dawn to dusk; riding after dark with lights is at your own risk.
• Carry in, carry out. No alcohol.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

• Good for: campers who want to ride from their site, confident kids, and riders who like hills and curves on smooth pavement.
• Maybe skip if: you're towing a trailer or riding with beginners. Start on the Cape Cod Rail Trail instead, or walk the easy Little Cliff Pond loop.

DCR's park page is the source of record for closures and fees.