Cliff Pond

Cliff Pond is the largest pond in Nickerson State Park: a 204-acre glacial kettle pond in Brewster, ringed by a 3.2-mile loop trail with sandy beaches, pitch pine and oak woods, and water views most of the way around. You can swim, paddle, fish for stocked trout and run a motorboat up to 10 horsepower. Its long, narrow neighbor, Little Cliff Pond, has an easier 1.7-mile loop.

How Big and Deep Is Cliff Pond?

DCR gives Cliff Pond's size as 204 acres. The Brewster Ponds Coalition puts its deepest point at 88 feet, with an average depth of 28 feet, and calls it the deepest pond in Brewster and on Cape Cod. The coalition calls it "Big" Cliff Pond, and DCR's rules use the name Big Cliff Pond, to tell it apart from Little Cliff Pond.

Like every pond in the park, it's a kettle pond: a hollow left by a block of glacial ice, filled by groundwater rather than streams. Its water level rises and falls with the water table from year to year. The ponds page explains how the kettle ponds formed.

Hiking the Cliff Pond Loop

DCR rates the Cliff Pond Loop as one of Nickerson's signature routes in its suggested hikes: 3.2 miles, moderate. It circles the whole pond, passing sandy beaches and pitch pine and dry oak woodland. Connecting trails lead off it to Campgrounds 4 and 6.

Where to start

• Fisherman's Landing, off Nook Road. The Brewster Ponds Coalition puts it about 1.8 miles from the park entrance on Route 6A.
• The end of Flax Pond Road.
• The signed trailheads at Campgrounds 4 and 6, if you're camping.

At DCR's estimated pace of 1.5 miles an hour, the loop takes a bit over two hours. The Brewster Ponds Coalition mentions a huge boulder about halfway around, and the trail passes little Grassy Nook Pond southwest of Fisherman's Landing.

Mountain biking isn't allowed on the Cliff Pond Loop. Ride the paved bike paths instead.

Swimming at Cliff Pond

Yes, you can swim in Cliff Pond. DCR lists it, with Flax Pond, as one of the ponds for swimming and canoeing. The Brewster Ponds Coalition describes a small beach with a roped-off swimming area, and DCR's loop description mentions several sandy beaches around the shore.

Dogs and other pets, apart from service animals, aren't allowed on the beach, and DCR bans alcohol throughout the park. See rules.

Boating and Paddling

DCR caps engines on Big Cliff Pond at 10 horsepower. The Brewster Ponds Coalition notes a boat ramp and boat rentals, and lists Flax, Little Cliff and Higgins ponds as electric motors only. DCR lists canoeing and kayaking among the park's activities, and Cliff Pond is one of the two ponds it names for paddling.

Fishing Cliff Pond

MassWildlife stocks Cliff Pond with trout in both spring and fall. The Brewster Ponds Coalition says the park's ponds get brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout, and lists bass, yellow perch and pumpkinseed among the other fish. Anyone 15 or older needs a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license. Details on our fishing page.

Little Cliff Pond

Little Cliff Pond is a long, narrow 33-acre kettle pond beside Big Cliff. DCR's introductory hike here is a 1.7-mile easy loop from the end of Flat Pond Road, through pitch pine and scrub oak with occasional sandy beaches. It's the better pick for young kids.

The Brewster Ponds Coalition gives its deepest point as 37 feet and notes it was once also called Long Pond because of its shape. A paved ramp suits car-top boats and light trailered craft, electric motors only. It's also stocked with trout in spring and fall.

A Little History

Before Nickerson became a state park in 1934, the land was the estate of Roland and Addie Nickerson. The park's 1998 brochure says the family kept a hunting lodge on Cliff Pond, where guests came to hunt, trap and fish. More on the park's history.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

• Good for: a half-day hike with water views (3.2-mile loop), trout fishing, paddling and motorboating.
• Maybe skip if: you have small children or limited time. The Little Cliff loop is shorter and easy, and Flax Pond is the simplest swim.

Day visitors pay a parking fee in season. Fees, hours and directions are on our parking page, and DCR's Nickerson page has current notices.