Nickerson Trail Map

The official Nickerson State Park trail map is a free one-page PDF from DCR. It shows the whole park in Brewster: the 8 ponds, the camping areas, paved and unpaved roads, hiking trails, the paved bicycle trails and the bridle paths, plus restrooms, showers, parking and the park headquarters. Download the DCR trail map (PDF) before you go.

What the DCR Map Shows

The map's legend separates the park's different kinds of routes, which matters at Nickerson because bikes, horses and hikers each have their own:

• Paved roads and unpaved roads.
• Hiking trails.
• Bicycle trails: the paved bike paths.
• Bridle paths, for horseback riding.
• Closed gates. A note on the map says gates are there to keep cars out; other trail users are welcome to go past them.
• Campgrounds, restrooms, showers, parking, picnic areas, the park headquarters and nature center, power lines, wetlands and the town line.

The current PDF is dated 2015. Trails, gates and facilities can change, so treat posted signs in the park as the final word.

The Trails Worth Finding on the Map

• Little Cliff Pond Loop: 1.7 miles, easy, from the end of Flat Pond Road. See hiking.
• Cliff Pond Loop: 3.2 miles, moderate, from Fisherman's Landing, the end of Flax Pond Road, or Campgrounds 4 and 6. See Cliff Pond.
• Paved bike paths: DCR names the Deer Park, Ober and Cedar trails and the Ruth Pond Loop, part of the park's 8-mile bike path.

DCR's suggested hikes and rides sheet gives the trailhead coordinates for each route, which you can paste into a map app.

Finding Your Way: Roads to Know

Road names on the park's 1998 brochure map include Flax Pond Road, Deer Park Road, Nook Road, Ober Road and Millstone Road. Two matter most to hikers: Nook Road leads to Fisherman's Landing on Cliff Pond, and the end of Flat Pond Road is the trailhead for the Little Cliff Pond loop. The main entrance and contact station are on Route 6A.

Campsite Map vs. Trail Map

If you're choosing a campsite, the DCR trail map shows where each camping area sits but not individual site numbers. For those, use the interactive site map on ReserveAmerica. Our campsite map page lists the site numbers in each area.

Tips for Using the Map

• Save the PDF to your phone before you arrive, and carry a printed copy if you can.
• Follow painted blazes where they exist; a double blaze marks an intersection or a turn. DCR warns some trails aren't well marked.
• Plan on about 1.5 miles an hour, DCR's average hiking pace, and remember most distances are round trip.
• Watch for bikes where trails cross the paved paths, and for cars at road crossings.

Questions about a trail closure go to the park office at (508) 896-3491. DCR's park page has current notices.