Nickerson State Park

August 9, 2020 Sunny

Nickerson State Park is located on Cape Cod in Brewster, MA. The forest has trails, sandy kettle ponds, and a bike trail system that connects to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

We visited in the mid afternoon after finishing our bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail to cool off in Cliff Pond. This is a “kettle pond”, which formed when a large block of ice was left behind as the glaciers retreated during the end of the last Ice Age.

The pond is round and shallow, with crystal clear waters and fine white sand on the bottom. Even in the picture below, you can see the clarity of the water.

The water seemed a little cool on this hot and humid summer day, but after a few minutes felt really warm, like a bath.

Although there are no lifeguards, the swimming area is marked and the water is shallow, reaching maybe only 5 feet toward the ropes.

The amazing thing to me was the pristine water and soft sand. There were no rocks or any pond grass so the bottom was very smooth and comfortable. We’ve visited many ponds but this was the most like a saltwater beach.

After some time, I decided to just sunbathe on the warm, soft beach area, with gentle waves lapping the shore.

Although we didn’t explore the rest of this state park, even just a swim in Cliff Pond makes it worthwhile. This state park is a real gem.

The pond is so clean and the water so clear. Wonderful spot for a swim or just to relax on the beach.
The pond was refreshing and beach was sandy. Water was super clear. What a treat!
Very warm and clear. Sandy beach.
The pond was warm, and the beach was pretty good.
The water was warm, and there wasn’t much sand, but it was good.