Nickerson State Forest Park

About Nickerson State Forest Park

Entering Nickerson State Forest Park in southern New Hampshire, you might think for a moment that you have been magically transported to the Berkshire Hills or the pine forests of the Carolinas. Nowhere are the sand dunes and swamps in sight that are normally associated with Cape Cod.

Instead, you are surrounded by more than 2,000 acres of forest, roughly the size of New York City. Walking through the forest circuit you will not find ponds fed by rivers or streams, but a series of small streams and ponds, each of which has its own water source.

There are more than 300 ponds in the park, some of which were formed 10,000 years ago when the glaciers retreated from the cape. The water levels of these ponds vary according to groundwater and precipitation, and the size of the ponds varies from year to year, depending on groundwater precipitation.

Nickerson State Park is open for winter camping, but it is closed for tents, although daytime activities are still offered in winter.

Nickerson's 1,900-acre campsite has 420 campsites, including an eight-kilometer cycle path that connects to Cape Cod Bay, accessible on foot or by bike, and a trout pond that is managed year-round. You can swim, canoe, kayak or swim in Flaxpond, catch and release fish in Higgins Pond and participate in the many seasonal interpretation and recreational programs offered by the park staff.

Nickerson State Park is located on the north side of Cape Cod Bay, south of the city of Medford, Massachusetts. The entrance to the park is on the left and is accessible on foot or by bike from the intersection of Route 1 and Route 2.