Cliff Pond–Flax Pond, 10 lakes
7.2 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 2 hr 34 min
Cliff Pond–Flax Pond, 10 lakes is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Nickerson State Park near South Orleans, MA. The route passes Nickerson State Park Beach, Little Cliff Pond, Nickerson State Park Beach and 11 more before reaching Blueberry Pond at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 317 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cliff Pond–Flax Pond, 10 lakes
7.2 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 2 hr 34 min
Elevation 24–117 ft
Out & Back · Nickerson State Park
Trailhead: Area 6 Loop Road · 41.75194, -70.01570
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:38 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 0.2 miPass Little Cliff Pond.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Little Cliff Pond Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 0.2 miPass Little Cliff Pond.
- 50 ftPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 0.2 miPass Higgin's Pond.
- 0.3 miPass Cliff Pond.
- 50 ftPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 0.3 miPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Flax Pond.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Flax Pond Path, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Keeler's Pond.
- 0.1 miPass Triangle Pond.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Deer Park Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Ober Trail, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Ober Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Cape Cod Rail Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miPass Blueberry Pond.
- 50 ftReach Cliff Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right onto Ober Road, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Ober Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear left onto Deer Park Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Flax Pond Path, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 500 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Cliff Pond Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Little Cliff Pond Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:53 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Area 6 Loop Road Trailhead
- Grassy Nook Pond–Ruth Pond, 3 lakes 2.7 mi · ▲ 87 ft
- Little Cliff Pond–Rafe Pond, 3 lakes 3 mi · ▲ 284 ft
- Deer Park Hill–Cliff Pond, 4 lakes 3.7 mi · ▲ 262 ft
- Cahoon Pond–Grassy Nook Pond, 4 lakes 5 mi · ▲ 285 ft
- Cahoon Pond–Grassy Nook Pond, 3 lakes 5 mi · ▲ 231 ft
- Little Cliff Pond–Cahoon Pond, 3 lakes 5.4 mi · ▲ 268 ft
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