Nickerson State Park

Little Cliff Pond–Higgin's Pond, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 336 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Little Cliff Pond–Higgin's Pond, 4 lakes is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Nickerson State Park near South Orleans, MA. The route passes Nickerson State Park Beach, Little Cliff Pond and Eel Pond before reaching Higgin's Pond at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 336 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi23 – 125 ft · steepest grade: 15%3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.73708, -70.02268
Nearest town South Orleans, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Little Cliff Pond–Higgin's Pond, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 336 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Elevation 23–126 ft

Out & Back · Nickerson State Park

Trailhead: 41.73708, -70.02268

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:26 AM · sunset 6:43 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Recreation Path, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miSharp right onto Silas Road, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 400 ftBear right, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 500 ftBear left, heading NE.
  11. 0.3 miPass Nickerson State Park Beach.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftPass Little Cliff Pond.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Little Cliff Pond Trail, heading N.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  16. 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftPass Eel Pond.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 400 ftPass Higgin's Pond.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  21. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftReach Little Cliff Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  24. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  25. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  26. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  27. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  30. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftBear right onto Silas Road, heading W.
  32. 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  33. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  34. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  35. 500 ftSharp left, heading W.
  36. 0.3 miTurn right onto Recreation Path, heading S.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  38. 0.1 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

60% dirt40% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:26 AMSunset 6:43 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 6:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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