Aside from the tall, sweeping sand dunes that line the coast within the Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod is relatively flat (although there are a few hills you'll encounter here and there). So, coming from the mountains of Arizona where elevation is the biggest challenge when hiking, it's quite different when I visit Cape Cod every year. It's not the elevation that makes a hike challenging here but the distance. If you want to experience a long hike on Cape Cod, try the combination of Nickerson State Park trails that I took with my dad's hiking group. It's a doozy!

My dad started a popular hiking group on Cape Cod when he moved here seven years ago, and I've been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time exploring the peninsula with him on foot. One of my favorite hikes is at Nickerson State Park, and it's a long one — 7.32 miles to be exact!

A popular park for camping, the 1,900-acre Nickerson State Park isn't on the ocean and it's not on the bay. That may come as a surprise seeing as it's located on Cape Cod, a popular beach vacation destination. However, the woodlands and the ponds you will find here help make the park so wonderfully beautiful and peaceful.

Nickerson State Park is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to hiking. There are many trails here that run past the campgrounds, through the woods, and past its many ponds. No matter what time of year I've hiked at Nickerson, the trails are quiet, and that includes the summer months when Cape Cod tourism is at its peak.

So, back to our grand 7.32-mile hiking adventure. We started our journey, not at the Nickerson State Park parking lot but at the Freemans Way Fields located at 814 Freemans Way in Brewster. To park here is free while parking at the state park is $8 for a MA resident and $30 for a non-resident. However, parking at the fields adds some length to the hike and you will have to follow our route on AllTrails so you won't get lost. From the parking lot, we started the hike on a trail that goes around the perimeter of a field before dipping into the woods, eventually leading into the state park.

Our hiking route was a combination of several trails including Silas Road, Ruth Pond Trail, Nook Road Trail, Cliff Pond Trail, Little Cliff Pond Trail, and Higgins Pond Trail. If you intend on following along, set aside at least three hours to complete it. Also, make sure you take a backpack with the hiking gear you need along with sun protection, water, snacks, and hiking boots.

Now, I love a good challenge when it comes to physical activity and consider myself quite fit, but even I was having a bit of trouble keeping up halfway through the hike. I even asked my dad, "Are we there yet?" several times, just as I did when I was a child! But I and the other hikers persevered and made it to the end, luckily with several stops along the way.

Nickerson State Park is home to eight kettle ponds, perfect for a quick dip on a hot day or just a gorgeous view. Depending on the time of year, you may even see a box turtle basking in the sun while resting on a log. The park is also quite hilly in certain areas which adds to the challenge of this particular hike, which I would rate as moderate.

Have you ever gone hiking at Nickerson State Park? It's a true hidden gem for hiking. Aside from the trails, there are paved pathways that are great for biking, 400 campsites, and, as already mentioned, several kettle ponds for swimming. You can take a look at Mass.gov for additional activities, fees, and restrictions at Nickerson State Park.

You can check out the exact route of this hike at Nickerson State Park on AllTrails. And I suggest you download the AllTrails+ app to guide you as well.