Myles Standish State Forest
Encyclopedia
Myles Standish State Forest is state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver
in southeastern Massachusetts
, approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of Boston. It is the largest publicly owned recreation area in this part of Massachusetts and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR).
ecoregion
and consists largely of pitch pine
and scrub oak
forests - at 26 mi2, one of the largest such forests north of Long Island
. The forest surrounds 16 lakes and ponds, including several ecologically significant coastal kettle ponds. The Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle, an endangered species population found only in this area, exists in about twenty of the ponds of the state forest and the adjacent Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge
.
Also located in the forest is the Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
, a minimum security prison.
at five sites, four of which are located at ponds. Campground maps are available at the DCR web page. Campground office hours are 8 am – 8 pm. The regular camping season is from mid-April through mid-October. Trailer and RV dumping is available.
Advance reservation for campgrounds are made by calling 1-877-422-6762, or online at http://www.reserveamerica.com .
, kayak
ing, canoeing
and picnicking. Also bicycling on fifteen miles (24 km) of paved bicycle trail
s, horseback riding on thirty-five miles (56 km) of horse trails and thirteen miles (21 km) of hiking trails. The "Bicycle Trails of Carver" were included in the Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism's list of 1000 great places in Massachusetts. There are popular seasonal day use areas at College Pond
and Fearing Pond
(closed for 2009 for shore restoration work).
In the summer, the park offers interpretive programs, such as pond shore walks and cranberry bog explorations. Offerings include biweekly fishing clinics, night hikes, and tours of the forest’s working Rocky Pond cranberry bog, and others. For program listings see external links section below.
Hunting is allowed during the season, and two Wildlife Management Areas within the forest are stocked with game birds in October and November.
The forest is home to Cachalot Scout Reservation, an 880 acres (3.6 km²) Boy Scout
camp. Camp Squanto is also located within Myles Standish State Forest. Camp Wind in the Pines (a girl scout camp) is located within and next to Myles Standish State Forest.
Carver, Massachusetts
Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,163 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2008 population of 11,574. It is named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony.- Demographics :...
in southeastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of Boston. It is the largest publicly owned recreation area in this part of Massachusetts and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
(DCR).
Description
The landscape of MSSF is part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrensAtlantic coastal pine barrens
The Atlantic coastal pine barrens is a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the northeastern United States.-Setting:This ecoregion covers a disjunct area of 8,975 km² including the New Jersey Pine Barrens on the coastal plain of New Jersey, and smaller areas of southern Long Island in New...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
and consists largely of pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
and scrub oak
Scrub Oak
Scrub Oak is a general name for several species of small, shrubby oaks, including the following species:*California Scrub Oak *Leather Oak *Coastal Scrub Oak...
forests - at 26 mi2, one of the largest such forests north of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. The forest surrounds 16 lakes and ponds, including several ecologically significant coastal kettle ponds. The Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle, an endangered species population found only in this area, exists in about twenty of the ponds of the state forest and the adjacent Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge
Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge
Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 to conserve the Federally endangered Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle, as well as other wildlife and plant species. The Refuge encompasses in Plymouth, Massachusetts...
.
Also located in the forest is the Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Plymouth or MCI - Plymouth is a minimum-security prison facility located in the Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth, Massachusetts...
, a minimum security prison.
Camping
Myles Standish State Forest offers campingCamping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
at five sites, four of which are located at ponds. Campground maps are available at the DCR web page. Campground office hours are 8 am – 8 pm. The regular camping season is from mid-April through mid-October. Trailer and RV dumping is available.
- Curlew PondCurlew PondCurlew Pond is a natural warm water pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts, located in the Myles Standish State Forest. The pond is located north of Rocky Pond and south of Kings Pond. The average depth is and the maximum depth is . The source for this pond is groundwater, and there is no outlet. Access...
area - Fearing PondFearing PondFearing Pond, also erroneously named on some maps as Fearings Pond , is a natural kettlehole pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The average depth is ten feet and the maximum depth is...
area 1 - Fearing Pond area 2
- Charge PondCharge PondCharge Pond is a warm water pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The pond has an average depth of six feet and a maximum depth of . It is located within a camping area in the southernmost section of Myles Standish State Forest, south of Fearing Pond, southwest of Abner Pond, and northwest of Little...
area - Swimming permitted. A portion is set aside for equestrian camping. - Barrett PondBarrett Pond (Carver, Massachusetts)Barrett Pond is a , warm water pond in the Myles Standish State Forest in Carver, Massachusetts, located less than ½ mile north of the forest headquarters, west of East Head Reservoir, and southwest of College Pond in Plymouth. The pond has an average depth of six feet and a maximum depth of . Most...
area - Swimming permitted.
Advance reservation for campgrounds are made by calling 1-877-422-6762, or online at http://www.reserveamerica.com .
Recreational opportunities
Recreational uses include swimming, hunting, fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and picnicking. Also bicycling on fifteen miles (24 km) of paved bicycle trail
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
s, horseback riding on thirty-five miles (56 km) of horse trails and thirteen miles (21 km) of hiking trails. The "Bicycle Trails of Carver" were included in the Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism's list of 1000 great places in Massachusetts. There are popular seasonal day use areas at College Pond
College Pond
College Pond is a natural kettlehole pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts, located in the Myles Standish State Forest northeast of East Head Reservoir, Three Cornered Pond, New Long Pond and Barrett Pond, and north of Fearing Pond. There is a swimming beach and picnic area along the north shore of the...
and Fearing Pond
Fearing Pond
Fearing Pond, also erroneously named on some maps as Fearings Pond , is a natural kettlehole pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The average depth is ten feet and the maximum depth is...
(closed for 2009 for shore restoration work).
In the summer, the park offers interpretive programs, such as pond shore walks and cranberry bog explorations. Offerings include biweekly fishing clinics, night hikes, and tours of the forest’s working Rocky Pond cranberry bog, and others. For program listings see external links section below.
Hunting is allowed during the season, and two Wildlife Management Areas within the forest are stocked with game birds in October and November.
The forest is home to Cachalot Scout Reservation, an 880 acres (3.6 km²) Boy Scout
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
camp. Camp Squanto is also located within Myles Standish State Forest. Camp Wind in the Pines (a girl scout camp) is located within and next to Myles Standish State Forest.
