Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest is a state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 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.
Description
The forest is part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion and consists largely of pitch pine and scrub oak forests—at, one of the largest such forests north of Long Island. The forest surrounds 16 lakes and ponds, including several ecologically significant coastal kettle ponds.Ecology
Species commonly found in Southeast Massachusetts pine barrens:Plants
Trees
- Pitch pine
- Bear oak
- Dwarf chestnut oak
Fruit-bearing
- Hillside and lowbush blueberry
- Black huckleberry
- Bearberry
- Birds'-foot violet
Animals
Birds
- Eastern towhee
- Eastern bluebird
- Pine warbler
- Prairie warbler
- Whip-poor-will
Insects
- Persius duskywing
- Frosted elfin
- Slender clearwing sphinx moth
- Barrens buck moth
- Melsheimer's sack-bearing moth
- Gerhard's underwing moth
- Barrens tiger beetle
- Antlion
Reptiles
- Northern red-bellied cooter
- Eastern box turtle
- Eastern hognose snake
Mammals
- Fisher
- Deer
- Coyote
Activities and amenities
Trails
The forest offers of paved bicycle trails, of horse trails, and 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. Some popular trails in the park include Bentley Loop Trail, East Head Reservoir Trail, Friends' Trail, Charge Pond Loop Trail, Frost Pocket Loop Trail and Pine Barren's Trail.Camping
Camping is offered at five sites, four of which are located at ponds: Curlew Pond, Fearing Pond, Charge Pond, Barrett Pond. A portion of the Charge Pond area is set aside for equestrian camping.Ponds
The following table lists the ponds and recreational activities available at each in Myles Standish State Forest.| Pond name | Size | Maximum depth | Location in forest | Swimming | Fishing | Boating | Remarks |
| Barrett | 16 | 17 | Southwest | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Bumps | 20 | 4 | East | No access | No access | No access | |
| Charge | 23 | 17 | South | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Cherry | 2 | - | North-central | LA | LA | LA | |
| College | 53 | 24 | Central | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Curlew | 43 | 31 | Northwest | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Part of the pond is privately owned land. |
| Doctors | 2 | 3 | Southeast | NFA | NFA | NFA | |
| East Head Reservoir | 86 | 10 | Southwest | NP | Boat only | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Owned by the Davison Partners. Property line is six rods from high-water mark. |
| Fearing | 24 | 20 | South-central | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Grassy | 3 | - | Southeast | NP | NP | NP | |
| Hooper | 3 | - | North-central | NP | NP | NP | |
| College Pond|Little College] | 3 | - | North-central | NFA | NFA | NFA | |
| Little Widgeon | 7 | 5 | Northwest | LA | LA | LA | |
| Manters Hole | 2 | - | Northwest | NP | NP | NP | |
| New Grassy | 6 | 4 | Southeast | LA | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | LA | |
| New Long | 23 | 6 | Central | NFA | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Rocky | 20 | 19 | Northwest | NFA | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | |
| Round | 10 | 12 | Central | LA | LA | LA | |
| Three Cornered | 14 | 4 | Central | LA | LA | LA | Located northeast of New Long Pond and southwest of College Pond; water quality impaired due to non-native aquatic plants. |
| Torrey | 3 | 4 | Central | NP | NP | NP | |
| Widgeon | 24 | 12 | Northwest | NFA | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark | Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark |
Image:Yes check.svg|10px|Check mark = FORMAL ACCESS is available for recreational activity.
NFA = Recreational activity is permitted, but NO FORMAL ACCESS is available.
LA = LIMITED ACCESS for low impact recreational use is permitted, sensitive pond shore habitat.
NP = Recreational access NOT PERMITTED, habitat protection area.