Freetown-Fall River State Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Freetown-Fall River State Forest
Statue of the C.C.C. Worker
Freetown-Fall River State Forest Location in Massachusetts
Location	Freetown, Fall River, Lakeville, Bristol, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Area	5,217 acres (21.11 km2)
Elevation	207 ft (63 m)
Established	1913
Operator	Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Website	Freetown-Fall River State Forest

The Freetown-Fall River State Forest is a huge forest in Massachusetts. It covers over 5,000 acres! This forest is located in Fall River, Freetown, and Lakeville. It's so big that it covers about a third of the town of Freetown. It helps separate areas like Assonet and East Freetown.

Inside the forest, you'll find Profile Rock. This is a large granite rock that looks like a face. Local Native Americans believe it looks like Chief Massasoit. There's also a 227-acre area set aside for the Wampanoag people. The state of Massachusetts owns this forest. The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages it from its main office in Assonet.

History of the Forest

The state first bought land for this forest in 1913. It started with about nine acres near Forge Pond. Most of the forest land was bought over 20 years, starting in the 1930s.

The Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped develop the forest. This group worked on the property from 1935 to 1937. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression. It gave jobs to young men to work on conservation projects. A statue was put up in September 2002 to honor their hard work in the forest.

Recent Land Additions

More land has been added to the forest in recent years. This includes 87 acres in 2012. In 2015, another 29 acres and 77 acres were added in Assonet. Also in 2015, 613 acres were added in Lakeville.

Fun Activities at the Forest

The Freetown-Fall River State Forest has lots of ways to explore nature. It has over 50 miles of unpaved roads and trails. You can use these trails for many activities.

Outdoor Adventures

You can go walking, hiking, or biking on the trails. In winter, you can even go cross-country skiing or dog sledding! If you have an off-road vehicle or a horse, there are trails for those too.

Family Fun and Fishing

Near the main entrance, there's a picnic area. It has a wading pool, playing fields, and restrooms. It's a great spot for families to relax. If you like fishing, Rattlesnake Brook is a good place to go. They stock it with brook trout in the spring. Hunting is also allowed in some areas, but with rules.

Special Events

The forest hosts fun events throughout the year. The "Fun Day in the Forest" is an annual event. It's put on by the Friends of the Freetown-Fall River State Forest. For many years, the forest also held the "Big Bang Mountain Bike Race." This race helped raise money for Independence Day events in Freetown.

Gallery

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  Profile Rock, 1902

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  Wading pool

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  Sign near the entrance directs visitors to the Pavilion and Wading Pool

Images for kids

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  The unveiling of the CCC statue at the forest on September 28, 2002.