Myles Standish State Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myles Standish State Forest |
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 Myles Standish State Forest
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Carver, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 12,029 acres (48.68 km2) |
| Elevation | 144 ft (44 m) |
| Established | 1916 |
| Named for | Myles Standish |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Myles Standish State Forest |
Myles Standish State Forest is a huge natural area in southeastern Massachusetts. It's located near the towns of Plymouth and Carver. This amazing forest is about 45 miles (70 km) south of Boston.
It is the largest public outdoor space in this part of Massachusetts. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) takes care of it.
Contents
Discovering Myles Standish State Forest
This forest is part of a special natural area called the Atlantic coastal pine barrens. It's mostly covered with pitch pine and scrub oak trees. At 26 square miles (67 km²), it's one of the biggest pine barrens forests north of Long Island.
Inside the forest, you'll find 16 beautiful lakes and ponds. Some of these are "kettle ponds," which are unique ponds formed by glaciers long ago.
Exploring the Forest's Ecology
The forest is home to many different plants and animals. These species are commonly found in the pine barrens of Southeast Massachusetts.
Unique Plants of the Forest
Trees You'll See
- Pitch pine
- Bear oak (also known as scrub oak)
- Dwarf chestnut oak (another type of scrub oak)
Fruit-Bearing Plants
- Hillside and lowbush blueberry
- Black huckleberry
- Bearberry
- Birds'-foot violet
Amazing Animals of the Forest
Birds You Might Spot
Insects and Bugs
- Persius duskywing (this butterfly is endangered!)
- Frosted elfin
- Slender clearwing sphinx moth
- Barrens buck moth
- Melsheimer's sack-bearing moth
- Gerhard's underwing moth
- Barrens tiger beetle (also endangered!)
- Antlion
Reptiles to Look For
- Northern red-bellied cooter (a type of turtle)
- Eastern box turtle
- Eastern hognose snake
Mammals in the Wild
- Fisher
- Deer
- Coyote
Fun Activities and Amenities
Myles Standish State Forest offers lots of fun things to do! You can go swimming, hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and have picnics. There are special day-use areas at College Pond and Fearing Pond.
If you like hunting, it's allowed during certain seasons. There are also two Wildlife Management Areas where game birds are released in October and November. In the summer, the park has cool programs like pond walks and cranberry bog explorations.
Trails for Adventure
The forest has many trails for different activities:
- 15 miles (24 km) of paved bicycle trails.
- 35 miles (56 km) of horse trails.
- 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails.
The "Bicycle Trails of Carver" are so good, they were even listed as one of the 1000 great places in Massachusetts!
Camping Under the Stars
You can camp at five different spots in the forest. Four of these are right by beautiful ponds: Curlew Pond, Fearing Pond, Charge Pond, and Barrett Pond. Part of the Charge Pond area is even set aside for people who want to camp with their horses!
Ponds for Play and Relaxation
Myles Standish State Forest has many ponds. Here's a list of some of them and what you can do there:
| Pond name | Size (acres) |
Maximum depth (feet) |
Location in forest |
Swimming | Fishing | Boating | Remarks |
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| Barrett | 16 | 17 | Southwest |  |
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| Bumps | 20 | 4 | East | No access | No access | No access | |
| Charge | 23 | 17 | South | |
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| Cherry | 2 | - | North-central | LA | LA | LA | |
| College | 53 | 24 | Central | |
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| Curlew | 43 | 31 | Northwest | |
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Part of the pond is privately owned land. |
| Doctors | 2 | 3 | Southeast | NFA | NFA | NFA | |
| East Head Reservoir | 86 | 10 | Southwest | NP | Boat only | |
Owned by the Davison Partners. Property line is six rods (99 feet) from high-water mark. |
| Fearing | 24 | 20 | South-central | |
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| Grassy | 3 | - | Southeast | NP | NP | NP | |
| Hooper | 3 | - | North-central | NP | NP | NP | |
| 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 | |
LA | |
| New Long | 23 | 6 | Central | NFA | |
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| Rocky | 20 | 19 | Northwest | NFA | |
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| 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 | |
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= 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.
Scouting Adventures
Myles Standish State Forest is a popular spot for scouting groups!
- Cachalot Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout camp, covers 880 acres around Five Mile Pond.
- Camp Squanto is also located within the forest.
- Camp Wind-in-the-Pines, a girl scout camp, is here too.
