Myles Standish State Forest
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Myles Standish State Forest is a state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately Script error: No such module "convert". 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.[1]
Description
The forest is part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion and consists largely of pitch pine and scrub oak forests—at Script error: No such module "convert"., one of the largest such forests north of Long Island. The forest surrounds 16 lakes and ponds, including several ecologically significant coastal kettle ponds.[2]
Ecology
Species commonly found in Southeast Massachusetts pine barrens:[2]
Plants
Trees
- Pitch pine
- Bear oak (scrub oak)
- Dwarf chestnut oak (scrub oak)
Fruit-bearing
- Hillside and lowbush blueberry
- Black huckleberry
- Bearberry
- Birds'-foot violet
Animals
Birds
Insects
- Persius duskywing (endangered)
- Frosted elfin
- Slender clearwing sphinx moth
- Barrens buck moth
- Melsheimer's sack-bearing moth
- Gerhard's underwing moth
- Barrens tiger beetle (endangered)
- Antlion
Reptiles
Mammals
- Fisher
- Deer
- Coyote
Activities and amenities
Recreational uses include swimming, hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and picnicking. Day-use areas are found at College Pond and Fearing Pond. Hunting is allowed during the season, and two Wildlife Management Areas within the forest are stocked with game birds in October and November. In the summer, the park offers interpretive programs, such as pond shore walks and cranberry bog explorations.[1]
Trails
The forest offers Script error: No such module "convert". of paved bicycle trails, Script error: No such module "convert". of horse trails, and Script error: No such module "convert". 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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5]
| Pond name | Size (acres) |
Maximum depth (feet) |
Location in forest |
Swimming | Fishing | Boating | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett | 16 | 17 | Southwest | Check mark | Check mark | Check mark | |
| Bumps | 20 | 4 | East | No access | No access | No access | |
| Charge | 23 | 17 | South | Check mark | Check mark | Check mark | |
| Cherry | 2 | - | North-central | LA | LA | LA | |
| College | 53 | 24 | Central | Check mark | Check mark | Check mark | |
| Curlew | 43 | 31 | Northwest | Check mark | Check mark | 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 | Check mark | Owned by the Davison Partners. Property line is six rods (99 feet) from high-water mark. |
| Fearing | 24 | 20 | South-central | Check mark | Check mark | Check mark | |
| 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 | Check mark | LA | |
| New Long | 23 | 6 | Central | NFA | Check mark | Check mark | |
| Rocky | 20 | 19 | Northwest | NFA | Check mark | 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 | Check mark | Check mark |
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.
Scouting
Cachalot Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout camp, encompasses Script error: No such module "convert". surrounding Five Mile Pond adjacent to Myles Standish State Forest.[6] Camp Squanto is also located within Myles Standish State Forest[7] as is Camp Wind-in-the-Pines, a girl scout camp.[8]
Prison
A state correctional facility, MCI - Plymouth, is also located in Myles Standish State Forest.[9]
In the news
On May 14, 1977, according to the Plymouth Police Department records, Eric H. Anderson Jr. murdered Ruth Masters (née Ruth Rydberg), a teacher in nearby Hanson, Massachusetts, while she was riding her bike alone on an isolated trail in the park. He was later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in Maine State Prison in Warren, Maine.[10]
References
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External links
- Myles Standish State Forest Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Myles Standish State Forest Trail Map Department of Conservation and Recreation
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