MYLES STANDISH STATE FOREST:
SOUTH CARVER, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: May 04, 2026
Length:
Rocky Pond Path; 4
miles
Frost Pocket Path; 5 ¾ miles
Camping Pond Loop; 6.1 mile Loop
Connector Path; 1.5 miles
Difficulty:
Moderate. Paved, hilly trails. Rough,
rooty pavement. Can be slick with Pine needles on pavement. Steepness of hills, not recommended for
Directions:
Starting from the Forest Headquarters [P1] parking lot [Southwestern End] From I-495, take exit 2 to Route 58 north and follow for 2.4 miles. Here, Route 58 takes a left turn, continue straight on Tremont St. Just over a ½ mile, turn right onto Cranberry Rd. This will take you past the West Entrance. At the intersection of Fearing Pond Rd turn left into the Forest Headquarters parking lot.
Starting from the Alden Road [P4] parking area [Northeastern End] From Route 3, take exit 13 and follow Long Pond Rd south for 3 ½ miles to the East Entrance. Enter the park on Alden Rd. Parking here.
To reach the Charge Pond [P5] parking lot [Southern End]; From the Forest Headquarters travel east on Fearing Pond Rd. Turn right on Charge Pond Rd. Just before Charge Pond will be the Charge Pond parking lot along your right.
Myles Standish State Forest is comprised of about 14,000 acres and contains about 15 miles of paved Trails interconnected throughout the forest. This is a popular camping destination and campsites are located around several ponds in the forest; Fearing, Charge, Curlew, and Bartlett Ponds. This forest is New England 's largest remaining Pine Barren ecosystem, a sandy environment where only low growing Pitch Pines, Scrub Oaks, Low Bush Blueberry and other hardy plants can survive. This State Forest was established in 1916 and is named for the military leader of Plymouth Colony. There are several connected, paved Bike Trails that travel throughout the State Forest.
At every road crossing is a Numbered Metal Gate. These help you to keep track of your location and I use them in my directions. For more information visit; MYLES STANDISH .
Rocky Pond Path:
Starting from the Forest Headquarters [P1] parking lot [Southern End]; Forest Headquarters, Map Board & Interpretive Center (restrooms) located here. Head past Gate W39, to the right of the Interpretive Center. Follow the paved drive, which loops around to Gate W38. On your left is the Staff parking lot. Turn right and pass through Gate W37 to the start of the paved Rocky Pond Path.
Note; The Northern Section of this trail is probably the toughest in the State Forest because of some steep hills and curves.
The trail travels North, climbing a slope of White Pines
and then weaves through the forest along the Western
Side of the East Head
Reservoir. Just shy of a ½ mile, the trail turns towards the reservoir and
you get your first good view of it as you crest a small hill. The trail then
winds up & down some steep hills. You'll pass through Gates
W31/30
as you cross Lower College Pond Rd, then Gates
W26/25 as you cross Bare
Hill Rd at 1 ½ miles. Another ¼ mile takes you through Gate
W23.
Note;
You can take a quick detour from here to check out the Fire Tower. Just
turn left on the dirt road, which then crosses over Bare Hill Rd
to another dirt road. Just down this road to your right is the Fire Tower.
It's surrounded by a fence so you can't go up it.
Continuing onward, you cross through a gas pipeline and Gate W20. Caution, at 3 ¼ miles you come to a steep hill with a hairpin turn. You pass through a boulder field on the way to your final two Gates W11/10. The trail ends next to a power line at Bare Hill Rd after 4 miles. Turn right on Bare Hill Rd to reach the Cranberry Bog [P7] parking lot and the campgrounds of Curlew Pond.
Frost Pocket Path:
Starting from the Forest Headquarters [P1] parking lot [Southern End]; Forest Headquarters, Map Board & Interpretive Center (restrooms) located here. Exit the parking lot to Cranbury & Fearing Pond roads and head left, East, past Gate W40. Cross a causeway (closed to cars), where the East Head Reservoir flows out and past Gate S02. You'll pass by the starting point for the East Head Nature Trail and briefly travel on-road (low traffic) along Fearing Pond Rd. Come to the paved Frost Pocket Path on your left after 0.25 miles. Head Northeast, past Gate S04. The trail winds through a hilly Pine forest, above the East Head Reservoir down to your left. Caution; the trail has a lot of root issues and can be slick with all the Pine needles. Come to an *Intersection for Charge & Fearing Ponds at 0.7 miles.
Note; Right, Southeast, takes you along the Camping Pond Loop. See; Below.
Continue straight and pass a second intersection, which also takes you along the Camping Pond Loop. You cross over a gas pipeline and emerge at another ^Intersection.
Note; Right, the paved Connector Path travels South. See; Below.
Continue straight, past
Camping Pond Loop:
Starting from the Forest Headquarters [P1] parking lot [Southern End]; Forest Headquarters, Map Board & Interpretive Center (restrooms) located here. Exit the parking lot to Cranbury & Fearing Pond roads and head left, East, past Gate W40. Cross a causeway (closed to cars), where the East Head Reservoir flows out and past Gate S02. You'll pass by the starting point for the East Head Nature Trail and briefly travel on-road (low traffic) along Fearing Pond Rd. Come to the paved Frost Pocket Path on your left after 0.25 miles. Head Northeast, past Gate S04. The trail winds through a hilly Pine forest, above the East Head Reservoir down to your left. Caution; the trail has a lot of root issues and can be slick with all the Pine needles. Come to an *Intersection for Charge & Fearing Ponds at 0.7 miles.
Note; Straight, Northeast, the Frost Pocket Path continues. See; Above.
Here you'll pick up the paved Camping Pond Loop Connector on your right, as it travels up to and across Upper College Pond Rd and Gates S07/08. The trail winds Southeast, through a hilly Pine forest. Come to the Camping Pond Loop **Intersection at 1.1 miles. You can head in either direction as the trail +Loops back here. Heading right, West, the trail soon turns South, crossing Fearing Pond Rd and Gates S09/10. It then turns East, bringing you to an ^^^Intersection at 1.9 miles.
Note; Left, the paved Connector Path travels North [P2]. See; Below.
Continue right, South and soon you'll travel through a sparse, open Pine Barren forest before passing by Gate S18, bringing you to the Charge Pond [P5] parking lot at 2.6 miles. Cross Charge Pond Rd, past Gate S19.
Note; Right, South, this trail brings you back to Gate S34 and Charge Pond Rd, which Loops around Charge Pond.
Continuing left, North, the trail travels Northeast, through a sparse, open Pine Barren forest, passing by Gates S38/39 and crossing SE Line Rd. Grassy Pond below right. Next cross Dr Ponds Rd and Gates S48/47 to Circle Dr.
Note; Across the road is the Fearing Pond parking lot.
The trail turns Northwest, back through a Pine forest. Cross Gates S58/57 and Circuit Dr, as the trail turns West. Come to an ^^Intersection at 4.7 miles.
Note; The Connector Path crosses here traveling North-South. See; Below.
The trail continues straight, returning you to the Camping Pond Loop Connector **Intersection after 5 miles, completing your +Loop. Continue straight, retracing your previous route back to the *Intersection and Frost Pocket Path. Finally, head left, retracing your previous route back to the Forest Headquarters [P1] parking lot after 6.1 miles.
Connector Path:
Starting from the Frost Pocket Path ^Intersection (Central Section) [P2] [Northern End]; The paved Connector Path travels South, crossing Upper Collage Pond Rd, past Gates S05/06, where the trail winds through a hilly Pine forest. Caution; the trail has a lot of root issues and can be slick with all the Pine needles. Come to an ^^Intersection at 0.9 miles.
Note; The Northern Side of the Camping Pond Loop crosses here.
Continuing South, quickly cross Gates S12/13 and Fearing Pond Rd. After 1.5 miles you'll come to an ^^^Intersection, where the Southern Side of the Camping Pond Loop crosses and the end of the Connector Path.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MYLES STANDISH SF MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT