MYLES STANDISH STATE FOREST:
SOUTH CARVER, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Letterbox Planted: East Head Reservoir Letterbox; August 22, 2003
College Pond Letterbox; August 23, 2003
Last Updated: April 23, 2025
Length:
Rocky Pond Path; 4
miles
Frost Pocket Path; 5 ¾ miles
Camping Pond Loop; 6 mile Loop?
Difficulty:
Moderate. Paved, hilly trails. Rough
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]; Head past Gate W39, to the right of the Interpretive Center. Follow the drive around and past the RV dumping stations to Gate W38. 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
heads down to a sharp left turn at the bottom. Stop Here
for the Letterbox. To make sure you’re
in the right location, there should be a small path down to the reservoirs
shoreline. Walk down this path to where it meets up with the East Head Nature
Trail (a hiking trail that circles the reservoir). There should be a sign
post with the #13 on it, which means you’re in the correct location. Go
back to the bike trail and put your back to the reservoir. Directly across the
bike trail will be a large Pine tree. Behind this tree is a second Pine tree. Go
to the second tree and you will see a log on top of a board. Under this board is
the East Head Reservoir Letterbox. Continuing up the trail, 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]; Exit the parking lot to Cranbury & Fearing Pond roads and head left, East, past Gate W40. Cross a causeway, 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, along Fearing Pond Rd. Come to the paved Frost Pocket Path on your left. Head Northeast, past Gate S04 and soon come to an *Intersection at 0.7 miles.
Note; Right, Southeast, takes you along the Camping Pond Loop. I have not checked out this trail. 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 takes you South, to the Northern Side of the Camping Pond Loop. It then continues South, to the Southern Side of the Camping Pond Loop.
Continue straight, past
Camping Pond Loop:
Starting from the Forest Headquarters P1 parking lot [Southern End]; I have not checked out this trail. Exit the parking lot to Cranbury & Fearing Pond roads and head left, East, past Gate W40. Cross a causeway, 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, along Fearing Pond Rd. Come to the paved Frost Pocket Path on your left. Head Northeast, past Gate S04 and soon come to an *Intersection after 0.7 miles.
Here you'll pick up the paved Camping Pond Loop Connector on your right, as it travels Southeast, through the woods. Cross Upper College pond Rd and come to the Camping Pond Loop Intersection. You can head in either direction. Heading right, West, the trail soon turns South, crossing Fearing Pond Rd. It then turns East, bringing you to an intersection.
Note; I have not checked out this trail. Left, the paved Connector Path takes you North, crossing Fearing Pond Rd. Next you come to an ***Intersection, where you cross the Northern Side of the Camping Pond Loop, continuing North. Finally, cross Upper College Pond Rd and come to the ** Intersection with the Frost Pocket Path.
Continue right, South and soon pass by Gate S18, bringing you to the Charge Pond P5 parking lot. Cross Charge Pond Rd, past Gate S19.
Note; Right, South, this trail brings you to the Charge Pond Camping Area.
Continuing left, North, the trail travels Northeast, passing by Gates S38/39 and crossing SE Line Rd. Next cross Gates S47/48 and Dr Ponds Rd, before the trail turns Northwest. Cross Gates S58/57 and Circuit Dr, as the trail turns West. Come to an ***Intersection.
Note; The Connector Path crosses here.
The trail continues straight, returning you to the Camping Pond Loop Connector, completing your Loop. I believe about a 6 mile Loop.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MYLES STANDISH SF MAP
EAST HEAD RESERVOIR LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
COLLEGE POND LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
bikeitorhikeitcontact@gmail.com
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT