Myles Standish State Forest

Camped at the Fearing Pond area Memorial Day weekend and really enjoyed our time there. The bathroom was reasonably clean for a campground, no complaints. My husband and I took our bikes out on the trails within the state park. Even though the pavement is cracked here and there, we still enjoyed ourselves. The female staff member who checked us in was quick and efficient. She was able to answer all my questions and give us great directions to our site!

Review is for camping. We booked a campsite for one night in August. Based on reviews, we chose the Curlew Pond area and found a site that looked a little removed from the others on the map.
We got there and found it odd that we had to wait in a long line to register even though we had pre-​registered (with the extra confirmation piece) online. They had a big sign about only one person allowed inside at a time. That just seemed strange but, no big deal. We got registered then headed off to the campground.
The forest looks pretty from the road. Looks like there’s lots of bike trails and green spaces, even some small sand dunes mixed in. It was pretty quiet too. Curlew is a good drive away from the main headquarters so it was a nice drive.
We got there and it was as far from camping as you could get. Sites were basically on top of each other and it wasn’t helped by the fact that people were cramming 2 – 3 cars and 3 – 4 giant tents into each site. Add to that the bikes, trailers, portable grills, rafts, and all the other accoutrements that people have with them to entertain themselves in the woods and there was hardly room to move. We found our site had a car, the neighbor’s tent, the neighbor’s baby, and the neighbor’s trash in it. He had run out of room with his three cars and two huge tents in his own site.
We bailed. We lost out on $ 30 and all the time spent packing and driving there. We go camping to get away, enjoy the quiet and the nature and this was a joke. It was too crowded and filthy, loud, you’d hardly know you were supposed to be in nature. Our back yard in the city is quieter and more outdoorsy. The DCR needs to enforce space rules (# tents, cars, people in a site) and maybe be more up front about what you’re getting when you come here.

Just returned from a great weekend in yurt A at Myles Standish. Loved the bunk beds and the great table inside the yurt. Also walking distance to the pond beach was ideal.

As an avid camper, I was very excited to check out Myles Standish State Forest with a group of friends last summer. We booked our campsite near Charge Pond from a Friday — Monday and unfortunately; it rained 2 out of the 4 days which can really be a disaster when you’re «living» outside.
After checking in at the rangers station, the drive out to our site was a good 10 – 15 minutes; easily 5 miles out into the woods. It’s such a beautiful state park and I was really impressed with the walking/​hiking/​biking trails. I was a bit let down when we arrived at our site though; it was very small and mostly dirt with some very small grass patches here and there. We did make do and were able to set up two 10 person tents, one 4 person tent and two EZ up tents. We even nabbed the picnic table from the site across the way, which our friends had booked, so we had extra seating and places to put the grill, food, etc.
Our site wasn’t far from Charge Pond and we were able to walk down which only took less than 10 minutes. I don’t believe they allow dogs down by the ponds, but I did bring my pooch with us and tied her up to a huge log on the ground under a tree while we all went out on our rafts and floated around.
My friend and I hopped on our bikes and cruised around a bit of the area, but I know we didn’t even touch a small portion of this massive park. We stumbled upon an absolutely beautiful birch tree forest early in the evening, with the sun setting… it was stunning.
I certainly cannot wait to reserve another site at Myles Standish for this upcoming camping season and hopefully we will try a new area so we can explore more of this beautiful gift from mother nature.

I reserved a group lot for 15 people and found out it was 6 small sites side by side. Took me by surprise but we made do. Used one lot for parking 6 cars, one lot for the tents, and one lot for the play area. Was kind of a waste of space and I felt bad but it was a fairly nice park with bath houses and restrooms. Kinda dirty for a restroom but they are tended at least once a day in the morning. Our other alternative would be a bush so i aint complaining. I would go again because its nearby and had a beautiful pond.

We stayed here for the Fourth of July and it was great! We had a grill on-​site, we were right on the lake, and security really did do a few drive-​bys to make sure everyone was being quiet and safe. The lake was wonderful, clean and warm, and it was definitely a fun camping experience! I would definitely go back.

If I could put a negative star review I would. The only thing worse than our gross camping experience was the complete lack of care in regards to the staff. Our site was FULL of bees. FULL. Like couldn’t cook during the day so full. We tried to make the best of it as we watched our neighbors back up and leave their sites early. The ladies room was beyond anything you can imagine. I was there for three days and the first stall in the ladies room was full of you know what and toilet paper the entire time! Not to mention the trash everywhere. Most likely because you couldn’t even open the dumpster because of all the bees. All of this would have been better if you felt the staff cared but they literally told my husband there was nothing they could do and handed him more flyers about building bee traps which required me to drive home and get a tape dispenser and a stapler. Which was OK because I went home to shower daily anyways because one smell of the restroom and I could tell that was my only way to get clean. I’ve been camping tons of times but this was my kids first time and they were so disappointed.
They knew about the bee problem. First off they should have has these «amazing traps» built for the campers. Although I’m pretty sure they just attracted more bees. Secondly they should have told us of the issue they were having. And third of all just clean up!!!

I can’t say enough great things. I have stayed here many times and have been very rarely disappointed. The place is beautiful and the ponds are great! A good idea is to find some of the many sites that are more spaced apart for more privacy. Also the fishing is pretty good. I have only been slightly disappointed when we got there and our slightly was filled with trash, but we asked and they made the site SPOTLESS. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

Went camping with my 3 year old here for her first time. We loved hiking and fishing! :)

We’ve pretty much never had a bad experience here. The park rangers are polite and helpful, the camping areas are well maintained, the water is great (we usually stay at Curlew Pond) and rates are very reasonable. Perfect getaway when Boston life is just too busy.

WONDERFUL BIKE TRAIL!!! make sure to visit the headquarters for additional information on which bike trail best fits your level.

Very nice staff who are more than happy to assist with any info you need.

Eastern Massachusetts’ biggest secret. 20+ square miles of pine forests and ponds. Trails run all over the park. It’s impossible to run out of new places to go. With the map from headquarters, two easy to follow trails for hikers are shown– one around the East Head reservoir right at headquarters; the other being the Bentley Loop starting from a parking lot on Upper College Pond Road. A series of fun bike trails also run from the headquarters. There are four main camping areas. I’ve stayed in two– Barrett Pond and Charge Pond. I preferred the Barrett pond area, which seemed like there was more separation between the sites. However, the pond is probably better at Charge for swimming. The day use swimming at College Pond costs $ 5 but has guards during the summer and changing facilities.

Arrived late. Big place. Dark and foggy. But when we arrived at our campsite, it was easy to set up our tent, build a fire, and roast some marshmallows for the kids. Fairly quiet near Curlew Pond. There was a hint of highway noise in the distance in the middle of the night, but nothing too obtrusive. The campsites are nicely separated with a separation distance of about 30 feet between tents. I would return here for a few nights camping.
Go see the Mayflower II, then camp, and pretend you just got off the boat from Plymouth, England.

We stayed here last year (Curlew Pond) and enjoyed it so booked again this year, but were a bit disappointed. The pond is great and the fact that you have swimming access directly at your campsite is fantastic. Most of the waterfront sites have a short path down to the pond with a small, sandy, weed free area for swimming. d But here are some of the things that were letdowns:
The overcrowding: I could easily hear normal conversation 3 sites away in either direction. In the morning, our neighbors were in and out of their vehicle and it sounded like it was 2 feet away. Not all of the sites are this close, but a lot of the waterfront ones are (we were K34).
Lack of signage or maps: You get a map at check-​in but it’s very general with just roads and ponds. We had no idea where the dishwashing station was, or the nearest bathroom, or the beach or dumpsters. You can view detailed maps online before you go, but that info should be available at the campground at the very least.
Bathrooms: Dirty and full of bugs. I know there is only so much the park employees can do, but I saw the same trash on the ground for 2 days. Toilets were left unflushed. I had 3 small children with me and made frequent trips to the bathroom. I repeatedly found unflushed urinals and toilets throughout the day/​night. I thought maybe it was a plumbing problem but we had no problems. Again, there’s not much the park service can do to educate jerks, but it was a downer.
Check-​In: Why does this park feel the need to enforce an «Only one person in the office at a time» policy? When we checked in, there were 3 other groups waiting in line. You can hear them check in and then come all the questions about the area, services, policies. When you are in line it’s a little annoying, especially when you find out there are 2 employees in the office. They seem to pride themselves on the slow pace.
Noise: Maybe it’s the pond, but noise seems to carry… especially at quiet hours. At night I got to listen to a movie in someones tent 3 sites away, and sitcoms the next night (and no electricity is available) till I fell asleep around 12:30. There was a group across the pond splitting firewood or breaking pallets till around the same time. In the morning our neighbors decided it would be nice to make kindling wood from their small logs at 6:10 am. And the red squirrels really didn’t want anyone to sleep past 6 either.
Last year, it was definitely less crowded, we had empty sites on either side of us. This year, on our check out the sign said they had no available sites, so the crowds are not going away. With the exception to the lack of signage, all of my complaints could probably be attributed to the crowdedness. I may try this place again next year, but will probably try a different area than Curlew.

I have been camping at MSSF for 40 years and love it. This year they added 3 Yurts to Barrett pond, and we camped in Yurt B. Awesome time. MSSF is four distinct camping areas. I think the folks who are giving it 1 star did not know what to expect. Like everything in life DO YOUR HOMEWORK, know what you are getting into.
Barrett Pond has the best sites and it is only 2 minutes from the ranger station. In orderof best to ok, they have Yurt sites (Canvas covered cabin type) w/​lights and electricity, water sites, then outside loop sites, and lastly inside loop sites. Go to
and view the maps. The outside loop sites are spread out and there is nothing behind you but miles of woods. It’s great for kids or dogs to hike around. The beach is good. Pond is small and the kids love to float across on tubes. Bath houses have been some what updated but I would wear flip flops. The inside loops give less privacy
Curlew shares the pond with private cabins and has the best pond in my opinion. Make sure you find the peninsula beach and the 2 awesome rope swings. We day tripped from Barretts twice for the Hidden beach and swings. Culew is the closest to Plymouth Via Rocky pond rd
My brother goes 2 weeks every year at Ferrings and he loves it. I don’t know much about it but have no interest in that one.
Charge is the worst. they have six loops around the pond but it is a long long walk to the pond. The beach is crappy. There was a fire 30 or so years ago so the trees are not as tall as most of the forest and it can get sunny. I have camped there before and will never camp at charge again. It is usually the only one open for Johnny come lately, and there is a reason for that.
Remember it’s only $ 12 per night and is State run. No Lifeguards and no drinking, although I saw a few Solo cups around including my site, Private campgrounds cost more and you get more. What I really like is I can go swimming at midnight if I want and I can bring any flotation device. No outside wood due to fear of beetle epidemic, if you pick an outside loop site there is plenty of kindling in the woods.

Myles Standish is a giant state park with 4 campsite-​equipped ponds. We’ve stayed at Barrett Pond, which is a smaller pond, with better bathrooms, better water supply and easy access to the water.
This year, we stayed at Curlew Pond, at the other end of the park. It took 15 minutes of driving to get there, and pretty difficult to find our campsite. Thankfully, it was one of the sites that were actually numbered. The site was a good size, enough for a picnic table, our large tent, the car and room around the fire pit. The site was very clean, though the table was rotting away on one end. We know we’re roughing it, though, so we just put a plastic tablecloth over it.
First things first, we went to get our drinking water and scope out the bathroom situation. The two bathrooms closest to our site were built in the 60s and not updated. Filled with bugs, rusted toilets and sinks, and surrounded by putrid recycling bins, and have I mentioned the orange water!!! Yes, the water out of both taps that were clearly marked «DRINKING WATER» ran orange, clearly due to the rusty pipes.
After a drive down the road, we found a newer facility, with a shower and a stainless steel sink outside. The water there was awesome. Crystal clear and delicious. The shower was pretty decent. The ladies’ had hot water, the men’s had lukewarm. Benches and hooks were available to keep your things off the floor. However, according to the log, this bathroom was not cleaned the friday and saturday we were there. Probably why there was a poop-​smeared toilet the whole time. That was a lovely sight to behold!
We visited the beach twice during our long weekend. It was a very small area, with barely any sand. The water though, amazing! The pond was very clean and the water was crystal clear. Kids dominated during the weekend, but it was pretty secluded the first day of our visit.
We had one neighbor the first night, but the campsites were filled the rest of the weekend. There is not much privacy between most sites, and you will hear children and dogs, even from across the pond.
There has been some flooding recently to some of the roads and paths, but most of the trails, including bridle trails, are open for use and well marked on a map.
Outside firewood is not allowed, but you can buy some when you register. $ 5 for one bundle or 3 bundles for $ 10. They take credit cards, too, so no need to have cash. Be prepared to wait in line at the campsite HQ though, only one customer allowed in the office at a time!
For $ 12 a night you really can’t ask for much. It is a public facility, after all!

I really wanted to like this place. I really did. Located in Plymouth and Carver, this park is the largest state owned campground in Massachusetts. It has beautiful ponds and miles of hiking trails through a mostly pine forest. So on first glance, it seemed really nice.
Then we found our campsite. We pulled into our spot at Curlew pond and were immediately inundated with people. and their kids. and their dogs. The site hadn’t been cleaned (bags of something disgusting I didn’t recognize were left for our convenience) and provided absolutely no privacy from the screaming and barking of our neighbor campers. Now this isn’t my first camping trip. I understand the families like to get out there and have an inexpensive vacation, but come on. There are many campgrounds around the state where a campsite will have at least a small barrier between sites. This is a huge place. How about we spread out a little bit Mr. DCR Commissioner. It was so bad that I thought Chris Hanson was setting me up when a 4 year old girl dropped trow in front of me and began relieving herself. I swear officer I was just here for camping, please don’t put me on the list!
On the plus side, in the attempt to escape the campground, I took my first trip to see Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower (2), which was fun. We’ll come back there someday for boat rides, fried clams and ice cream.
I can’t see myself returning to Myles Standish until my five kids reach that magical 6 month age. Then, I’m fighting back!

What a lovely place to go camping!
Tons of trails, really nice lake/​beach, bathhouses were alright, and camping spaces were ample.
Myles Standish is HUGE — it takes a good 15 minutes to drive from the entrance to the camping area. I think to take full advantage of all the area has to offer it would require camping there several times, a challenge I’m willing to accept.
Great camping, would totally recommend to anyone.

I’ve camped at Myles Standish State Forest for the past three summers and each year I’m impressed by the cleanliness of the campsites, the maintenance of the trails and the overall feel of such a wonderful place.
My friends and I always reserve campsites around Charge Pond, one of the four ponds you can camp at in the forest. The sites themselves are clean, spacious enough for multiple tents, and equipped with a fire pit. You pull your car up directly into the individual sites, so you’re not exactly getting a «wow, I’m sleeping in the middle of nowhere» feel, which I personally enjoy. The pond itself is several hundred yards across, has a beach on either side, and makes for great swimming and relaxing.
In addition to the swimming and sleeping in tents, there are miles of walking trails, biking trails and equestrian trails. There’s a cranberry bog that is open for Parks Department-​led tours, and I really enjoyed doing that last year. After browsing the website, I found that the forest is also stocked with game birds for hunting in various seasons. Truly, something for everybody.
My yearly trip to this State Forest is one of my favorite things to do. If you want great, Boston-​accessible camping, I’d strongly recommend this place.