Myles Standish State Forest
Cranberry Road
Carver, MA
Park Website
Map
Horse camping at Myles Standish State Park in South East Carver Ma.
Horses stay on your site in your style of corral or high line system. 37 Sites dedicated to horse campers, with well maintained and clean bathrooms the sites accommodate the largest of trailers.
There is a host family on the sites weekends from Memorial Day thru Columbus Day.
The forest has an extensively well marked bridle trail system, however if you ask and explore you can learn of the more shaded and scenic interior trails that are out of the sun and show off the natural pond systems deep in the forest. From one hour loops too extensive five plus hour loop rides there is much to offer.
The ground and footing is sandy base with few rocks and roots. The Cutter field system always has a breeze on a hot day with grazing for a mid afternoon break. If you have a camper or LQ trailer the park offers a very accessible dump station behind the main office.
Reservations can be made in advance at Reserve America or you can walk up with no reservation.
Below are a few things that may help you enjoy your horse camping trip.
Including a few suggested trail rides.
When you check in have your auto registration number, Coggins and rabies for the horses and any rabies certs for dogs.
Bugs are few you may need an occasional wisp or head gear, however generally nothing to complain about. Less than any where we go.
As you pull into the Equestrian camping loop on the left are the sites for the host family. Bob and Pat show up either Friday afternoon or early Sat morning. Bob is there to help he can also help you change sites if something is wrong. You can also call the office if you arrive and need to change your selected site (number is on the trail map you should have picked up in the office at check in).
Plan on riding with the host family @ 9 am Sunday mornings you will enjoy the ride. They have been hosting every weekend for 12+ years. After your Sunday ride stick around to enjoy a group lunch with the crowd.
There are three main water faucets in the loop and from the middle faucet at site 20 down to and passed site 26 there are faucets at every other site. Also there is a water faucet on the bath house.
If you like your water on your site bring plenty of hose and a Y connector to split off of your fellow campers hoses.
If you cannot get your rig into a site comfortable try going around the loop in the opposite direction that helps a lot. Or if possible call the office and change sites.
Bathrooms are clean. Charge pond swimming area is crystal clear and just a short walk.
Remember there are no horses are allowed in the public swimming ponds. There are many hard bottom ponds on the trails.
Trails;
Just a few words regarding MSSP:
„X Carry a cell phone.
„X The forest exceeds 15 thousand acres.
„X You can get lost.
„X Grab a map at the office.
„X Roads are marked on the map and at each end with a sign.
Dirt Bikes frequent the outer boundaries. Step out of the way and face your horse to them. We have never met any groups or individuals that would not slow down. We always ask them what direction they are heading and let them know where we are going to ensure we both are aware of our presence in the trails.
There are three trails out of the equestrian camping area, one at site 34 and the other more up near site 21 and another at site 8.
7 mile loop:
(Great for your first day to stretch horse after their trailer ride and get a lay of the land, there is no water on this trial) Follow this on the trail map with a pen so you have a general guide in the woods.
Leave on the trail near site 34 next to the last water.
Drop down to Maple Spring road turn right.
As you look at the map you see another unmarked road go sharply left back down.
You are now heading to Stringer Rd.
Just before Stringer there is a large left (not a trail, but large enough for a vehicle.)
Take that left pass by old cut trees.
At the end you meet Stringer.
Take a right and look to the left a well used horse trail just before a large pine tree
This is a piece of the never-ending trail (true to its name)
You are now going towards Sasemine way it will take 15 to 45 min to get there, Based on your pace. Just keep following the well used ground.
At Sasemine take a left. Cross Charge Pond Rd go all the way to Haynes rd. (this is a gas line can be very hot in the sun)
Go left; on the right in the tress there is a road out of the sun that is better ground.
Continue up past a bathroom on the edge of the gas lines on your left.
A few hundred feet after you pass the white poles, on the left after the second entrance to that camping area past the bathrooms will be a small trail (another piece of the never-ending trial)
Look for it closely.
Take that trail all the way back to maple spring rd.
Take a left and look for your trail up to the camp sites that you started from.
This is @ 7 miles and takes @1 hour 1/2 (Walk trot Canter).
10 to 12 miles with water:
4 to 5 hours
Take all the same trails.
You can shorten the Maple spring ride by going left on MS (instead of right) to the end and around the gate.
Cross the asphalt road straight on the trail
At the next gate turn right on Stringer (around another fire road gate)
Go by the campers on the left to the large Pine tree
Turn left onto the never-ending trail.
Once at Sasemine take a right this time.
Shortly on the left is a large pine forest with a trail (easy to miss but well used) that goes up a small bank to the left and into the pine grove, follow this trail.
Notice how at the end as you begin to see a road in front of you the trail goes up and into the woods, go that way.
You will end on the corner of Southeast line and Fearing Pond rd.
Across is a yellow street sign.
A dirt road goes right by the sign and up a few yards is a left into the woods.
At the end of this trail you have a choice right or left.
Go right.
Follow to New Grassy Pond Rd. (little white line on map next to new grassy pond)
Take left to water for horses to drink. Water on right or left is fine.
It is up to you at this point, it is all personal preference but remember you are going to return the way you came. At least until you become more comfortable and have explore more of the trails.
I recommend returning to new grassy pond road from the water the way you came in, then going straight past the trail you just came out of and then take the hiking trail to the left up the slope.
At the top go left and follow to Cutter field road.
Note where you came out on cutter field road, hang a rag or something to pick up on the way back.
Cross the road into the Cutter fields.
The Cutter fields are spectacular a must see, on a hot day there is always a breeze. There are five fields each has its own thing. Bluebird boxes in one, Hemlocks in another, pheasant are released here for hunting season and deer are around.
The hedgerows that are in-between are full of crisscross trails. Graze your horse and take a break.
Nice place for lunch.
Retrace to return from New Grassy Pond to SE Line Rd. returning to the yellow Sign.
Use your Map.
Bog Rides
If you choose to go up Maple Spring road and cross South line rd and follow MS rd you will end up in endless vast cranberry bog systems.
Be careful Cranberry Bogs have lots of activity from Sprinklers to heavy equipment along with dirt bikes.
They are not for all horses as there are spooky things on bogs.
If you choose to ride onto the bogs the white boxes are bee hives.
Do not go between the hive and the bog.
Always go between the woods and the hive.
It is like a little super highway of bees going back and forth to the bog.
Nasty little buggers when provoked.
On Sunday morning Bob and Pat will most likely take the group down Haynes to new long pond and thru some very nice hiking trails. That ride is hot and best saved for their company, as they can get you into the woods when needed and there are plenty of water stops.
Have fun
This information was provided by Jim on 2/7/10 Thanks Jim for the excellent info!!
