Curlew Pond

Curlew Pond is one of the four camping ponds in Myles Standish State Forest. Its campground is DCR's Area K, which ReserveAmerica lists in two site ranges with about 69 sites, most of them pop-up and tent sites with back-in spaces up to 25 feet. Like every campsite in the forest, Curlew Pond sites cost $17 a night for Massachusetts residents and $54 for others, have no hookups, and must be booked ahead on ReserveAmerica.

The Curlew Pond Campground

ReserveAmerica splits Area K into two loops by site number. One holds sites 1 to 25 plus 27, 29 and 31 to 33. The other holds 26, 28, 30, 34 to 59 and 63 to 81 (with a few gaps). When you search, pick the loop that contains the site number you want.

Of the sites listed in October 2026, 58 were pop-up or tent sites, seven were RV or trailer sites and four were standard sites. Almost all have a 25-foot back-in space, and each allows up to four people. If you tow a long trailer, compare this with Charge Pond, where many sites take 30 feet.

Every site comes with a picnic table and a fire ring, and the loop has a bathroom building with showers and flush toilets. There is no electric or water hookup at any site in the forest.

Booking a Curlew Pond Site

Sites open for booking up to four months before arrival. In season, new dates release at 8 am Eastern each day. Searches for Curlew Pond peak in July, so summer weekends go early. Walk-ins are not allowed, and same-day bookings close at 2 pm.

The full list of fees, cancellation rules and the yurt and group options is on the camping page.

The Pond Itself

Curlew Pond is one of the forest's 58 kettle ponds. DCR explains that these ponds formed in hollows left by glacial ice. They are fed by groundwater, with no stream flowing in or out, so the water level rises and falls from year to year.

DCR's booking page warns that the shores of these ponds are very sensitive to trampling, and asks campers to respect barriers and signs marking fragile areas. The park's rules say to keep off pond shores where posted. In practice that means using the paths that are there rather than cutting your own way to the water.

Can You Swim at Curlew Pond?

DCR does not list a swimming beach at Curlew Pond. The place DCR sends day visitors to swim is College Pond, which has a seasonal day-use area with a bathhouse and restrooms. Campers at Curlew Pond can drive there.

Fishing Near Your Site

DCR says the forest's ponds hold largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and pickerel. It does not single out Curlew Pond, so treat that as forest-wide. For stocked trout, try Fearing Pond. More on ponds and fishing.

Getting There

Every camper checks in first at Forest Headquarters, at the end of Cranberry Road in South Carver. Directions to headquarters.

Good For

• Tent campers and pop-up campers. Most Area K sites are built for them.
• Groups of up to four per site who want a pond-side forest campground near Plymouth.

Maybe Skip If

• Your rig is longer than 25 feet. Charge Pond's Areas A, E and F list 30-foot back-ins.
• You want a yurt. All three yurts are at Barretts Pond.