Horseback Riding
Myles Standish State Forest has 35 miles of equestrian trails, according to DCR, and you can camp there with your horse. Day riders park at the equestrian lot near Barrett Pond; overnight riders camp in Charge Pond's Area C, a loop kept for campers who bring horses. Riders share the forest's unpaved roads and trails with hikers and, in fall, hunters.
Riding at a Glance
Where to Start a Ride
DCR's trail map gives riders two starting points. Day riders use the Equestrian Parking lot near Barrett Pond. Riders who are camping can start straight from the Equestrian Campground, Area C at Charge Pond. From either, DCR says, you can ride many miles of the forest's unpaved roads and trails.
DCR lists the equestrian lot as seasonal, unlike the year-round headquarters, Bentley and East Entrance lots. If you plan a winter ride, call the park first at (508) 866-2526.
Camping With Your Horse
Charge Pond's Area C is set aside for horse camping. DCR says each horse site is big enough to hold a trailer, has room to set up a corral, and can take two or three horses. ReserveAmerica lists about 33 horse sites, each with a 30-foot back-in space.
- You can only book Area C if you bring a horse. ReserveAmerica labels the loop "horse required to camp".
- Bring Coggins papers. DCR requires them at check-in.
- DCR's fees page lists one basic campsite rate for Myles Standish: $17 a night for Massachusetts residents and $54 for others.
- As at every site in the forest, there are no hookups. Showers and flush toilets are in each loop.
Booking rules, the camping season and cancellation fees are on the camping page.
Sharing the Trail
DCR's trail rules ask everyone else to make room for horses. When a hiker or cyclist meets a horse, they should stop, announce themselves and wait for the rider's instructions. Anyone passing should give a clear signal first.
- Trails are open dawn to dusk.
- Stay on designated roads and trails. Frost pockets and pond shores are fragile; DCR says frost pocket plants take decades to recover from damage.
- Motor vehicles are banned from unpaved roads and trails, except snowmobiles. Expect snowmobiles in winter.
- Carry in, carry out.
Riding in Hunting Season
Two Wildlife Management Areas inside the forest are managed for pheasant and quail, and hunting is allowed there in fall. DCR asks all trail users to know the hunting seasons and wear blaze orange when appropriate. Massachusetts does not allow hunting on Sundays, so Sunday is the quietest day to ride in fall. Dates are on the hunting page.
The Terrain
Most of the forest sits on sand left by the glaciers: pitch pine, scrub oak and white pine over flat to rolling ground, with kettle ponds in the hollows. DCR's guides describe the east side as rolling, shaped by frost pockets, and the Rocky Pond area in the northwest as the most remote part of the forest. See the trail map.
Good For
- Trailering in for a long day ride on sandy forest roads.
- Overnight trips with your own horse.
Maybe Skip If
- You don't own a horse. DCR does not list a rental stable or guided rides in the forest.
- You want rocky mountain trails. This is flat, sandy pine forest.
Horseback Riding FAQ
Can you ride horses at Myles Standish State Forest?
Yes. DCR lists 35 miles of equestrian trails. Day riders park at the equestrian lot near Barrett Pond.
Can you camp with horses at Myles Standish?
Yes. Charge Pond's Area C is DCR's horse camping loop. Each site fits a trailer and a corral for two or three horses, you must bring a horse to book, and Coggins papers are required at check-in.
Where do you park a horse trailer at Myles Standish?
At the Equestrian Parking lot near Barrett Pond, which DCR lists as seasonal, or at your site in Charge Pond Area C if you are camping.
Is there horseback riding in Plymouth, MA?
Yes. Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth and Carver has 35 miles of DCR equestrian trails. You need to bring your own horse.
What do hikers do when they meet a horse?
DCR's rule: stop, announce yourself and wait for the rider's instructions.