Rules & Regulations

Dogs are allowed in Myles Standish State Forest on a leash of 10 feet or less. Alcohol, off-road vehicles, littering and dumping are not allowed. Fires are limited to campsite fire rings, and you may not bring firewood into the campground; buy it there. Stay on roads and trails, keep off posted pond shores and frost pockets, and wear blaze orange in hunting season. These are DCR's rules, gathered from its park page, trail map and guides.

Dogs

• Dogs are allowed. DCR's trail map says dogs, except hunting dogs, must be leashed and under control at all times.
• DCR's trip guide sets the maximum leash length at 10 feet and asks that a pet be attended at all times.
• Pick up after your dog and put the waste in a trash barrel or take it with you.
• No pets in the yurts or anywhere on a yurt's site.

Alcohol, Fires and Firewood

• No alcohol anywhere in the forest.
• Fires are prohibited on the trails. Campers use the fire ring at their site.
• Massachusetts prohibits moving firewood or any wood products into or out of a DCR campground. DCR sells firewood at the park, $7 a bundle, credit card only.

Vehicles

• No off-road vehicles.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all unpaved roads and trails, except snowmobiles.
• Cross the forest roads with care on foot or bike. DCR notes that Lower College Pond Road is used by many vehicles all year.

On the Trails

• Trails are open dawn to dusk.
• Stay on designated roads and trails. Frost pockets are very sensitive; DCR says their plant communities take decades to recover from damage, so view them only from established trails.
• Carry in, carry out all trash.
• Be courteous, give a clear signal before passing, and when you meet a horse, stop, announce yourself and wait for the rider's instructions.
• DCR asks groups to keep to 12 people or fewer.
• Bicycle helmets are required by Massachusetts law for anyone 16 or under.

Ponds and Bogs

• Keep off pond shores where posted. DCR calls kettle pond shores extremely sensitive to trampling and asks visitors to respect barriers and signs.
• Boating is non-motorized only.
• Cranberry bogs are off limits except the Rocky Pond Bog Loop. There, do not walk on the bog and do not pick the cranberries; it is a working farm.
• Fishing licenses: DCR links to the Massachusetts freshwater fishing license from its park page.

Hunting Season

Hunting is allowed in two Wildlife Management Areas in the forest. DCR asks every visitor to be aware of hunting seasons and wear blaze orange when appropriate. Massachusetts allows no hunting on Sundays. Dates on the hunting page.

Camping Rules

• Every site must be reserved; no walk-ins.
• Reservations are in the name of the person staying on the site.
• No smoking in yurts.
• Horse campers must bring a horse to book Charge Pond Area C, and show Coggins papers at check-in.

Fees and booking details are on the camping page.

Also Prohibited

• Littering and dumping.
• Disorderly conduct.

Reporting a Problem

For emergencies or crimes, call 911. To report rules violations, vandalism or unsafe conditions, call DCR's ParkWatch line at 1-866-759-2824 and say it is a ParkWatch call. To reach forest staff, call (508) 866-2526.