Myles Standish State Forest is state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of Boston. It is the largest publicly owned recreation area in this part of Massachusetts and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).DescriptionThe forest is part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion and consists largely of pitch pine and scrub oak forests—at 26mi2, one of the largest such forests north of Long Island. The forest surrounds 16 lakes and ponds, including several ecologically significant coastal kettle ponds.EcologySpecies commonly found in Southeast Massachusetts pine barrens:PlantsTreesPitch pineBear oak (scrub oak)Dwarf chestnut oak (scrub oak)Fruit-bearingHillside and lowbush blueberryBlack huckleberryBearberryBirds'-foot violet
