A Fall bike ride through New England’s Myles Standish State Forest
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I love New England in the fall – the cool brisk weather, the gorgeous foliage, the history, and most of all, the abundance of gorgeous parks. Since moving to Plymouth County, Mike and I fell in love with a large park known as Myles Standish. My sister has lived in the Middleboro area for years and told us about this gem. It’s a great place to hike and bike. We love biking in the fall months because the weather is just perfect. A bike ride through any New England park in the fall months makes for a perfect Halloween!
Mike and I decided to take a scenic fall bike ride. The setting was perfect for Halloween – dark, cloudy, colored leaves scattered among the ground. In addition, this forest is supposedly one of the most haunted locations in Massachusetts. I’ve heard my share of spooky stories and even experienced some ghostly activity myself since moving here.
There is rumored to be an old abandoned mental institution hidden somewhere in the forest. Several murders took place here in the 1970s, which could account for the many reported ghost sightings. We have never seen anything strange here, but it is an eerie space, especially during the fall and winter months when skies are often dreary and foot traffic is pretty much non existent.
The best place to bike in southeast Massachusetts
Myles Standish State Forest offers 15 miles of great bike trails. The trails are definitely a workout (lots of hills). We often come here to bike ride instead of going to the gym. It’s a better workout and much more scenic than staring at a machine. The views are fantastic and trails are never overly crowded – a major bonus as heavy bike traffic wouldn’t be good! Today, out October bike ride was pretty spooky – there were not many other people around, the forest was dark and gloomy, and we saw lots of fallen down trees.
Even though I get a creepy feeling every time I visit, I still love biking here for the scenic views and fabulous leg workout. It almost feels like a trip back in time as I bike along taking in the quiet wooded scenery with no one else around. As you can tell in my pics, the forest just has an eerie presence. It feels like some ancient is there from long ago.
While you will find mostly pine trees lining the path, there are pockets of fall foliage here and there. The reservoir is an especially beautiful place to leaf peep. Check out this picture-perfect view! I love seeing the fall colors reflecting on the water; it is such a pretty scene.
Bike Routes
There are several options to consider here, whether you are a beginning or avid cyclist.
Camping Pond Loop: This path is just over 6 miles long and is the easiest. This would be best for anyone looking for a scenic sightseeing ride over a rough and tough workout. I recommend this route if you want to take it easy and just get back to nature for a few hours.
Frost Pocket Path: This is a long 11 mile path which takes you through the woods. There are lovely views of white pines much of the route and also pitch pines. It is mostly flat although lengthier so you need to be up for a longer ride.
Rocky Pond Path: This is the trail you will want to pick if you are looking for more of an adventure. It’s 8 miles round-trip and there are a lot of hills.
More details on biking options in the park
Additional Info
This park is located at: 194 Cranberry Rd Carver, MA 02366
Parking is free which is nice and there is no admission fee. I love that I can come here anytime I want and not worry about having to worry about getting a good value for the price.
More to do in the Plymouth area
Plymouth is a great city for history buffs. On our first visit, we checked out the Mayflower replica and Plymouth Rock. We also love taking self guided tours of all the historical monuments and old cemeteries. I highly recommend taking a self guided tour of this beautiful small coastal city.
My favorite time to visit is during the cool fall months when summer tourists are long gone and fall foliage covers all the trees. Check out my Plymouth vacation guide for a full breakdown of the best historical sites, attractions, and more.
