Douglas State Forest
Protected area in Massachusetts, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Douglas State Forest is a publicly owned forest with recreational features located in the town of Douglas, Massachusetts, bordering both Connecticut and Rhode Island. The state forest's 5,525 acres (2,236 ha) include Wallum Lake and a rare Atlantic white cedar swamp, 5 acres (2.0 ha) of which are designated as a Massachusetts Wildland. The forest is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3]
| Douglas State Forest | |
|---|---|
Wallum Lake | |
  Douglas State Forest Location in Massachusetts  Douglas State Forest Douglas State Forest (the United States) | |
| Location | Douglas, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°02′45″N 71°47′25″W[1] |
| Area | 5,525 acres (2,236 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m)[1] |
| Established | 1934 |
| Administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Official website  |
History
The state forest was created through the state's purchase of 1,245 acres (504 ha) in 1934.[4] In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps installed major improvements including a picnic pavilion, an administrative building, and water management infrastructure.[5]
Activities and amenities
Forest trails are used for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. A 7.8-mile (12.6 km) section of the 92-mile-long (148 km) Midstate Trail runs through the forest as does a portion of the 22-mile-long (35 km) Southern New England Trunkline Trail. At the southwest extreme of the park, the tri-state marker, where Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are conjoined, may be reached by a short offshoot of the Mid-State Trail.[6]
Wallum Lake offers fishing, swimming, and boating. The forest also offers picnicking, restricted hunting, and a group day-use area.[3]
