Douglas State Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Douglas State Forest
Douglas State Forest Location in Massachusetts
Location	Douglas, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Area	5,525 acres (22.36 km2)
Elevation	702 ft (214 m)
Established	1934
Governing body	Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Website	Douglas State Forest

Douglas State Forest is a publicly owned forest with recreational features that borders both Connecticut and Rhode Island, located in the town of Douglas, Massachusetts. 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.

History

The state forest was created through the state's purchase of 1,245 acres (504 ha) in 1934. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps installed major improvements including a picnic pavilion, an administrative building, and water management infrastructure.

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.

Wallum Lake offers fishing, swimming, and boating. The forest also offers picnicking, restricted hunting, and a group day-use area.