Camp Plymouth State Park

Camp Plymouth State Park is a nature reserve of around 300 acres (120 hectares) on the eastern shore of Echo Lake in Ludlow, featuring lake access, forests, and open meadows. The park has swimming areas, walking trails, boat rentals, small cabins for overnight stays, and simple lean-to shelters along the waterfront.

The land experienced gold mining activity during the 1800s after prospectors found deposits near Buffalo Creek. Mining operations stopped in the early 1900s, allowing the area to eventually transform into a public recreation space.

The park's name references Plymouth Colony and its historical significance for early American settlers. Today, visitors use the shoreline mainly for swimming and picnicking, while the wooded paths attract those seeking quiet time in nature.

The park opens from late May through September and provides access to swimming beaches as well as simple overnight shelter options. Visitors should know that lake access is seasonal and some facilities may be limited outside the main summer months.

The area contains a rare floodplain forest with sugar maple and ostrich fern near Buffalo Creek. This special woodland type and the uncommon aquatic plants in the lake show the ecological diversity that makes this location botanically notable.