Douglas State Forest

Douglas State Forest is a protected woodland area in Massachusetts that borders Connecticut and Rhode Island, featuring extensive forests and a large recreational lake. The property includes many miles of marked trails for walking and biking, along with swimming and fishing areas.

The forest was established in the 1930s when the state government acquired and protected land in this region for public use. Work crews from that era built many of the trails and structures that still exist today.

The forest serves as a gathering place where locals and visitors today hike, fish, and picnic along shorelines and woodland trails. This everyday use reveals how the land functions as shared space that brings together people from neighboring states.

Visitors find parking areas near the main entrances and access points for different activities like swimming, fishing, and cycling. The forest is easier to explore on weekday mornings when it is less crowded.

A special boardwalk trail crosses through a swampy area with rare tree species that many visitors overlook on their first visit. This path also connects the forest to mountains many miles away in an adjacent state.