Date Visited: April 9, 2016
Cost: Since I visited during the off season, it was free. The web site states it costs $9 for MA vehicles and $11 for out of state vehicles. Prices may vary if you bring your boat.
Location: 107 Wallum Lake Rd. Douglas, MA
Parking: Parking is limited at the main entrance. It probably fills up quickly during the summer weekends. There is also additional parking for boaters farther down the road to the entrance. There is also additional areas to park near the forest.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at Douglas State Forest. It just happened to be in the area of another attraction I was visiting. But, I’m a firm believer in spontaneity, no I really am, so I decided to give it a whirl. I’m glad I did.
Douglas State Forest has a few different entrances besides the main entrance at Wallum Lake Drive. I passed some of them on the way to the main entrance. It may be a good option to try these entrances (off Webster and Wallis Streets respectively). After viewing the map for Douglas State Forest, I have determined I only walked a fraction of the 5,525 acres of the park.
There are many hidden trails and long trails in the park. In fact, the Midstate Trail, a 95 mile hiking trail that extends through central Massachusetts to Mt. Watatic in the north, runs through the forest. I saw a group of walkers/hikers at one of the other entrances during my drive. I suspect they may have been gearing up to hike a section of this trail. There is also some rare Atlantic White Cedar swampland at Douglas State Forest. Boards are laid down to allow walking over these areas.
After arriving at Douglas State Forest, I walked the easy, half mile or so trail trail to Wallum Lake (the trail continues on much farther but I only walked to the boat launch and fishing area). A sure sign that spring is begrudgingly, well, springing was abundant. The trails are mainly like the one pictured below. I would describe the trails I took as being easy to moderate but the trail may get harder the farther you walk.
There were several people fishing and an assortment of boats in the lake. Boaters always seem to want to show off and speed around when they see someone with a camera!
Douglas Forest is a year-round attraction. Swimming, fishing and boating are allowed in the lake. In the winter snow shoeing and snowmobiling are popular activities at the forest. Horses and dogs are also allowed at the forest.
The views from the lake were beautiful.
What started as a gloomy, chilly, overcast day, typical of a true New England spring day, turned into a sunny, warm day. It was the perfect day to take your pooch out for a walk and they were in abundance at Douglas Forest.
Lloyd is a 3 year old husky and lab mix. He was adopted by his pet parent from a shelter and he loves to play in the water.
Delilah is a 5 year old Staffy (Staffordshire Bull Terrier). She was rescued one day before she was slated to be put down. She is also from England and loves to play with sticks. Welcome to America, Delilah!
Dixie and Monty, Irish Spring Setters, posed perfectly for their dad.
Central Massachusetts (where Douglas is located) had always been a place to drive through to get to Western Massachusetts and its plethora of mountains, forests and waterfalls. But, I have been spending a lot of time in Central Massachusetts. After my last few visits I have fallen in love with the area. I will have many more posts coming from my travels in the Central Massachusetts area. Stay tuned and thank you for reading!
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April 10th, 2016 at 10:46 pm
What an utterly gorgeous place! And the puppies fit in perfectly with being super cute! Cher xo
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:11 pm
I agree! It is such a beautiful place. The dogs were like the icing on a cake!
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Most definitely the dogs must have been the icing on a spectacular ‘lake cake’! *grin*
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:28 pm
🙂
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:22 pm
I am enjoying the water shots – thanks for taking me away!
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April 10th, 2016 at 11:26 pm
It’s my pleasure! After this past winter I am planning on spending as much time as possible near, in or on the water! Thank you!
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April 11th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
This is a place I would go back to frequently. It must be stunning in the fall.
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April 11th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
It is so big it really has to be done in separate visits so I will be back again! Such a beautiful park. Thank you!
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April 11th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
You must have two lists going. #1 Cool places I’ve visited and #2 Cool places I’m going back to visit. 🙂
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April 11th, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Both lists have the same places! 🙂
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April 11th, 2016 at 4:16 pm
🙂 one giant list!
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April 11th, 2016 at 6:34 pm
Beautiful place! Thank you!
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April 11th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Thank you!
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April 11th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Welcome!
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April 11th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Beautiful indeed. Ps, Thank you for all the likes… I had a record day because of you. Dan
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April 11th, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Thank you. I love that place! You take some beautiful photos of some very interesting things.
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April 11th, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Thank You. I appreciate the comment. I like to keep the blog very simple using our stuff, if that makes sense. Like you do. I struggle with the idea of looking pictures up on the net and posting them. I am so naïve as I was shocked to find out its normal for people who do travel blogs to use net pictures as well as write about places they themselves have never been to. I still don’t get that. But thank you again. I really appreciate the feedback from you. Dan
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April 12th, 2016 at 5:23 am
This place looks like a treasure! Being overseas, the idea of having a safe state park I could access with my dogs sounds heavenly.
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April 12th, 2016 at 10:14 am
I am sure your dogs would love it there! Thank you!
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April 12th, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Looks beautiful and looks like a lot of fun. And it also looks like it is mandatory that you bring a dog with you. 😉
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April 12th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
It’s not mandatory to go to the park. But it is mandatory if you want me to take your photo 🙂
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April 12th, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Ha perfect. I’ll be sure to bring the Bulldog. 🙂
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April 12th, 2016 at 5:10 pm
🙂
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April 13th, 2016 at 12:21 am
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
INDEED—MY NECK OF THE WOODS! WE USED TO LIVE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE STATE FOREST—NOW WE ARE NEARER TO TOWN.
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April 13th, 2016 at 12:30 am
Thanks for the reblog! What a beautiful forest you got there!
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April 13th, 2016 at 12:28 am
We’ve actually been in the park once or twice. Like you say, in summer it gets crowded early! Real nice views you found! 😀
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April 13th, 2016 at 12:29 am
I loved it! Thank you!
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April 13th, 2016 at 12:32 am
I read in an article someone called the police to the forest a few years back on a summer morning cause the crowd was getting rowdy because they took too long to open the area up. 🙂
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April 17th, 2016 at 1:08 am
Such beautiful places♡
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April 17th, 2016 at 3:22 am
Thank you! I agree. I love going to these parks and lakes. It’s like therapy!
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April 17th, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Gorgeous
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April 24th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Thank you so much for y our post – it was very informative. I know I want to visit with my camera, and especially spend time at the cedar swamp – sounds like it might make a good painting. Thanks again,
Teri
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April 24th, 2016 at 10:23 pm
Thank you, Teri! It really is a pretty forest and there are lots of props such as rocks and plants to use as a backdrop. I would love to see a painting of the place if you decide to paint one. Thanks again!
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