Round Pond Trails and Fields
Myles Standish State Forest comprises more than 26 square miles of preserved forest land with many campsites and according to the official site has "35 miles of horse trails, 15 miles of paved bike trails and 13 miles of hiking trails". A study of the summer trail map or the topographical area map reveals relatively few marked trails. On the ground, hiking trails are marked with black symbols on blue plastic triangles. The great majority of the ways through the forest are not marked for hikers. Aside from a few miles of trails around East Head Reservoir, and the major woods roads to the northeast, the maps show only fireroads and pavement weaving through the woods.
Fortunately for us, the reality is quite different. Hundreds of miles of trails criss cross the state forest going in every direction and in every imaginable arrangement. There are broad hard-packed dirt roads that lead to pine needle covered woods roads, that become winding ridge climbing foot paths, old dirt bike trails, well worn deer trails, newly cut 6 foot wide swaths through brush, open fields lined with footpaths, fire roads bisecting the forest for miles and narrow unmarked walks around every body of water. None of this is mapped and all of it is accessible on foot.
This cache explores a fraction of the trails and fields in the area easterly of Round Pond. To start, go to the trailhead west of the parking area at Lot 2. You can also access the start from any of the nearby caches. The trail will take you along the eastern shore of Three Corner and Round Ponds, with views from the shore, then through the woods along a variety of trails to opens field to the east. Some of the trails are marked but most are not and the they vary from narrow footpaths to broad shaded lanes. Dress appropriately (ticks be here), mark you car, and enjoy the forest.
The stages, (though not the cache), are all visible when approached, however; everything is under tree cover and their coordinates "move about" from day-to-day. Because of this tendency to wander, you should consider all sources of information on the cache page and gallery to assist in your search. Three of the six stages are within feet of the trail; all of them are in close association with the trees of the forest. The cache is a 5x7 lock and lock, large enough to hold travel bugs, and within 15 feet of a yellow (faded from orange) wire tie. Please take the time to recover, re-hide, replace or re-lock all stages as found so the next cacher can share the same experience of discovery. Hope you have fun along the way!
edexter
During Hunting Season you must wear ORANGE trails are CLOSED on Saturdays BUT there is NO HUNTING ON SUNDAYS.