Easy hikes and walks around White Island Shores

The views of the pond are spectacular from this road. Halfway Pond, a 232-acre warm water pond nestled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, sits between Myles Standish State Forest and Long Pond. Located west of Round Pond, southwest of Gallows Pond, and north of Fawn Pond and White Island Pond, it boasts an average depth of nine feet and a maximum depth of 13 feet. Fed by groundwater springs, it drains into the Agawam River. Halfway Pond Island, positioned at the pond's center, is designated a research natural area under The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts' management.

The Myles Standish State Forest is a hive of activity and a fantastic place to explore by bike. There are 15 miles of paved cycle trails through the trees and swimming spots in the ponds. Plus five campgrounds if you are on a multi-day trip.

The railroad bridge is a great curiosity as it lifts up and down to allow boat traffic to pass underneath. A wonderful thing to see if you time your ride right and get to see it move.

Gallows Pond is a kettle pond, meaning that it was formed by retreating glaciers thousands of years ago. Due to its clear, cool waters, it is a popular swimming, sun bathing, fishing, and boating spot in the summer months.

Halfway Pond is not only a picturesque New England freshwater pond, but it also provides habitat for the federally endangered northern red-bellied cooter, a rare freshwater turtle species. Because the water is so clean, six mussel species live in Halfway Pond, two of which are quite rare. Additionally, the shores of the pond offer excellent opportunities for spotting bald eagles. You can enjoy many different seasonal activities such as canoeing and kayaking in the summer, hiking in the fall, snowshoeing in the winter, or searching for wildflowers in the spring.

East Head Pond, or Reservoir, is a picturesque 92-acre pond located on the south end of the Myles Standish State Forest. The pond is situated in a unique forest community known as the "pine barrens," which is found in only a few places in the world. The area was formed over 10,000 years ago by glaciers and is the headwaters to the Wankinco River. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, and boating while exploring the beautiful natural surroundings.

The East-head Loop Interpretive Trail is a flat 2.75 miles long loop around East-head Reservoir. This lovely, scenic trail has numbered stops that correspond to this printable guide linked here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/east-head-reservoir-trail/download This self-guided trail is fun for all ages and a great way to explore this beautiful, glacier-carved pond in the Myles Standish State Forest.

Myles Standish is a state forest and the biggest public recreation area in Massachusetts. The park has 16 lakes and kettle ponds surrounded by pine and oak forests. You can do lots of outdoor activities here like swimming, hunting, fishing, kayaking, picnicking and canoeing. The forest has a great trail network with 15 miles (24 km) of paved cycle paths, 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails and 35 miles (56 km) of horse trails. There are also 5 campgrounds in the forest, four of which are next to a pond.