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    Freetown- Fall River State Forest

    4.0 (14 reviews)

    Freetown- Fall River State Forest Photos

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    Down under the free fall :)
    Nadine B.

    Beautiful place to just have an relaxed Sunday walk or an bike ride ... family walk or just to enjoy the Natur ... one of the most impressive places around here ...

    Photos by Elsa and Anna K.
    Brian S.

    Wide trails and a haunted rock Freetown-Fall River State Forest is a huge, 5,500 acre track of land that was acquired by the state in the 1930's. It has a large picnic area, splash pool and public bathrooms by the parking lot and then offers trails going for miles in many different directions. Many of the trails are really old wagon roads and are wide and easy. Other side trails are much smaller and more difficult with rocks, ruts and vast amounts of thorns and vicious plants guarding the small paths. You have a choice of what you wish to travel on. Many of the trails are marked and maps are available but since the area is so vast that getting lost or even very lost is always a possibility. Many hikers and mountain bikers use this area all year long and in the winter I have seen cross country skiers, snowmobiles, snow shoers and even an occasion dog sledder. There is also some great fishing with nice brook trout in the streams. The area is so large that many people can do things without interfering with each other. One of the special features of the park is Profile Rock, sometimes called the Old Man of Joshua's Mountain. The is a cool looking rock that projects off a fifty foot outcropping. It sort of looks like a man's strong profile and is said by the local Wamponoag Tribe to be the profile of the great sachem Massasoit. Lots of ghost stories have been passed down during the decades and the image of a Wamponoag in full battle gear dancing on the top of the rock, ready to take his revenge on the atrocities and injustices that have been heaped upon his people, has been reported by many people. Lots of other strange noises, images and apparitions have also been claimed to be seen. Unfortunately various idiots, dolts and simpletons have decided to honor the great chief by spraying graffiti and smashing glass bottles all around the rock. Other folks try to keep it clean but it is a never ending battle. Perhaps one day the fierce warrior in his battle gear really will return and get his revenge on the knuckleheads that still deface his memory. And perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

    Freetown 50 MTB Race - https://classactracing.blogspot.com/
    Class Act Racing C.

    A massive trail system that is well maintained, with more then 5,000 acres. This is a great spot to mountain bike. There's an abundance of fun / challenging technical single track to explore. Many technical rock gardens to test your skills on that include a few famous Strava segments.

    Children's Wading Pool-Freetown State Forest
    Martha G.

    100% recommend the children's Wading Pool! They have plenty of lifeguards on duty, the area is fenced, clean, and fun for the kids! And best of all it's FREEEEE! They have picnic tables and grills just outside the wading pool, or just bring your blanket and some cold lunch and have your meal right on the grass in the pool area!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Lovely place to visit and cool atmosphere, love it there to visit sometimes on vacation

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    Review Highlights - Freetown- Fall River State Forest

    One of the special features of the park is Profile Rock, sometimes called the Old Man of Joshua's Mountain.

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    Boyden Wildlife Refuge - Boulders and ferns along the main trail

    Boyden Wildlife Refuge

    5.0(2 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    Very walkable trails through peaceful woodlands along the Three Mile River. Good parking, picnic…read morearea with grills available, visitor center, and bathrooms at the park entrance. While a little busy at the parking/trailhead area itself, once you progress a bit through the woods, things quiet down considerably and you're able to find tranquility and splendid isolation to your heart's desire (yes, far from the madding crowd ... good old Hardy). The main trail culminates at a dam with fish ladders and it's impressive to see the torrent of water gushing over. Upstream from the dam, the river flows leisurely and on a beautiful end-of-summer day like this, the water is a pristine mirror. Many trails to choose from (though they tend to be unmarked - but it's hard to get lost as they all tend to loop back to the main): we walked a branch off the main path that ran right along the riverbank; and we found another trail that went by a "fragrance garden" and a little gnome village which added a touch of whimsy. Great for the kids and many dog walkers (and am happy to say, no doggy doo-doo's noted, so glad to see owners picking up after them!)

    Really beautiful and peaceful place to talk a walk. The trail is only a mile long but it's peaceful…read moreand nice for a quick break from work. If you go straight all the way down, you will reach the fish dam. Scattered throughout the trails on either sides are little paths that go to a fragrance garden, gnome village, and pine tree trail. Parking is free.

    Photos
    Boyden Wildlife Refuge - Gnome village at Fragrance Garden

    Gnome village at Fragrance Garden

    Boyden Wildlife Refuge - Sun-dappled trail

    Sun-dappled trail

    Boyden Wildlife Refuge - Fish ladder at Three Mile River dam

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    Fish ladder at Three Mile River dam

    Dighton Rock State Park - Various photos of rock and museum

    Dighton Rock State Park

    3.3(4 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    A park with a big…read morerock Dighton Rock State Park is named for the famous 40 ton rock that is now located at the park. The huge glacial rock was originally found in the Tauton River but moved to a small museum in the park a while back. The rock has strange petroglyphs on it whose meaning and even origin is very controversial. The rock was known and discussed as far back as the early 17th century and most scholars now believe they were carved by Natives Americans for unknown and forgotten reasons. Of course various other theories like Phoenicians, Vikings, Chinese, Portuguese and the ubiquitous aliens also are tossed around. Like an intelligent species is going to travel bezillions of light years to write on a rock. Beside the famous and enigmatic rock the park has about 100 acres of roads, trails and a pleasant picnic area by the river. Not enough room for any serious hiking but a nice place for dog walking or a stroll through the woods. Unfortunately the museum is only open by appointment so the rock is usually hidden away. However the rest of the park is a nice place for a picnic or to relax. We will probably never know what the glyphs on the rock mean but even without the big and curious rock the park is a pleasant place to explore.

    Well maintained river side park with picnic area, basic sanitary services and small free museum…read moreshow casing a boulder recovered from the nearby Taunton river with petroglyphs of possible various origins. The carvings are difficult to make out. Informational signs are provided to stimulate thought and help you to draw your own conclusion as to its origins and authenticity. The park is a short distance off exit 10 on busy Rte. 24. The caretaker is very friendly and obviously proud of the park. A few walking trails are available.

    Photos
    Dighton Rock State Park - Tauton River

    Tauton River

    Dighton Rock State Park - Cool donation box

    Cool donation box

    Dighton Rock State Park - Pudding Stone

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    Pudding Stone

    Sweet Knolls State Park - Taunton River

    Sweet Knolls State Park

    3.5(4 reviews)
    5.3 mi

    A brand new state…read morepark Sweets Knolls is a brand new state park that is still in the development stages. It is open to the public but to get into the park it looks like you are driving into someones driveway and then walking into their backyard. Not a lot of parking right now but it doesn't matter since know one seems to even know this is a park. It does have a large sign but there still is a lot of work to be done here. The park right now is pretty much just open fields with some trails down by the Taunton River. Some great fishing in the river and there also are places to launch a canoe or kayak. Lots of great old pine and oak trees are on the property as well as a little pond. The area was heavily occupied by the Natives American tribes and lots of artifacts have been found nearby so I suspect lots of historic treasures will be found down by the river by people with a keen eye. The property also has several miles of old rail line that will probably be turned into a walking and biking trail. The land is pretty flat so it's not a very challenging hike but I imagine this will become more of a casual place where families will come to walk, fish, look for birds or have a picnic. Sweet Knoll is indeed open to the public but it still needs some work to fulfill it's final purpose. It's great that the state purchased this land because the area is beautiful and allows access to the river. Right now it feels like you are walking around someones backyard but I suspect in the future that will change.

    Like other reviewers said it does look like you're going into someone's private driveway but its…read morenot. We went and after we checked out the pond we went on a trail that was going in the direction of somerset. I think most other reviewers went the opposite direction. I didn't see any markers but the trails were easy to follow. Although I would be weary of people crossing the train bridge, especially children as it did feel a little unsafe. Overall I thought this was a pretty fun place to explore.

    Photos
    Sweet Knolls State Park - Cool pond

    Cool pond

    Sweet Knolls State Park - Nice picnic area near the Taunton River

    Nice picnic area near the Taunton River

    Sweet Knolls State Park

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    Buffinton Park - Cool old sign

    Buffinton Park

    2.3(3 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Dogs trees and…read morelove Buffinton Park is a quiet little park on land that was donated to the town in honor of Thomas Buffington. A bit confusing to find because some on some maps the street and park are spelled Buffington and on others it is just Buffinton. Not a whole lot in the park, some swings and playground stuff and a few walking paths. Seems it's a popular place with dog walkers because we saw a whole lot of different canines while exploring the place. The park does have some pleasant old trees and a few huge glacier boulders. Unfortunately stupid graffiti is present in a few places around the park. None of it really offensive, just some local knuckleheads declaring their unending love for some girls, although I tend to doubt that spray painting your name on a boulder or wall really impresses many girls. The paths are nice and go off into the woods a bit but it's not large enough for a real hike. Just a pleasant little park for some quiet, see some nice dogs or read about the love life of a local kids.

    While Buffinton Park appears to be a peaceful neighborhood space, there are so many discouraging…read morerules here that make it almost not worth visiting at all. First, no pets allowed! What, how?! During my visit, my husband and I were literally the only people in the park, and we can't bring our well-behaved, leashed dog to sniff around? Not OK. Second, there are so many signs posted throughout the park with the most ridiculous rules. I am guessing that at some point in the past this may have been considered a sketchy park (there are several large boulders covered in graffiti), but why make the rest of the community suffer because due to the childish acts of a few unruly adolescents? For example, there is "no congregating" allowed. This is so freaking vague and unnecessary. You mean I can't meet up with a few adult friends to hang out here or play a game of pick-up football? And I can't bring my [future] child here to meet other moms and kids for a play-date or picnic? With this kind of signage, what point is there to having a public park at all? The signs also state there is "no loitering in or near autos." I mean, I kind of get it. The intent is probably to discourage backseat teen make-out sessions, but does this also mean that if I drive my car to the park I'm not allowed to park it anywhere near where I'm going to be sitting? Again, vague and a bit nonsensical. Finally, the children's playground equipment here is dated and rusty. This is not really a problem on its own, but coupled with the park's other restrictions, I'm surprised there isn't a sign stating that visitors must keep off the playground entirely. In all, Buffinton Park is a little hidden spot in a quiet neighborhood where even the most law-abiding citizens will have a hard time figuring out what is allowed here and what is not. And since the park is not open after dark, make sure you stay far away after sunset and before sunrise, or your risk of being arrested increases exponentially. I'm not inclined to return.

    Photos
    Buffinton Park - Nice trees

    Nice trees

    Buffinton Park - How romantic

    How romantic

    Buffinton Park - Some cool vines.

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    Some cool vines.

    Freetown- Fall River State Forest - hiking - Updated May 2026

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