Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve

Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve was created in 2018, and is owned and protected by Northeast Wilderness Trust. The Preserve is 322 acres, including a 48-acre Coastal Plain Pond and 273 acres of forestland. The forest at Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve is an Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens; the dominant tree species are pitch pine and several types of oak. While it is not yet an old-growth forest, the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens are home to rare and diverse flora and fauna. The forest offers habitat for birds of prey, waterfowl, songbirds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and more. The main trail skirts the western shore of Muddy Pond, which is a rare Atlantic Coastal Plain Pond. The sandy forest floor has a dry, scrubby understory shaded by towering trees, mainly pitch pine and black and red oak. The hike is fairly level, as it follows the edge of the pond. A spur trail loop leads to a high point on the property, and connector trails lead off-property to other trail systems and pine barrens forests. Depending on the time of year, a hiker might spot insects that are unique to this ecosystem, such as the Pine Barrens Bluet and the threatened Water Willow Borer. Or, they may get to see the blossoms of the rare Plymouth gentian or the globally endangered New England boneset. Throughout the forest there are more than 25 verified vernal pools, which give life to an abundance of frogs, toads, salamanders, and insects each spring. Northeast Wilderness Trust is working with Massachusetts Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program to evaluate other potential vernal pools on the land.

Watch the special dedication video on August 22, 2020: