Massasoit State Park’s 1200 acres are conveniently located close to Routes 24 and 495; getting here is easy. The park is large and sprawling, but for this particular hike we concentrated only on the Rico Trail, which is a roughly 2-mile loop near the main entrance parking lot. In the past, we’ve been mountain biking all through here (pre-children!), and we’ve gone geocaching on parts of the Five Pond Loop with the kids–we’ve always enjoyed our time at this location! Massasoit also offers a nice campground and tons of amazing spots to fish and canoe/kayak.
We chose to feature the Rico Trail because it’s uncrowded, easy to find from the parking lot, and an accessible length for families. It also has great scenery because it winds along the waterfront of a really nice pond. There are plenty of access points to the water, lots of ups and downs, interesting landmarks, bridges, and more to keep both adults and kids occupied.
HOW TO GET THERE
1361 Middleboro Ave
East Taunton, MA 02718
TRAIL DESCRIPTION & MAP
Look for the sign/trail head at the parking lot. Follow the white blazes!
P.I.N.T. SCORE
Rated on a scale of 1 (difficult/not good) to 5 (easy/awesome!)
P – Parking & Access – 4 (Plenty of parking, although the lot spaces fill up quickly and you may have to park along the entrance road)
I – Interest Level – 3 (Wooded trails with views of the water and some interesting landmarks)
N – Navigation – 4 (Well marked with blazes, but having a paper map or All Trails is helpful )
T – Terrain – 3 (Exposed tree roots and a lot of ups and downs. Doable with a rugged jogging stroller, but would take a lot of exertion in spots)
The P.I.N.T. Score represents our opinions of this trail. It reflects our experience, perception, and physical health. Therefore, the scores are not intended to be expert advice, nor will they be accurate for everyone: we cannot judge what may or may not be appropriate for each individual’s different abilities. Consult a physician or medical expert before attempting any new physical activity. Hiking contains inherent hazards, so hike at your own risk. You should always make your own decisions about what level of physical activity is appropriate for you and your family. Weather and other factors may affect trail conditions. Remember, trail conditions may change suddenly and drastically at any time.
Points of Interest
- The hills to run up and down; there was one area (near the road/dam) that the kids called “an obstacle course”!
the obstacle course 
2. Access points to the water
3. The funky tree…
More Photos…
Nearby
Tamarack Wine & Spirits has the best selection of craft beer around! You’d never know this place is so great from the way it looks outside, but inside is clean and the staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The best thing? You can buy single cans and make your own combinations! Yay!