Camp Nekon

Camp Nekon, Monks Hill Rd, Kingston, MA 02364, USA

Town of Kingston: 781-585-0500

https://sites.google.com/view/kingstonconservation/camp-nekon

Owned By: Town of Kingston

• Directions
• Trail Map

Kingston’s Camp Nekon is a 206-acre forested parcel with numerous ponds and wetlands, at least 2 miles of trails and unpaved roadways, and a DCR fire tower. In addition, there is a small, undeveloped launch area for canoes and kayaks on Smelt Pond. The property offers direct access to the Kingston State Forest.

Smelt Pond is one of the Great Ponds of Massachusetts. Defined as a natural body of water larger than 10 acres, a Great Pond is held in trust by the state for public use.

HUNTING: Hunting is allowed, in season, by licensed persons in compliance with Massachusetts law. Please be sure to understand state and local hunting guidelines before proceeding. Non-hunters, be mindful of hunting seasons, and wear bright orange if you’re entering the property during those times. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.

FISHING ADVISORY: It’s important to know that some of our freshwater fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

This property used to be a Girl Scout camp (until 1975, when it was purchased by the town). Local scout troops may rent the camping area at Camp Nekon for no fee. Please make arrangements through the Kingston Recreation Department for a permit and a key. Camp Nekon is slowly rehabbing from extensive damage caused by illegal off-road vehicle activity. The Town of Kingston asks for patience while improvements are made.

According to The Old Coast Road from Boston to Plymouth by Agnes Edwards, Monk’s Hill, where Camp Nekon is located, was known in earlier times as Mont’s Hill Chase, referring to a hunt in England. Because it is the highest elevation in Kingston, a beacon was placed here during the American Revolution. Lighting the beacon signified an invasion.

The Patuxet, members of the Wampanoag tribe, made their home in the area now known as Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. Numerous artifacts have been found throughout the region surrounding the Jones River. This land is within the region of the Wampanoag. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Trail Description

The trails here are mostly dirt roads through a hilly pine forest. There are at least 2 miles of trails.

The undeveloped launch area for canoes and kayaks is located at the end of Monk’s Hill Road. Shore fishing is also permitting here.

Habitats and Wildlife

The forest here is predominantly pine, oak, and maple, along with some pitch pine. There are numerous vernal pools. The 44-acre Smelt Pond is located here, as well as a number of smaller Atlantic Coastal Plain ponds, including Rocky Pond, Turtle Hole, Wolf Pond, Mink Hole, Great Mink Hole, Pratts Pond, Little Pratts Pond, Smelt Pond, and Little Smelt Pond. Listen for wood frogs and spring peepers in the springtime.

According to the Town of Kingston, “this property is the northern terminus of the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens, where pitch pine-oak forest gives way to white pine-oak forest.”

Smelt Pond is a natural pond. Some of the fish commonly found there include America eel, chain pickerel, catfish, and largemouth bass. The streams, ponds and swamps on this property flow to Smelt Brook, a tributary to the Jones River.

The Jones River finds its source at Silver Lake and other brooks and springs in Pembroke, Halifax and Kingston. It flows for 7.5 miles through Kingston, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean at Kingston Bay. Follow the Jones River Watershed Association for more information.