The forest land includes Profile Rock, a granite outcropping which local Native Americans believe to be the image of Chief Massasoit, and a 227-acre (92 ha) Pocasset reservation.

[3] The state first acquired land in Assonet for forest purposes in 1913, purchasing approximately nine acres on Forge Pond from Levi Churchill of Berkley.

[7] The forest has more than 50 miles (80 km) of unpaved roads and trails for walking, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, off-road vehicle, and equestrian use.

In September 1980, a fire burned approximately 230 acres (93 ha) of woodland adjacent to and in the state forest over the course of a week.

In 1980, while investigating another local murder, police had been approached by individuals who claimed to have witnessed Satanic cult activity within the state forest.

[13] In the 1996 trial, the defense charged that police had withheld information relating to the alleged Satanic cult activity, which it claimed could have provided an alternative to Kater.

[23] In May 2016, wire cables were found stretched across the recreational trails, apparently intended to cause harm to off-road motorbike riders.