When submitting eBird observations at Silver Lake, it is most helpful to start a new checklist for each hotspot around the lake. Use the general hotspot when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations or if no other hotspot or personal location is appropriate for your sightings.

The 640-acre Silver Lake occupies portions of 4 towns: Pembroke, Kingston, Plympton, and Halifax. With a maximum depth of 80 feet, it is the principal water supply for Brockton, Whitman, and Hanson. Fed by groundwater, as well as seasonal diversions from Monponsett Pond in Halifax and Furnace Pond in Pembroke, it is a major headwater for the Jones River. The Jones River flows for 7.5 miles through Kingston and drains into the Atlantic Ocean at Kingston Bay.

Silver Lake Sanctuary is a lakeside property with trails through the woods and along the shore. The forest here is primarily pine, maple, white oak, red oak, and birch. Five species of freshwater mussels are found here, especially the Eastern Pond Mussel. Look for mussel shells along the shores. Endangered species often observed here include eastern box turtle, bald eagle, Mystic Valley amphipod, tidewater bucket, and pink tickseed.

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.

In the 1700s, Silver Lake (known as Jones River Pond at the time) was a source of iron ore. About 3,000 tons were removed from the lake bottom! Silver Lake received its current name in the early 1800s as part of a promotion for selling ice harvested there. Ice harvesting extended from 1805-1870. In 1898, state legislation allowed the City of Brockton to adopt Silver Lake as its water supply. The Town of Kingston fought this ruling but ultimately accepted a settlement for damages to its water supply system.

Most of the lands within Silver Lake Sanctuary were purchased by the Town of Kingston in 1997, with help from the state. Additional acreage was purchased shortly thereafter. The sanctuary offers a half mile of lake frontage.

From the parking area of Silver Lake Sanctuary, two trails lead to different parts of the same loop. To the left, the trail heads quickly up a steep incline, to a ridge that overlooks the lake. Continue along the ridge to the right, up and down some rolling hills, and you will soon arrive at a designated overlook area, with a bench. Just before this is one of two main paths down to the lake shore. If you continue past the overlook, you’ll come to another path to the lake shore. Or continue on the trail to the right, which leads past a pumping station and around a wetland, eventually back to the parking area. An additional trail loop begins at the red barn (in the parking area). Continue along the path immediately to the right of the barn. It leads past some smaller ponds and through woods and wetlands with additional views of Silver Lake, returning eventually to the parking area. Altogether the distance is about 1.3 miles.

The Bay Circuit Trail runs through this property.