Berkshires boasts state and local parks with fun activities all year
Route 112
Goshen, MA
Phone: 413-268-7098
This public forest includes Upper and Lower Highland Lakes, with a swimming beach, picnic area, and group picnic pavilion. There are 15 miles of mixed-use trails through the forest. The campground offers 51 wooded campsites with showers and a private beach. Wheelchair accessible campsites available. Summer activities include: paddling, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Winter activities are ice fishing, skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
Open: year-round, sunrise until sunset. A $5 fee per vehicle from Memorial Day through mid-September. Camping from mid-May through mid-October. Off-season camping October through April. All facilities accessible to handicapped. Guarded Swimming is available at the day-use area. Unguarded swimming is available at campers-only beach. Pets are permitted except on the sandy beach area. Non-motorized boating is available. Snowmobiling is available, conditions permitting. Parking at day-use area parking lot off Route 112.
Laurel Lake Road
Erving, MA
This forest provides a wide variety of recreational pursuits including, boating, swimming and fishing at Laurel Lake with its beautiful, brick-lined lakeshore, camping, picnicking, hunting, horseback riding and winter sports. The woodlands are interlaced by 8 miles of forest roads, and numerous trails lead to points of scenic interest.
Recreational opportunities:
swimming,
boating (all types),
boat ramp,
camping,
canoeing,
fishing,
group day use,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
interpretive program,
mountain biking,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
323 West Hartland Road
Granville, MA 01034
Phone: 413-357-6611
This extensive rolling terrain was once the hunting and fishing ground of the Tunxis tribe, later becoming open farmland and pastures; now it is reverting into a northern hardwood-conifer forest. Enjoy a walk along the Hubbard River as it cascades through natural rock formations forming pools and waterfalls, dropping a rapid 450 feet in 2.5 miles. Recreation at Granville includes a wooded camping area with toilet and shower facilities. Other popular activities include bird watching, wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, and mountain biking. Swimming is prohibited.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Access is free. Camping season is late May through mid-October. Sites available for RVs up to 35 feet long. No hook-ups or trailer waste station are available. Wheelchair-accessible sites are available. Pets are permitted on a leash. Motorized off-road vehicles, alcoholic beverages, picnicking and swimming are pronibited.
Hampton Ponds State Park
1048 North Road
Westfield, MA
Phone: 413-532-3985
Located in the City of Westfield, Hampton Pond State Park offers water based recreation activities and picnicking.
Recreational opportunities:
Beaches,
Restrooms, boating (all types),
boat ramp,
canoeing,
fishing,
picnicking,
swimming.
Route 8A
Hawley, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-5504
This 7,882-acre northern hardwood and spruce-fir forest offers 35 miles of mixed-use trails, six miles of hiking trails and one mile interpretive trail around Hallockville Pond. Discover an abundance of historic sites including cellar holes from the abandoned village of South Hawley; a fieldstone beehive charcoal kiln; and remains of mill complex. Open: year-round, sunrise to sunset. Access is free. Interior roads are in poor condition. Carry-in, carry-out all your belongings and trash. Snowmobiling: is available on 35 miles of trails, conditions permitting. Parking is available at King Corner garage on Route 8A. Prohibited: All-terrain vehicles and alcoholic beverages.
Lake Lorraine State Park
44 Lake Drive
Springfield, MA
Phone: 413-543-6628
This small two-acre park offers fishing and swimming on Lake Lorraine. There is a picnic area. It also is a regional boating safety-training center.
300 North Main Street
Florence, MA 01062
Phone: 413-584-5457
You’ll have a picnic!
A Private Non-Profit park located on the Berkshire Trail (Route 9) in Northampton, Look Memorial Park consists of 157 Acres of picnic sites, pavilions, and attractions. Whether it’s reserving a picnic site for your family to have a day in the Park for a BBQ or your entire family renting a pavilion for a Family reunion, Look Park is the place to go for a great family day outside. While at the Park don’t forget to visit the Christenson Zoo featuring Bald Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, Pygmy Goats, Sheep and much much more! Looking for a great place for a day in the outdoors? Look Park is the Pioneer Valley’s best place for outdoor family fun, year round!
175 Mohawk Trail / Route 2
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-5504
More than 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, deep gorges and tall old-growth trees support a diversity of plant and animal life. Fifty-six wooded campsites are available seasonally, and six overnight log cabins are available year-round.Discover miles of rivers and streams for excellent trout fishing, a swimming area, and a day-use picnic area. Open: Year-round, sunrise to sunset. A $5 fee per vehicle charged from May through mid-October. Camping season is mid-April through mid-October. Cabins are available year-round. Recreational vehicles are permitted on designated sites. Off-season camping is available. Pets are permitted on tent sites only, on leash. Motorized off-road vehicles prohibited.
Tilda Hill Road
Monroe, MA
Phone: 413-339-5504
Mount Everett Road
Mount Washington, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
A cluster of parks noted for their spectacular scenery and stunning views The Dome of Mount Everett in this 1,356-acre state reservation. Seasonal road access and parking is available to the Guilder Pond day-use area. From there, a 0.75-mile path leads to the top of Mount Everett. At the 2,624-foot summit is a breathtaking panorama of Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. Picnicking is available at Guilder Pond which features a spectacular display of blooming mountain laurel and azalea in the spring. The Appalachian Trail winds its way along the ridgeline and through Sage's Ravine.
The park is open year-round, sunrise to sunset year-round. Access is free. Parking is permitted in designated areas only. No services are available. Carry-in, carry-out all belongings and trash. Never physically confront, feed, torment or throw anything at bears. Rattlesnakes reside here. Never approach, handle, provoke or move snakes. Take precautions to avoid ticks. Check for ticks at regular intervals. Pets are permitted. Must be on a 10-foot maximum leash. Motorized off-road vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
125 Reservation Road
Holyoke, MA
Phone: 413-534-1186
Mount Tom boasts an unparalleled view of the Connecticut Valley north and south, the Berkshire mountains to the west and the Pelham hills to the east. This 2,082-acre facility offers 20 miles of hiking and walking trails; picnicking; canoeing and fishing on Lake Bray; and cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter; and a children's play area. Lake Bray is a small water body of less than 10 acres. The Oxbow, located two miles north of the Route 5 entrance to the park, is an alternative site for boating. This is one of New England’s best hawk watching spots.
Recreational opportunities: accessible fishing, accessible hiking trails, accessible vista, accessible restrooms, canoeing, group day use, picnicking, skiing (cross-country), visitors center, walking trails
143 East Street
South Egremont, MA, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
Amid the red oak-northern hardwood forest, the 4,169-acre Mount Washington State Forest offers 30 miles of trails over rugged terrain and wilderness camping. Hike the South Taconic Trail to the 2,250-foot summit of Alander Mountain. Or follow the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way along the ridgeline and through Sage's Ravine. Springtime features include blooming mountain laurel and azalea; and in summer, a carpet of ferns.
Recreational opportunities:
wilderness camping,
fishing,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
The forest is open year-round, from sunrise until sunset. Access is free. Parking is limited to the designated lot at the park headquarters on East Streeet. Wilderness camping is available year round, first-come, first-served, no fee required. Limit up to 5 people at each site. Leave No Trace outdoor ethics are strongly encouraged. You are in Black Bear country. Never physically confront, feed, torment or throw anything at bears. Motorized off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
McCauley Road, off Route 8
North Adams, MA
Phone: 413663-6392
This 48-acre park has the only naturally formed white marble arch and man-made white marble dam in North America. The bridge spans Hudson Brook as it twists and tumbles through a steep 60-foot deep gorge. There is an abandoned marble quarry.
The site was an active commercial quarry from 1810 to 1947. In the summer months, park interpreters are on hand to explain the natural forces that created the bridge and its more recent history. There is a 0.25 mile walkway above and through the chasm and a 0.5 mile wooded walking trail.
Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking fee is $2. Tables and grills are available for picnicking. Please carry-in, carry-out all trash. Access is limited. Pets are permitted. Must be on a 10-foot maximum leash and attended at all times. Swimming (dangerous conditions exist), rock climbing, defacing rocks, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Recreational opportunities:
Fishing, historic site, interpretive program, picnicking, restrooms (accessible), scenic viewing area, walking trails.
October Mountain State Forest
Woodland Road
Lee, MA
Phone: 413-243-1778
At 16,500 acres, October Mountain is the largest state forest in Massachusetts. Visitors can camp, hike, and enjoy the outdoors while they visit nearby Tanglewood and other Berkshire Region points of interest. Forty-seven 47 campsites dot a sunny hillside and offer a great base to explore this vast forest. Trails are available for every level of experience, and include the famous Appalachian Trail. One of the most scenic trails lead through Schermerhorn Gorge, a striking natural feature which has intrigued generations of geologists.
The forest is open from sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. Access is free. Camping season is from mid-May through mid-October in designated campground only. RV size is restricted to 34 feet. No electric hook-ups available. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Don't forget you are in Black Bear country. Never physically confront, feed, torment or throw anything at bears. All Terrain Vehicles are permitted during daylight hours on designated trails only, from May 1 through last Sunday in November (call ahead for details). Snowmobiling is available on four-inch minimum hard-packed snow base.
Recreational opportunities:
Camping,
non-motorized boating,
boat ramp & public landing,
fishing,
hiking,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
off-road vehicles,
skiing (cross-country),
trailer / R.V. dumping,
walking trails.
Boat ramps: Car top boating is available at Housatonic River (public access nearby at New Lenox Rd.), Buckley Dunton Reservoir and October Mountain Reservoir day-use area.
Pittsfield State Forest
1041 Cascade Street
Pittsfield, MA
Phone: 413-442-8992
Streams, waterfalls, and flowering shrubs abound in this forest. Wild azalea fields are a profusion of pink blossoms in June. The forest has two camping areas, two picnic areas, and a swimming beach. Fishermen frequent scenic Berry Pond. The vista from the top of Berry Mountain, accessible by auto road from April to December, is a striking panorama and a great place to watch the sun set. Balance Rock State Park is located in the northeast corner of Pittsfield State Forest. Here a huge 165-ton limestone boulder is balanced precariously upon bedrock, a natural curiosity.
Recreational opportunities:
accessible hiking trails, accessible picnicking, accessible restrooms, accessible scenic vista, non-motorized boating, fishing, group day use, historic sites, horseback riding trails, hunting (restrictions), mountain biking, nature & birding trails, off-road vehicles, skiing (cross-country), swimming, walking trails.
Robinson State Park
462 North Street
Feeding Hills, MA
Phone: 413-786-2877
Robinson State Park serves as a major day use area for the Springfield region. A paved road that runs along the River’s edge creates access to the park available for cars, foot traffic, bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs leading to the swimming pond, playing fields picnic areas and the launch area for canoeing and kayaking. About 20 miles of trails in the park are shared by walkers, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Many of them offer scenic views of the Westfield River.
Recreational opportunities:
hiking trails,
bicycling paths,
canoeing,
fishing,
group day use,
mountain biking,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
swimming,
walking trails.
Sandisfield State Forest (York Lake)
York Lake Road
Sandisfield, MA
Phone: 413 229-8212
Within the rolling northern hardwood forests of Sandisfield State Forest is York Lake, featuring a popular day use area with a 300-foot beach for unguarded swimming, a picnic area and a boat launch ramp. York Lake is stocked with trout by Mass Wildlife three times each year. Other seasonal activities including walking and hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Hunters are also welcome (in season). The moderately difficult 2-mile Pond Loop Trail offers scenic views of the lake.
Sandisfield State Forest is open from sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, year-round. Facilities are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and a $5 parking fee applies. Parking is permitted only at designated areas. Unguarded Swimming is only available at York Lake designated beach area. Picnicking is available at York Lake day-use area. Please carry-in, carry-out all your trash and belongings.
Boat ramp: Ideal for kayaks, canoes and small sail boats, available at York Lake (ramp available), West Lake (no ramp) and Thousand Acre Swamp, Cookson State Forest (ramp available) day-use area.
Savoy Mountain State Forest
260 Central Shaft Road
Florida, MA
Phone: 413-663-8469
At Savoy Mountain State Forest, North and South Ponds offer tranquil places to fish, picnic and swim. Forty-five campsites and one group site are located in an old apple orchard. Four log cabins are available for year-round rental. Over 50 miles of wooded trails invite year-round recreational access to spectacular natural features. Spruce Hill on the Busby Trail has breathtaking views, especially during fall foliage and hawk migration. At Tannery Falls, Ross Brook flows through a deep chasm and cascades 50 feet to a clear pool below.
The park is open year-round, 8 a.m. to dusk. Parking fee of $5 is charged in summer at the at North Pond day-use area and for visitors to the campground. Camping season is from mid-May to mid-October. Off-season camping is available only at the four cabins. Reservations are suggested. Unguarded swimming is available at the North Pond day-use area. Pets are permitted, except on the beach area and in the cabins. Must be on a 10-foot maximum leash. Boat ramp: non-motorized boating is available at day-use area. Prohibited: Motorized off-road vehicles, alcoholic beverages, swimming or rock climbing at Tannery Falls area.
Recreational opportunities:
camping, picnicking, restrooms, hiking trails, nonmotorized boating, boat ramp, canoeing, fishing, hiking, historic site, hunting (restrictions), mountain biking, nature & birding trails, scenic viewing area, showers
skiing (cross-country), swimming, walking trails.
Tolland State Forest
410 Tolland Road
East Otis, MA
Phone: 413-269-6002
The centerpiece of this state forest, located in the rolling southern Berkshire Hills, is the 1,065-acre Otis Reservoir. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities. A public boat launch ramp is available, popular with trout and bass fishermen. The campground is located on a scenic and wooded peninsula. A day-use area with sandy beach and several multi-use trails is available. Hunting is open (in season) for all types of game including turkey, bear, and deer.
Recreational opportunities:
restrooms, boat ramp, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting (restrictions), interpretive program, mountain biking, off-road vehicles, picnicking, showers, skiing (cross-country),
swimming, trailer / R.V. dumping, walking trails.
Wahconah State Park
Route 9/8A
Dalton, MA
Phone: 413-442-8992
Located in the heart of the Berkshire Hills, Wahconah Falls offers visitors spectacular scenic views anytime of year. Wahconah Falls Brook flows over several smaller tiered falls then cascades about 40 feet into a deep pool. Picnic or fish in the shade of the northern hardwood-conifer forest, or take a hike on the 0.5 mile loop trail (moderate difficulty) through open woods. The park is open year-round, from sunrise to dusk. Access is free. Pets are permitted. Must be on a 10-foot maximum leash. Universal Access: a smooth, graded path leads down from the parking area to the picnic area and view of the falls. Swimming and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Wendell State Park
392 Montague Road
Wendell, MA
Phone: 413-659-3797
Located south of the Millers River, Wendell State Forest covers 7,566 acres of rolling forested hills, streams, ponds, and trails. Ruggles Pond is the main day-use area. This 10 acre pond offers crystal clear water for swimming and fishing. Picnic sites and a ball field with a pavilion are located nearby. There is a small boat launching ramp located at the Northern end of Wickett Pond. The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail traverses the forest boundaries and offers a small Adirondack shelter for trail users.
Recreational opportunities:
Boating,
boat ramp,
canoeing,
fishing,
group day use,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
swimming
walking trails.
Windsor State Forest
1838 River Road
Windsor, MA
Phone: 413-684-0948
Windsor State Forest's cascading waterfall at Windsor Jambs stands out for its spectacular beauty. Windsor Jambs Brook plunges through a 25-foot-wide gorge, with 80-foot-high granite walls rising on either side; a beautiful and refreshing place to visit.
The popular day-use area along the Westfield River offers a 100-foot sandy beach for swimming with wooded picnic sites. Twenty-four limited-service campsites are available (no showers or flush toilets). Trails and old dirt roads that wind through the "The Bush" are favored by hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobiles. Fishermen and hunters are also welcome.
Recreational opportunities:
accessible restrooms, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding trails, hunting (restrictions), mountain biking, picnicking, scenic viewing area, skiing (cross-country),
snowmobiling, swimming, walking trails.
Falls Road
Mount Washington, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
Bash Bish Falls is has the highest single-drop waterfall in the state. Cascading water tumbles through a series of gorges and a hemlock-hardwood ravine forest. Bash Bish Falls is located next to the 4,169-acre Mount Washington State Forest which offers 30 miles of trails, including the South Taconic Trail and wilderness camping. Hours: sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Access is free. Parking is allowed only at the designated lot. No services are available. Carry-in, carry-out all your belongings and trash. Pets are permitted on leash. Prohibited: swimming, diving, access inside the gorge and rock climbing.
69 Bluehill Road
Monterey, MA 01245
Phone: 413-528-0904
Beartown State Forest is open year-round. During the warm months Benedict Pond attracts swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. A network of trails on 12,000 acres offers visitors a chance to see animals, brooks, beaver ponds, forests, and fall foliage. Open in winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Hiking on the 1.5-mile Benedict Pond Loop Trail in any season. Year-round camping available.
Unguarded swimming is available at designated area only. Pets on leash are permitted. Non-motorized boating at Benedict Pond day-use area. All Terrain Vehicles are permitted from May 1 through November. Snowmobiling is available, with parking at Benedict Pond day-use area. Park hours: Sunrise until sunset. Parking is $5 per vehicle, May through mid-October.
Boat ramp: Small concrete ramp, concrete pad ramp system or gravel ramp designed for smaller boats and parking for boat trailers. Fish species: Largemouth bass and pickerel.
86 Dearth Hill Road
Brimfield, MA
Phone: 413-267-9687
This rolling, heavily forested property has over 20 miles of roads and trails and is used primarily for hiking, walking, horseback riding and fishing. Dean Pond Recreation Area, located in the western portion of Brimfield State Forest, has a pavilion, comfort station, 100 linear feet of beach and picnic facilities. The roads are popular for equestrian use and related special events. Accessible Restrooms. Recreational uses: fishing, group day use, horseback riding trails, hunting (with restrictions), mountain biking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, swimming, walking trails. Headquarters and Dean Pond Recreation Area are located off of Route 20 in south-central Mass
C.M. Gardner Park
Route 112
Huntington, MA
Phone: 413-354-6347
Route 20
Chester, MA
Phone: 413-354-6347
Chester-Blandford State Forest offers a rustic park experience and spectacular Sanderson Brook Falls. Boulder Park features an easy interpretive trail and pavilion. Hike up an easy grade for a mile to see the cascade at Sanderson Brook Falls; hike the Newman Marsh Memorial Trail to the top of Observation Hill. Forest is open year-round, sunrise to sunset. Access is free. Limited number RV sites. Carry-in, carry-out all trash. Be aware of bears. Pets permitted on a leash. Motorized off-road vehicles prohibited. Swimming prohibite at Sanderson Brook Falls. Recreational uses: fishing,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
picnicking,
cross-country skiing,
walking trails.
River Road
Chesterfield, MA
Phone: 413-532-1631
This dramatic rock canyon features 70-foot-high walls carved by centuries of rushing water from the Westfield River. Fromm the half-mile trail along the cliff tops are breathtaking views of the gorge, the river, and the surrounding forest of hemlock, ash, and oak, and is home to bears, bobcats, and turkeys. A half-mile trail runs along the top of the Gorge. Easy walking. The trail from the parking lot connects to the East Branch Trail (also known as River Road), popular with day hikers and mountain bikers, which follows the river another seven miles, beyond Bliss State Forest. Trout fishing. Hours:
Daily, April 1 to December 1, 8 a.m. to sunset. Facilities:
Seasonal public restrooms. Picnic tables.
Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA
Phone: 413-594-9416
Chicopee State Park, formerly the Cooley Brook Reservoir and Watershed has been developed as a high use active recreation area. The total acreage is 575 acres including a 25-acre pond. Activities include swimming, fishing and picnicking. Recreational uses: accessible beaches, accessible restrooms, fishing, group day use, picnicking, restrooms, scenic viewing area, swimming, walking trails.
1199 Middle Road
Clarksburg, MA
Phone: 413-664-8345
Clarksburg State Park offers 368 acres of unspoiled hardwood forest with views of the Hoosac Range, Mount Greylock, and the Green Mountains. Mauserts Pond has a day-use area with picnicking and a pavilion. The pond is surrounded by 9.5 miles of foot trails. Forty-five wooded campsites are located near the lake. Open: Year-round, sunrise to sunset. Facilities open Memorial Day through Columbus Day, with a $5 parking fee. Camping season is from mid-May to mid-October. Campsites and comfort station are available. Unguarded swimming is available at Mauserts Pond. Pets are permitted on leash. Boat Launch is available for non-motorized boats. Prohibited: Motorized off-road vehicles.
136 Damon Road at Route 9
Northampton, MA
Phone: 413-586-8706, ext. 12
