Berkshires and Pioneer Valley have lovely & mountainous places to walk
793 Main Street
Hampden, MA
Phone: 413-566-8034
Fern Road
Tyringham, MA
Phone: 413-298-3239
Hiking, Birding, Picnicking
From the entrance of the McLennan Reservation, a 1.5-mile trail follows the graceful rises and dips of this densely forested landscape before reaching the high plateau where Hale Swamp (created when beavers dammed Camp Brook long ago) is located. Round Mountain and its neighbor, Long Mountain, form the backdrop for the reservation, which was once part of the Ashintully estate, whose gardens are located at the southern end of the valley.
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
Wild and rugged Monroe State Forest has deep valleys, steep mountains and tall trees. A hike to the top of Spruce Mountain or to Raycroft Lookout offers magnificent panoramas of the surrounding Hoosac and Green Mountains and Deerfield River. Activities include wilderness camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding trails, hunting (with restrictions), scenic viewing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling on a minimum of 4-inch snow base, walking trails. The forest is open sunrise to sunset year-round. Access is free. Interior roads are in poor condition. All Terrain Vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Route 7
Great Barrington, MA
Phone: 413-298-3239
For almost two centuries, Monument Mountain has been a source of inspiration to poets, novelists, and painters. The summit offers panoramic views of Southern Berkshire County, and three miles of trails lead through a white pine and oak forest. During William Cullen Bryant's stay in Great Barrington, he penned the lyrical poem "Monument Mountain," and on August 5, 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville enjoyed a well-chronicled picnic hike up Monument Mountain. A thunderstorm forced them to seek refuge in a cave where a vigorous discussion ensued, inspiring ideas for Melville's new book, Moby Dick.
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.
Winchester Road
Warwick, MA
Phone: 978 544-3939
Rockwell Road
Lanesborough, MA
Phone: 413-499-4262
Route 116
South Deerfield, MA
Phone: 413-545-5993
With two peaks, this site offers great views of the surrounding countryside. It features hiking trails and scenic picnic spots. South peak accessible by automobile.
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.
Mason Street
Williamstown, MA
Phone: 413-458-3144
Mountain Meadow Preserve protects forest, fields, and wetlands along the Massachusetts-Vermont border that are home to bears, coyotes, bobcats, fox, and deer as well as butterflies, wetland amphibians, and numerous small mammals and reptiles. One trail encircles and cuts through a spectacular upland wildflower meadow. A second loop trail enters the woodland, where it leads up a hill to a summit with views of Mount Greylock and the Taconic Range.
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.
Peck Road
Wales, MA
Phone: 413-267-9654
Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Northfield, MA
Phone: 413-659-3714
Visitors can enjoy 25 miles of trails, which offer great views of blooming wildflowers in the spring, and fall foliage in the autumn. Of particular interest is the hydroelectric station.
Norwottuck Rail Trail
Begins at Elwell State Park, Damon Road
Northampton, MA
Phone: 413 586-8706 ext. 12
This 8.5-mile trail runs from Northampton, through Hadley and into Amherst along the old Boston & Main Railroad line. Bicycle and wheelchair hand-cycles rentals are available.
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.
Petticoat Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Spend some time in this century old forest
This hillside is covered by a 100-year-old forest criss-crossed by old stone walls and dotted with the cellar holes and foundations of early farmsteads. The Reservation takes its name from the story of a family with seven daughters that settled near the top of the hill. Each daughter wore five petticoats, and, on Monday wash days, people from miles around could see thirty-five petticoats billowing in the breeze as they dried on a clothesline. The focal point of this park is a natural bridge, but visitors can also enjoy swimming, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Special events are often scheduled.
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.
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA
Phone: 413-637-0320
New Marlborough Hill Road
New Marlborough, MA
Phone: 413-298-3239
A seventeen-acre upland field of native meadow wildflowers attracts a variety of dragonflies and butterflies
Questing features two miles of trails perfect for hiking or cross-country skiing, extensive tracts of hardwood forest, and a seventeen-acre field of native meadow wildflowers that attracts a variety of dragonflies and butterflies. Cellar holes and stone walls, tell the story of the 200-year-old settlement known as Leffingwell, where the first non-Native American children were born in Berkshire County. This settlement was abandoned in the late nineteenth century as farmers migrated to the Midwest.
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.
Skinner State Park
Route 41
Hadley, MA
Phone: 413-586-0350
This park features 10 miles of trails, which allow visitors to climb Mt. Holyoke and the Holyoke Range. Offers great view of the Connecticut River Valley.
Taconic Crest Trail
Williamstown to Pittsfield, MA
Phone: 203-788-7665
This is a 35 mile north/south trail with great vistas, hardwood forests, and side trails. The trail meanders in or near western Massachusetts, from Williamstown to Pittsfield. The trail heads up into Vermont and moves back and forth along the New York and Massachusetts state borders. Petersburg Pass adjacent to Williamstown is the most popular starting destination along the trail. The trail shows classic New England geology and scenery. The paved three-quarter mile Tranquility Trail is popular with wheelchair-users and other visitors who favor its smooth surface. A wheelchair-accessible picnic area and restroom are located nearby.
How to Find It: From Route 7 in Williamstown, MA, turn onto Route 2 west at the Taconic Park Restaurant approximately half way between the Store at Five Corners and the Williams Inn. (This road is known locally as the Taconic Trail.) At the top of the hill is a large parking area on the left. Park there, and cross the road to access the trail head to the Snowhole near Vermont state line or just head south to Berlin Mountain by hiking up the trail leading up the hill at the back of the parking lot.
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.
Jerusalem Road
Tyringham, MA
Phone: 413-298-3239
Visitors to Tyringham Cobble can hike two miles of trails, a section of which is a link in the Appalachian Trail, that pass over the twin knobs of the Cobble offering spectacular views of Tyringham Valley. Small trees and shrubs have taken root among dramatic rock outcrops and glacial boulders, and wildflowers, blackberries, blueberries, and wild strawberries grow in clearings and open meadows. The Cobble was used as pastureland for a Shaker community in the late eighteenth century, but today provides excellent opportunities for bird watching, picnicking, and cross-country skiing.
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.
200 Warfield Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-6600
Toll-Free: 888-339-8439
Fax: 413-339-5754
530 acres for you to explore.
Without leaving the farm you can find everything from llama treks (seasonal) and cozy rooms. There are 530 acres for you to explore. Depending on the season there are horse and wagon rides, sheep to shear, cattle to round up, hiking or snowshoe trails, sap to gather, and unsuspected enjoyments in the most simple and wonderful events of the day.
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.
127 Combs Road
Easthampton, MA
Phone: 413-584-3009
The nature center features 25 acres of varied terrain, with five miles of trails and an observation tower. The 700-acre sanctuary includes a floodplain forest, marshes, and a grassland habitat.
Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls
Sheffield, MA
Phone: 413-229-8600
This National Natural Landmark is home over 800 species of plants, including one of North America's greatest diversities of fern species, as well as abundant wildflowers. The Reservation is named for two rocky knolls that rise above the Housatonic River, and the high point, Hurlburt's Hill, rises 1,000 feet to a twenty-acre field on the Massachusetts-Connecticut border that offers panoramic views northward up the Housatonic River Valley. Visitors will enjoy hiking this diverse woodland, and the many public programs that are presented throughout the year.
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.
Hawley Road
Ashfield, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Visitors to Bear Swamp can explore three miles of trails that lead past an old beaver dam resting atop an old stone milldam, a variety of ferns and woodland wildflowers, and scenic vistas that offer views of nearby apple orchards and the Green Mountains of Vermont beyond. Bear Swamp also features excellent bird watching and picnic tables at the Apple Valley Overlook.
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.
Routes 102 and 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Phone: 413-298-3926
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
Williamsburg Road
Ashfield, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
At the core of Chapelbrook is Pony Mountain, whose nearly vertical 100-foot rock face offers a challenge to very skilled, technical rock climbers. A gentle, half-mile trail leads around the western side of Pony Mountain to its summit, offering unobstructed views south toward the Berkshire foothills. Chapelbrook is also popular for its sometimes-torrential Chapel Falls. The steady trickle of Chapel Brook becomes a deluge in spring, but in summer, the pools that form under the falls offer a cool, welcome dip.
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
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.
Route 5
Holyoke, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Preserved in sandstone slabs along the bank of the Connecticut River are 134 separate dinosaur footprints from three related dinosaurs - the largest from Eubrontes giganteus, the intermediate from Anchisauripus sillimani, and the smallest from Grallator cuneatus. Since the 1860s, the Connecticut River Valley has been noted for its abundance of paleontological specimens, especially dinosaur tracks. Approximately 190 million years ago, two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs crossed these lands leaving behind footprints in mudflats. Water filled the footprints instead of washing them away, so they were preserved in the earth until ice, water, and wind eroded and exposed them many years later.
Harmon Road
New Marlborough, MA
Phone: 413-298-3239
Dry Hill, so named because of the lack of water on its ridgeline, is home to deep woodland wildlife, such as bobcats, fishers, and coyotes, as well as many bird species. A 1 ˝ mile trail follows an old woods road before becoming a narrow footpath that ascends the ridge. Higher up, the hillside is covered in mountain laurel, which blooms profusely in mid-June. The trail ends at the reservation's highest point - a stark white quartzite promontory that offers sweeping views south and southwest across the Berkshire Hills to Connecticut and New York.
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.
Sloan Road
Williamstown, MA
Phone: 413-458-3144
Clark Wright Road
Middlefield, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Fed by more than five square miles of watershed, Glendale Falls is one of the longest and most powerful waterfall runs in Massachusetts. In spring, the waters of Glendale Brook roar over rock ledges more than 150 feet high before joining the Westfield River. A quarter-mile trail leads to bottom of the falls for viewing. The Reservation was once part of the historic 18th-century Glendale Farm, which operated a gristmill whose foundation can be explored in the woods just north of the falls.
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.
525 South Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA
Phone: 413-256-6006
Route 116
Amherst, MA
Phone: 413-586-0350
This state park features hiking and cross-country trails, picnic areas, and year-round special programs. A visitors’ center with full facilities also is available.
Jug End Road
Egremont, MA
Phone: 413-528-0330
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.
