Snowshoeing trails are open throughout Massachusetts
99 Millers Falls Road (Route 63)
Northfield, MA
Phone: 800-859-2960
The Northfield Mountain trail system, developed in the early 1970s, offers the serenity of a park-like setting with carriage road trails wrapped across 2,000 acres of mountainside. Groomed trails, ski rentals, ski lessons, ski patrol, sled rental, snowshoe trails, snowshoe rentals.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
This 1,158-acre wildlife management area has trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. The park features eight miles of the Appalachian Trail. The site also is used for environmental management.
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.
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.
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
Mt. Grace is the second highest peak in Massachusetts. There are hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding trails. Picnic areas are also available.
Rockwell Road
Lanesborough, MA
Phone: 413-499-4262
Set on 12,500 acres, this park offers visitors rest facilities and visitors' center, a full schedule of programs, hiking, cross-country ski trails, and a public campground.
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.
Notchview Reservation
Route 9
Windsor, MA
Phone: 413-684-0148
Enjoy 25 miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Wildlife abounds. There is a visitors’ center.
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.
Stump Sprouts Ski Touring Center & Guest Lodge
63 West Hill Road
West Hawley, MA 01339-9629
Phone: 413-339-4265
From gently rolling terrain to more difficult backwoods routes there are 25 km of trails for skiing and snowshoeing.
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.
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.
Route 6A
Brewster, MA 02631
Phone: 508-896-3491
Travel to the upper campgrounds in Nickerson State Park, you may think that you have been transported to the Berkshire Hills or the piney woods of the Carolinas. Nowhere are the sand dunes and salt marshes usually associated with Cape Cod. Instead, you are surrounded by woods that slope down to the banks of eight crystal clear fresh water ponds, known as kettle ponds.
Nickerson's 1,900 acres offer 420 campsites, yurt camping, an amphitheater, eight miles of roads, hiking trails, an eight-mile bike path that connects to the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, and ponds stocked year-round with trout. Cape Cod Bay is within walking or bicycling distance. You can swim and canoe at Flax Pond; birdwatch or catch-and-release fish at Higgins Pond; or join the interpretive and recreational programs offered by park staff.
Park amenities include: beaches, camping, fishing, picnicking, restrooms, bike paths, nonmotorized boating, boat ramp, yurt camping, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding trails, mountain biking, showers, cross-country skiing, swimming, trailer and RV dumping, walking trails.
Route 130
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508-888-0351
This quiet year-round campground at the beginning of Cape Cod has more than 285 sites in a wooded setting. More than 15 miles of roads and trails provide hiking and equestrian access to more than 700 acres of pitch pine and scrub oak landscape. Parking access to the beach at Scusset State Reservation is provided in camping fee. The regular camping season is from mid-April through mid-October. Amenities include restrooms, camping, hiking, hunting (with restrictions), interpretive programs, picnicking, showers, cross-country skiing, swimming, trailer and RV dumping, walking trails. Off-season camping is available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
107 Wallum Lake Road
Douglas, MA
Phone: 508-476-7872
Bordering both Connecticut and Rhode Island, this popular 5,907-acre state forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating and fishing at Wallum Lake and hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on miles of woodland trails. Facilities include two pavilions, boat ramp, swimming beach, picnic area and restrooms.
The Midstate Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that extends through central Massachusetts to Mount Watatic in the north, runs through the forest.
Douglas State Forest also includes a rare example of Atlantic White Ceder swampland. A 5-acre portion of this swamp is designated as a Massachusetts Wildland. It is accessible to the public via a boardwalk trail.
Dunn Pond State Park
289 Pearl Street
Gardner, MA
Phone: 508-632-7897
This 119-acre park features a 20-acre pond, walking trails, swimming, fishing, picnicking, public programs, and play equipment. Private canoes and non-motorized boats are allowed on the pond. In the winter the trails are open for cross country skiing. Ice skating is allowed on the pond and often there is a fire blazing in the visitor center’s fireplace. All activities offered by the park are accessible to people with disabilities. Parking fees are $5 for cars. Annual passes are $35 for Massachusetts residents and $45 for out of state residents.
Federated Women's Club State Forest
West Street
Petersham, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
The forest’s 984 acres stretch to the south and west in the watershed of the Quabbin Reservoir. Please Note that NO pets are allowed on Watershed Property. Groves of pine and stands of maple, birch and hemlock invite the visitor along the wooded roads. The road along Fever Brook is outstanding for its scenery. A wildlife sanctuary compromising 140 acres has been set aside in the center of the forest, attracting migrating and native wild fowl. In the southwest section is the forest's chief geological feature, the Gorge. Limited-service campsites are available on a first come/first serve basis. Recreational uses include fishing, hiking, hunting, and cross-country skiing.
James W. Brooks Woodland Preserve
Petersham, MA
Phone: 508-840-4446
Trails criss-cross the landscape of this preserve, which is ideal for bird-watching. Areas for fishing and cross-country skiing also are available.
Lake Dennison Recreation Area (Beach and Campground)
219 Balwinville State Road (Route 202)
Winchendon, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
More than 4,000 acres offer visitors swimming, canoeing, and fishing areas. Trails for hiking and cross-country skiing are available. There is a public campground with 150 campsites. There is a swimming beach on Lake Dennison. The campground office hours are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. The regular camping season is from late May to early September. Beach is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
90 Fitchburg Road / Route 31
Leominster, MA
Phone: 508-874-2303
Leominster State Forest is a 4,300-acre parcel of forested off of Route 2 (exit 28), and convenient from Boston and Worcester. Parking is available along Route 31. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, parking fees are charged in the paved lots. The forest offers recreational opportunities year round, ranging from mountain biking and swimming in the summer to cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
The trails at Leominster State Forest offer a wide variety of terrains. For hikers, The Midstate Trail, a 95-mile long-distance trail that runs from Rhode Island to the New Hampshire border, passes through the western edge of the park. A popular day hike along the Midstate Trail begins at Redemption Rock on Route 140 in Princeton and heads north over a scenic ridgeline which includes Crow Hill Ledges.
The terrain available to mountain bikers ranges from rolling unpaved fire roads to multi-use trails. Hiking trails are off limits to bikers. There is rock climbing at Crow Hill Ledges. Permits are required (no fee) and are available at the park headquarters between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The swimming beach at Crow Hill Pond is located next to two picnic areas with picnic tables, grills, and a modern bathhouse. Lifeguards are on duty from mid-June until Labor Day. All other ponds in the park are off limits to swimming. Kayakers, canoeists and fishing enthusiasts enjoy using Paradise Pond. Several put-ins are available. Crow Hill Pond (swimming beach side) is stocked with trout. Hunting is also allowed in the park. Winter recreation includes cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling. Snow mobiling is limited to the unpaved roads and the multi use trails. There is no camping at Leominster State Forest.
Moore State Park
Route 31
Paxton, MA
Phone: 508-792-3969
1 Sawmill Road
Paxton MA
Moore was the site of grist and saw mills from 1747 through the early part of this century. What remains today is stone mill foundations, a restored sawmill, and mountains of glorious rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurel. Turkey Hill Brook, dropping 90 feet in less than a quarter mile, was a good mill site, and as many as five separate mills may have been built here. The remnants of the mill-village at Moore give a glimpse of the old rural manufacturing economy.
Recreational opportunities:
Canoeing,
fishing,
hiking,
historic site,
hunting (restrictions),
interpretive program,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
86 Winchendon Road
Baldwinville, MA
Phone: 508-939-8962
Otter River State Forest is a popular camping and day-use facility in north central Massachusetts. Its developed facilities are centered on Beaman Pond and include 85 campsites, a swimming beach, ball field and picnic areas. Yurt camping is also available. Camping season is mid-May through mid-October. Campground office hours at 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Swimming is permitted from 10am to 8pm at designated buoy areas only.
198 Purgatory Road
Sutton, MA
Phone: 508-234-3733
A unique natural landmark, Purgatory Chasm runs for a quarter of a mile between granite walls rising as high as 70 feet. Popular with picnickers and rock-climbers alike, the Chasm is believed to have its origin in the sudden release of dammed-up glacial meltwater near the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 14,000 years ago. Trails lead to a wide variety of rock formations, with such romantic names as The Corn Crib, The Coffin, The Pulpit, Lovers' Leap and Fat Man's Misery. Recreational uses: walking, hiking, picnicking, hunting, accessible restrooms.
Quabbin Reservoir and Visitor Center
485 Ware Road / Route 9
Belchertown, MA
Phone: 413-323-7221
Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the United States. Created in the 1930s by the construction of two huge earthen dams, the reservoir is fed by the Swift River and the Ware River. The New Salem and Enfield lookouts offer magnificent views of the reservoir. The Quabbin Interpretive Services Program operates the Quabbin Visitor Center and provides general information. An automated telephone system - 413 323-7221 - provides 24 hour access to current information on fishing, hunting, programs, rules and regulations, and public access. Since this is a public drinking water supply, swimming, wading, and dogs are prohibited. Permitted uses are shoreline fishing, hiking, bicycling walking, bird watching, snowshoeing, hunting, with restrictions, and picnicking. Information: www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/quabbin.htm
Spencer State Forest
51 Howe Road
Spencer, MA
Phone: 508-886-6333
Spencer State Forest, a 965-acre area, provides swimming and picnicking facilities on Howe Pond. Other activities offered at Spencer include fishing, canoeing, hiking, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. The Midstate Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that extends through central Massachusetts to Mount Watatic in the north, runs close to the park.
Recreational opportunities:
Canoeing,
fishing,
hiking,
historic site,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
swimming,
walking trails.
6 Streeter Point Avenue
Sturbridge, MA
Phone: 508-347-9316
This accessible area has a 100-car parking area and offers fishing, swimming and picnicking on 400-acre East Brimfield Reservoir. Boating access is from ramps located on US Army Corps of Engineers-maintained ramps on Route 20.
Upton State Forest
205 Westboro Road
Upton, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
This 2660-cre forest offers visitors a natural diversity of flora and fauna.
The focal point of the forest is located at 205 Westboro Road in Upton, where visitor parking, the main trail head and park information is available. This is a carry-carry-out facility. While the forest is unstaffed, it is open to the public year-round at no charge.
Trail users can enjoy hiking, casual walking, horse back riding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. Off Highway Vehicles (OHV’s) are prohibited.
Recreational opportunities:
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
345 Mountain Road
Princeton, MA
Phone: 508-464-2987
Rising above the forest to a height of 2006 feet, Mount Wachusett stands as a unique landmark within the central New England landscape. From the summit, a clear day reveals views of Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Berkshires to the west, and the Boston skyline to the east. The 3,000-acre Wachusett Mountain State Reservation surrounds the summit and offers a wealth of natural and recreational resources. Recreational activities at the reservation including hiking, nature study, hawk watching, picnicking, skiing, and hunting. The reservation offers 17 miles of hiking and walking trails.
Wachusett Mountain is part of an extensive greenway area, including Leominster State Forest, Massachusetts Audubon's Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary and Minns Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also the location of the largest known area of Old Growth Forest east of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, with trees dating over 350 years old. Evidence of the glacial activity which shaped the mountain can be seen at Balance Rock. The mountain access road is open to personal vehicles from Memorial Day through the last Sunday in October. Operating hours for the roadway during this season are 9 a.m. till sunset daily.
Wells State Park
Route 49
Sturbridge, MA
Phone: 508-347-9257
This 1,470-acre park features hiking and cross-country ski trails, in addition to picnic areas. A visitors center offers park information and rest facilities.
Whitehall State Park
Route 135
Hopkinton, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
This park consists almost entirely of water: the 592-acre Whitehall Reservoir. The area offers boating, fishing, a public boat ramp, and hiking trails. Watercraft speed limit is 12 MPH. Personal watercraft (includes Jet Ski/Wave Runners) are prohibited. Please remove aquatic vegetation from boats, engines and trailers before entering and exiting the lake. Please no waterskiing, boarding or tubing. Snowmobiles may be used for ice fishing during day light hours.
Route 135
Ashland, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park is operated seasonally and provides opportunities for swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing, bicycling and hiking. Beach improvements at the park include facilities for wheelchair access to the boathouse and by ramp into the pond.
Callahan State Park
Edmands Street
Framingham, MA
Phone: 508-653-9641
Callahan has seven miles of marked trails and is used for activities including fishing, hiking, horseback riding (horses not provided) and cross-country skiing. Within the park are nearly 100 acres of open fields. Recreational activities include mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and walking.
Charles River Reservation
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-698-1802
This natural refuge offers canoeing, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and more. Interpretive programs are scheduled there throughout the year.
268 Cedar Street
Hopkinton, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
Hopkinton State Park offers a year-round recreation, including two guarded swimming beaches, stocked fishing, a group picnic site, 12 shaded picnic areas, 10 miles of marked trails, open field space, a boat launching ramp for non-motorized watercraft, and seasonal boat rentals. The swimming areas are supervised by lifeguards from late May through Labor Day. The waterfront has a handicapped accessible ramp.
Hours: Summer, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; rest of the year, 8 a.m.-sunset. Pets on leash are welcome. Trail system is multi-use. Hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, cross country skiers are welcome. Snowmobiles are permitted when snow cover is at least four inches deep.
Weston Ski Track
200 Park Road
Weston, MA 02193
Phone: 781-891-6575
Ski or snowshoe on 15 km of trails along the scenic Charles River.
Bradley Palmer State Park
Asbury Street
Topsfield, MA
Phone: 508-887-5931
This 721-acre former estate features pine needled paths, acres of sunny rolling meadows and spectacular rhododendrons which line old carriage roads. Peak bloom is usually in mid-June.
Hunting is allowed at Cleveland Farm. Archery hunting only at Prospect Hill. No rentals of horses or equipment available.
Recreational opportunities:
pool,
canoeing,
fishing,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
picnicking
skiing (cross-country)
walking trails.
Gott Avenue
Rockport, MA
Phone: 508-546-2997
Halibut Point is a beautiful coastal seascape. Looking seaward, the view stretches from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. A Visitors Center located near the Babson Farm quarry features exhibits about the park's natural and cultural history. The 60-foot tall structure offers panoramic views.
The park is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day; a parking fee is charged. The park is open sunrise to sunset from Labor Day to Memorial Day. On weekends from Memorial Day through Columbus Day tours of the quarry are offered. Other programs include wildflower walks and tidepool programs during the summer and seabird walks during the winter. Recreational uses:
Fishing,
historic site,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
cross-country skiing,
walking trails.
305 Middleton Road
North Andover, MA
Phone: 508-686-3391
Harold Parker State Forest, which lies in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton, comprises just over 3,000 acres of central hardwood-hemlock-white pine forest. The forest has over 35 miles of logging roads and trails and offers quiet seclusion to off-road hikers and bikers. Non-motorized boating is allowed on any of the 11 ponds. No horse, boat, or bike rentals.
Lorraine Park Campground, located about two miles from the Headquarters, at 133 Jenkins Road, contains 89 sizeable campsites that are spread out sufficiently to provide a real "forest" camping experience. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and a grill. No electric or water hookups are available; the bathrooms have hot water showers. Camping is offered late May to early September; office hours are from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Camping office phone is 978-475-7972.
Recreational opportunities: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, camping and picnicking.
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Trotting Park Road
Lowell, MA
Phone: 978 369-6312
Located in three towns, this forest contains 1,140 acres including 180 acres of ponds, swamps, and wetlands. The forest has six miles of trails offering hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Hunting is permitted in season.
Recreational opportunities:
nonmotorized boating,
fishing,
hiking,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
Curzon Mill Road
Newburyport, MA
Phone: 978-465-7223
This park features 19th century gardens and plantings, rolling meadows, towering pines, and one of the largest naturally-occurring stands of mountain laurel in Massachusetts. Most breathtaking are the ornamental trees and masses of azaleas and rhododendrons that bloom in May and June. An exquisite place for walking, biking, horseback riding and informal picnics. Cultural events are a regular feature during the summer. During the winter a portion of the park is off limits due to roosting bald eagles, but the remainder provides excellent cross country skiing and winter walks. Parking Fee at is $2.
Middlesex Falls Reservation
Woodland Road
Winchester, MA
Phone: 781-322-2851 or
Natural refuge set on over 2,000 acres. Visitors here can enjoy biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails. Canoeing, fishing, and swimming areas are offered, as well as a visitor's center with historic information.
Linwood Street
Abington, MA
Phone: 617-857-1336
Ames Nowell is a year-round day use area with recreational activity centered around Cleveland Pond which is popular with boaters and fisherman. Development includes a picnic area, ball field and several miles of trails along the pond edge and the surrounding woods.
Recreational uses: non-motorized boating; canoeing, fishing, group day use, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking, restrooms, cross country skiing, walking trails.
Borderland State Park
59 Massapoag Avenue
North Easton, MA
Phone: 508-238-6566
Borderland is one of the most historically significant tracts of publicly owned land in the Commonwealth. Created in the early 1900s by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her botanist husband Oakes, Borderland offers many of the same pleasures that the Ames family enjoyed: walking and horseback riding on woodland trails, fishing and canoeing in the ponds, or, in winter, ice-skating and sledding.
Dighton Rock State Park
Bay View Avenue
Berkley, MA
Phone: 508 822-7537
A "glacial erratic" boulder known as Dighton Rock once rested on the shore of the Taunton River adjacent to this park. Covered with petroglyphs, the rock is now installed in a small museum. The museum (open only by appointment) exhibits several explanations of the carvings, which range from Portuguese explorers to Native Americans. The park, which covers 85 acres in the town of Berkley, is a popular local picnic spot. The park is open 7 days a week. The museum is open by appointment only.
Recreational opportunities:
nonmotorized boating,
canoeing,
fishing,
hiking,
historic site,
mountain biking,
picnicking,
restrooms,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
Route 3A
Plymouth, MA
Phone: 508-866-2580
Ellisville Harbor is a unique coastal property, including an 18th century farmstead, beachfront, salt marsh, rolling meadows, and red pine forest. It's also one of the most scenic spots on the South Shore coastline, where you can see small fishing boats, a barrier beach, sphagnum bog, forested upland and open meadows. Recreation activities include walking, bird watching, beach combing, sightseeing, fishing, and cross-country skiing. In fall and winter, harbor seals can often be seen just off-shore.
Freetown-Fall River State Forest
Slab Bridge Road
Assonet, MA
Phone: 508 644-5522
Freetown State Forest is a vast tract of public land. Near the main entrance is a day use area, with wading pool, picnic area, fields and restrooms. The remainder of the forest offers 50 miles of unpaved roads and trails. Horseback riders, dog sledders, mountain bikers, and seasonal motorcycle and snowmobile users are welcome, as are hunters and anglers in season. Rattlesnake Brook, which meanders throughout much of the property, is stocked with brook trout each spring. Profile Rock is a 50-foot outcropping. The 5,441-acre forest also includes the Watuppa Reservation, which belongs to the Wampanoag Nation, and is the site of annual tribal meetings.
Recreational opportunities:
fishing,
hiking,
historic site,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
mountain biking,
off-road vehicles,
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
walking trails.
Massasoit State Park
Middleboro Avenue
Taunton, MA
Phone: 508-822-7405
This 1,500 acre park features canoeing and boating areas, swimming and fishing. Hiking and cross-country ski trails are also available. There are picnic areas as well as a public campsite.
Miles Standish State Forest
Long Pond Road
Carver, MA
Phone: 508-866-2580
Forest features 14,651 acres of camping, hiking and biking trails, cross-country skiing, canoeing, swimmiing, and fishing areas.
Dover Street
Norwell, MA
Phone: 781-821-2977
A walk through Norris Reservation’s two-mile trail system takes in a cathedral of pines, groves of beech, and scattered American holly. A granite outcrop, set too deep for early farmers to remove, emerges from the forest floor. Stone walls mark former property boundaries, pastures, and croplands, and a rustic boathouse serves as an observation deck over the North River. Visitors can also enjoy bird watching, cross-country skiing, and fishing on the shores of the North River.
Wompatuck State Park
Off Route 128
Hingham, MA
Phone: 617-749-7160
This state park cross-country, hiking and bike trails. Fishing areas and swimming are also available. There is a public campground with picnic and rest facilities.
