Outdoor Recreation Resources.Pub

CHAPTER 4

Outdoor Recreation Resources here are many outstanding outdoor recreational resources located along the eastern section of the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway. The Connecticut and the Millers Rivers Tas well as the mountainous terrain located within close proximity to the Byway provide unique recreational opportunities. The diverse outdoor recreational activities include camping, hiking, mountain biking, river related activities, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, golfing, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, road bicycling, swimming, bird watching and snowmobiling. This chapter of the Corridor Management Plan provides an inventory of these facilities by type of activity, identifies issues related to the existing and potential increase in the use of the recreational facilities, and recommends future actions to ensure that the recreational resources remain an asset to the region’s economy and quality of life. While this Corridor Management Plan primarily focuses on resources within a half-mile radius of the Byway (Route 2 and Route 2A), the recreational resources section of the report does include attractions that are located outside of this project area boundary, but within the towns along the Byway. Recreational resources that are primarily accessible from the Byway route and within a short drive have also been included.

Wendell State Forest State Forests Wendell State Forest is located The Erving State Forest and the south of the Millers River. It in- Wendell State Forest are located in cludes 7,566 acres of rolling the project area. The forested hills, streams, ponds, and Massachusetts Department of trails. There are 50 miles of trails Conservation and Recreation within the state forest. The land (DCR) owns and manages both of was purchased in the 1920s. The these facilities. These facilities in- area was heavily burned during the clude almost 10,000 acres with early 1900s. Some of the park and multiple use trails for hiking, most of the road systems were con- mountain biking, horseback riding, structed by the Civilian cross-country skiing, snowmobi- Conservation Corps in the 1930s. ling, camping, swimming, picnick- Ruggles Pond is the main day-use ing, fishing, hunting and wildlife area. This 10-acre pond offers viewing. A brief description of the crystal clear water for swimming facility and a summary of the and fishing. There are also picnic activities available at each of these sites and a ball field with a pavil- sites are also included below. ion located near the pond. There is a small boat launching ramp located at the Northern end of Wickett Pond. The Metacomet Monadnock Mattabesett Trail

46 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield (MMM Trail) traverses the forest and includes a small Adirondack Other Recreation shelter for trail users. The facilities and activities available at the Areas and Parks State Forest include: hiking, picnicking, fishing, hunting, mountain Athol biking, cross-country skiing, boat Alan E. Rich Environmental launch access and snowmobiling. Park Website:http://www.mass.gov/dcr/ The Alan E. Rich Environmental parks/central/wndl.htm Park is located at the west end of Athol center. The park has car-top Erving State Forest access to the Millers River and Erving State Forest is located to trails through Cass Meadow the north of Route 2 in the Town Wildlife Management Area. The of Erving. This recreational area facilities and activities available provides a wide variety of include: picnicking, hiking, cross- activities including, boating, country skiing,, swimming and fishing at Laurel canoeing/kayaking, boating, and Lake with its beautiful brick-lined wildlife viewing. Website: lakeshore, camping, picnicking, www.athol-ma.gov/parks.html hunting, horseback riding and winter sports. There are 8 miles of Bearsden Conservation Area forest roads, and numerous trails The Town of Athol’s Bearsden that lead to points of scenic interest Conservation Area includes ten throughout the forest. The Erving miles of trails crisscrossing 1,000 State Forest has overnight acres of forest. The trails provide accommodations, toilet facilities diverse exploration options includ- and showers. The affordable ing views of the Millers River, accommodation and facilities nearby mountains, the Millers provided at the state park River, stone walls and a cut campsites are popular with various through rock ledge. A strenuous groups, and are often sold out on climb leads to Round Top, which weekends. The facilities and is Athol’s second highest hill at activities available at the State 1,278 feet, and to Warren’s Vista. Forest include: hiking, boating, Both locations have a panoramic camping (including shower view of the surrounding valleys. facilities), picnicking, mountain There are also trails that lead to biking, hunting, fishing, cross- the Newton Reservoir, formerly a country skiing and snowmobiling. water supply; Duck Pond, a haven Website: for waterfowl; the Ox Bow, a http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/ce curve in the river and a popular ntral/ervf.htm picnic spot; and Thousand-Acre Swamp a magnificent wetland area. There are lots of opportunities for bird-watching and other nature viewing. There is also limited camping permitted by prior arrangement. The facilities and activities available include: picnicking, fishing, hiking,

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 47 hunting, mountain biking, rock into the Millers River valley in the climbing, horseback riding, south; miles of frontage on the snowmobiling, cross-country river. A section of the Millers skiing, and wildlife viewing. River Wildlife Management Area Website: http://www. near downtown Athol spans both northquabbinwoods.org/ sides of the river. Moose, deer, entries/219 coyote, raccoon, snowshoe hare, grouse, turkey, and forest birds Cass Meadow Wildlife live within the area, and some Management Area pheasant are stocked. For anglers The Cass Meadow Wildlife this is a catch-and-release area. Management Area was once a The area is owned by the place where the Nipmucks planted Massachusetts Division of maize and European settlers raised Fisheries & Wildlife. The facili- hay. It was also the site of a toll ties and activities available road, chartered in 1799, linking include: Fishing, hiking, hunting, Boston to Brattleboro. Today, the and camping only by permit of area is being maintained as an ex- MDFW. Website: ample of early successional habitat http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/ with grasses and wildflowers that provide a home for butterflies, Skyfields Arboretum dragonflies, birds, and animals that The Mount Grace Land desire sun. The area includes 36 Conservation Trust is a private acres that are owned by the nonprofit organization that was Commonwealth of Massachusetts founded in 1986 and protects sig- and abuts eight acres that are nificant natural, agricultural and owned by the Town (Alan E. Rich scenic areas. The Trust encour- Environmental Park) both of which ages land stewardship in 23 cities are on the north shore of the and towns of North Central and Millers River. Future plans Western Massachusetts. The include the construction of a Trust's Skyfields headquarters in bridge linking Cass Meadow to the Athol offers trails showcasing Alan E. Rich Environmental Park native plants. The historic Willis on the south shore of the river. Farmstead at Skyfields has beauti- The facilities and activities ful stone walls and a showcase of available include: fishing, hiking, native plant species that serve the kayaking/canoeing, and cross- needs of wildlife. The area in- country skiing. Website: cludes ten acres of open fields http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/b laced with loop trails teeming with di/cassmeadows7c1.htm birds, butterflies, and dragonflies, and the woodland fringe connects Millers River Wildlife to the much larger (440-acre) Management Area Lawton State Forest, itself a treas- The Millers River Wildlife ure house of woodlands and ponds. Management Area includes exten- Across Old Keene Road, there are sive wetlands in the north which an additional 30 acres of Skyfields are fed by numerous brooks; a that serves as a demonstration of shrubby corridor along a power- the methods and values of forest line right-of-way; rugged and stewardship. The facilities and forested terrain with steep slopes activities available include: hiking,

48 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield hunting, and cross-country skiing. but he carefully pruned every tree Websites: http://www. in his forest to five or six feet. Mr. mountgrace.org/ and http:// Battle also built a pond entirely by www.northquabbinwoods.org/ hand, moving the materials and entries/154 earth with his wheelbarrow. His infrequent trips to town were made Lake Ellis on foot or bicycle. In 1974 a fire Lake Ellis is a Town owned beach from his wood burning stove de- with swimming and boating activi- stroyed his cabin, so he sold the ties. It offers a great beach and property to his cousin and left for picnic area. Boaters and anglers Mexico. Elizabeth Dorrance, a enjoy the lake. Among the fish conservationist, made the gift to found here are bass, pickerel, blue- the New England Forestry gill and hornpout. The facilities Foundation to ensure the survival and activities available include: of this twentieth-century Walden picnicking, swimming, fishing and Pond. The facilities and activities boating. available include: hiking, horse- Websites: http://www. back-riding, hunting, mountain northquabbinwoods.org/ biking and cross-country skiing. entries/131 Website: http:// www.northquabbinwoods.org/ Silver Lake Park entries/153 Silver Lake Park is a town owned 15 acre park which has a spring- Fittz Family Memorial Forest fed, trout stocked pond. This park The 75-acre Fittz Family Memorial also has a large beach, bathhouse, Forest is adjacent to the Orange picnic area, ball fields and a skate- Town Forest and other protected board park. The facilities and ac- land. It provides a valuable link in tivities available include: picnick- the North Pond Ridge Trail and the ing, swimming, fishing, and larger Chestnut Hill Trail system. boating. Websites: Recreation, forestry, and scientific http://www.northquabbinwoods.or and educational activities are the g/entries/127 management goals of the New England Forestry Foundation for Orange this land. The facilities and activi- Battle-Dorrance Memorial ties available include: hiking, Forest (55 acres) horseback-riding, hunting, moun- The Battle-Dorrance Forest is tain biking, and cross-country ski- located on the north side of Route ing. Website: 2A, approximately 1.75 miles west http://www.northquabbinwoods.or of Downtown Orange. The forest g/entries/109 was a Walden Pond for Harry A. Battle. Mr. Battle gradually Hosmer Woods acquired the four separate parcels The Hosmer Woods consists of that now make up the forest from two parcels donated by two differ- various members of his family. He ent families, the 187-acre Hosmer built a cabin for shelter and moved Woods and the 49-acre Webb to the property for summers, after Forest. The New England Forestry wintering in Mexico. Mr. Battle Foundation’s (NEFF) actively was less than five feet in height, manages this area and the forest is

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 49 dominated by wonderful stands of release fishing is also allowed (the white pine. The haul roads Millers River is a Class B water- through the parcels serve as invit- way). Pathways and benches pro- ing trails for visitors. The facilities vide places to enjoy views of the and activities include: hiking, river and of the native vegetation horseback-riding, hunting, moun- planted throughout the park. The tain biking and cross-country park incorporates Low Impact skiing. Website: http://www. Design (LID) elements such as northquabbinwoods.org/entries/ rain gardens, swales, and soil 141 amendments to treat all stormwater runoff on the site, eliminating the Memorial Park and Orange historic flow of stormwater di- Peace Statue rectly into the river. Subsequent The Orange Peace Statue was phases of construction will add a designated as the official peace building for use as a canoe/kayak statue of the Commonwealth of rental facility and a system of Massachusetts in 1998. The statue handicapped accessible docks with is located in Memorial Park on the an overlook and a gazebo. The banks of the Millers River in the facilities and activities available center of the Town of Orange. The include: picnicking, kayak and 12-foot bronze sculpture was canoe access to the Millers River. created by Joseph Pollia in 1934 as Website: http://www.frcog. a memorial to veterans of World org/services/natural_res/natres_riv War I. It depicts a weary erfront.php doughboy with one arm around a young schoolboy. A plaque on the Orange Wildlife Management base carries the inscription “It Area Shall Not Be Again” against a The Orange Wildlife Management shrouded figure of grief. Thirteen Area covers more than 1,500 acres stars honor Orange veterans who of land including a beautiful died in the war. The facilities and beaver pond of about 80 acres on activities include: picnicking. North Main Street. The area in- Website: http:// cludes mixed hardwood and soft- www.orangetowngreen.com/ woods forests, brushy fields, open statue.htm fields, several small streams and wetland areas. Deer, bear turkey, Orange Riverfront Park coyote, beaver, raccoon, woodcock The Orange Riverfront Park is and various non-game species visit located on the southern bank of the or make their homes within the Millers River on East River Street area. The property is owned by the in downtown Orange, the park Massachusetts Division of consists of .72 acres and provides Fisheries and Wildlife. The facili- access to the river for canoes and ties and activities include: fishing, kayaks via a concrete boat ramp. hiking, hunting, and camping by Paddlers can travel the approxi- permit from MDFW. mately 6 miles to the Alan Rich Website: http://www.mass.gov/ Environmental Park in Athol and a dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ bike trail is also planned to begin valleywma/orangewma.pdf at the site and run along existing roadways to Athol. Catch and

50 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield Tully Mountain snakes, and woodcock inhabit the Tully Mountain is the focal point area. The 22-mile Tully Trail of the Tully Trail and of the Tully traverses forested sections of the Mountain Wildlife Management Wildlife Management Area and Area. The mountain rises 1,163 follows the public road along the feet above sea level and appears meadow. A long-term plan dramatically above the relatively includes relocating the trail off- flat land around it. It is of geologi- road, a project that will require a cally interest. From the northwest lengthy footbridge across Collar the effect of the glaciers can be Brook. The property is owned by seen on the smooth northern face the Massachusetts Division of of the mountain, while the south- Fisheries and Wildlife. The ern face is much more irregular by facilities and activities include: deposited debris. There is a 1 ½ fishing, hiking, hunting, rock mile loop trail that leads to out- climbing. Website: crops near the summit. From this http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/h trail there are views of the sur- abitat/maps/wma/valleywma/tully rounding land, water bodies and mountainwma.pdf distant mountains. Tully Mountain is also home to diverse plant and Wendell animal habitats. The area is owned Hidden Valley Memorial Forest by the Massachusetts Division of Hidden Valley was the vacation Fisheries and Wildlife. The facili- and research camp of Dr. Arthur ties and activities include: hiking, Cronquist, who made immense hunting, and camping by permit contributions to the study of New from MDFW. Website: England’s flora. The 66-acre for- http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/h est area is tucked within the larger abitat/maps/wma/valleywma/tully Wendell State Forest. It has spec- mountainwma.pdf tacular rock cliffs and a diverse forest. A spur trail to the left of a Tully Mountain Wildlife dedication plaque on a rock leads Management Area to the seasonal Lynne’s Falls, This scenic and ecologically named for Cronquist’s daughter. diverse 1,200 acre area A blue-blazed loop trail merges encompasses Tully Mountain with the white-blazed MMM Trail itself. There are 3,000 feet of and both travel along the easterly frontage on the West Branch of the side of Lyon’s Brook together for Tully River and one of its quite a distance. The area provides tributaries (Collar Brook). The evidence of forest change caused area also includes Tully Meadow, by the 1938 hurricane, a 1980 out- where beavers have turned parts of break of gypsy moths, and a 1998 the river into a rich wetland. The selective timber cut. A 20-minute area is ecologically diverse with at spur trail off this loop leads to least 13 habitat types, including Jerusalem Hill and its wonderful various kinds of forests, swamps, vista. The facilities and activities seeps, talus slopes, and open include: hiking and cross-country bedrock slabs. The river is stocked skiing. with trout and the old fields with pheasant. In addition, deer, bear, bobcat, coyote, turkey, raccoons,

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 51 Millers River Wildlife Recreation Center. It is a popular Management Area destination for rock climbers. It is The Millers River Wildlife accessible from a spur off the Rose Management Area is 66 acres and Ledge Trail, a loop that is a vital link in the mosaic of pro- frequently used for hiking and tected lands in the North Quabbin snowshoeing. The facilities and region. The area provides access activities include: hiking, mountain to more than a mile of shoreline biking, rock climbing, cross- along the Millers River and to the country skiing, snowshoeing, abutting Wendell Sate Forest. The wildlife viewing, and hunting. property is owned by the Website: http://www. Massachusetts Division of firstlightpower.com/northfield/ Fisheries and Wildlife. The facili- brochures/Trail_map.pdf ties and activities include: fishing and hiking. Gill Website: http://www.mass.gov/ Barton Cove Campground dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ Barton Cove is owned by valleywma/millersriverwma.pdf FirstLight Power Resources. It is situated on a beautiful rocky pen- Wendell Wildlife insula jutting into the Connecticut Management Area River in Gill. A scenic one-mile The terrain of the 588-acre nature trail along a rocky ridge Wendell Wildlife Management overlooks the river and passes an Area includes gently sloping hills, abandoned dinosaur footprint flat lands and wooded seeps that quarry. Rental canoes and kayaks form the headwaters of Plympton are available, as is an upriver boat Brook. The area is wooded with shuttle to three drop-off points that primarily hardwoods, some stands let visitors paddle for between of conifers and mountain laurels in three hours and two days. Bald the understory. Deer, bear, rac- Eagles nest on an island in the coon, gray squirrel, fisher, turkey, cove (FirstLight Power maintains a ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit, webcam of the eagle nest. Web snowshoe hare, and numerous non- link is below.). Nearby is the game species inhabit the area. It is Northfield Mountain owned by the Massachusetts Environmental and Recreation Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Center which has other recrea- (MDFW). The facilities and activi- tional opportunities. All of these ties include: Fishing, hiking, hunt- facilities are owned by FirstLight ing, and camping by permit from Power as part of its federal license MDFW. for a pumped-storage hydroelectric Website: http://www.mass.gov/ plant at Northfield Mountain. The dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ facilities and activities available valleywma/wendellwma.pdf include: picnicking, restrooms, campground for tenting, hiking, Erving kayaking/canoeing, mountain Rose Ledge biking, canoe and kayak rentals. Rose Ledge is owned by FirstLight Website: http:// Power Resources and is part of the www.firstlightpower.com/ trail system at the Northfield northfield/camping.asp Mountain Environmental and Eagle nest webcam: http://

52 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield eagles.firstlightpower.com/eagles/ information about sustainable live/default.asp# energy. The park is 1¼ acres and is owned by the Town of Montague Greenfield. It was built in Unity Park partnership with the Northeast Unity Park in Turners Falls in Sustainable Energy Association Montague is owned by FirstLight (NESEA). The facilities and Power Resources. The day use activities include: picnicking, park features picnic tables over- public events such as concerts, and looking the Connecticut River and educational displays. the Turners Falls Dam. Addition- Website: http://www.nesea.org/ ally, the Canalside Trail bike path park/ winds through the park. Access and parking for the public viewing Poet’s Seat Tower and Ridge facilities at the Turners Falls Trail Fishway, a “fish ladder” which The Poet’s Seat Tower is the stone allows fish to get past the dam, is tower that was erected in 1912 at located at Unity Park. Every the site where Greenfield’s poet, spring, usually in late April, Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, Anadromous fish, including the was inspired. The tower is located American shad, sea lamprey and in Rocky Mountain Park on the top Atlantic salmon, migrate upstream of Rocky Mountain, a 500-foot in the Connecticut River from their high volcanic ridge. The climb to ocean homes to spawn. the top of the tower is three stories. Anadromous (ah-‘nad-rah-mus) From the top of the tower there is a means the fish are born in fresh spectacular almost 360-degree water, mature in the ocean and view of the Pioneer Valley. The return to the fresh water rivers of original wooden tower was con- their birth to spawn. On their way, structed in 1879, but was later they overcome dams, falls and deemed unsafe and torn down. In fishways to reach their destination. 1912 a stronger, sandstone obser- During this migration, which ends vation tower was erected. The in about mid-June, the fish- tower is accessible on foot or auto- viewing facility at Turners Falls is mobile. open to the public. The facilities In addition to the tower itself, and activities available include: there is a system of trails in Rocky picnicking, fishing, fish viewing, Mountain Park which stretches bird watching, and biking. between Mountain Road (to the South) and Stone Farm Lane (to Greenfield the North). Highland Park runs south from Mountain Road to Greenfield Energy Park Sachem Head. Many of these The Greenfield Energy Park is trails are suitable for cross-country located on Miles Street in skiing in the winter. In addition, downtown Greenfield. The park the Ridge Trail runs down the top was constructed to offer a pleasant of the rocky ridge. This trail is a and safe location suitable for continuation of the Pocumtuck picnicking, public concerts or Ridge Trail that travels from other community gatherings. The Sugarloaf in South Deerfield. park also contains educationally Parallel trails on both sides of the oriented displays that provide

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 53 ridge, provide a woodlands experi- Athol’s Bearsden Conservation ence. The facilities and activities Area. It is accessible from the include: picnicking, observation main trailhead on Bearsden Road tower, hiking, cross-country skiing, (the recommended access point) or mountain biking, and wildlife from South Royalston Road viewing. (where parking is limited to Website: http:// on-street where houses end). The www.townofgreenfield.org/ swamp extends to Phillipston’s general_files/ Red Apple Farm, where there is visiting_greenfield.php ample parking. At the farm there is a ¾-mile semi-loop trail that Highland Pond includes interpretive posts and is Highland Pond is a spring-fed open year-round. pond. In the winter, there is ice Website: http:// skating on the pond. The area www.northquabbinwoods.org/ includes19 miles of hiking and entries/157 cross-country ski trail, clay tennis courts and a playground. There is Orange a scenic view of the western hills Chestnut Hill Trail System from Sachem’s Head, and the Chestnut Hill Trail is a 3.25 mile Bear’s Den is a rock cave forma- yellow-blazed loop through an tion both located in Highland Park. open hemlock forest and other The facilities and activities woodlands. The trail begins at the include: picnicking, ice skating, end of Gidney Road and travels tennis, cross-country skiing and west near Coolidge Swamp hiking. through Orange State Forest. Website: http:// From the southwest corner of the www.townofgreenfield.org/ loop, where the trail turns sharply general_files/ east, a spur to the west leads to a visiting_greenfield.php bridge over the picturesque Whetstone Brook and into Wendell GTD Griswold Conservation State Forest. The main trail climbs Area and descends along the flank of The GTD Griswold Conservation Chestnut Ridge, skirts Seeds of Area is located on Lampback Road Solidarity Farm, and ends with the in Greenfield. The area consists of last leg along Gidney Road. The 200 acres of conservation land. nearby North Pond Ridge Trail and The facilities and activities the Bullard Farm Loop are also include: hiking, mountain biking, part of the Chestnut Hill Trail bird watching and nature study. system. Website: http:// www.northquabbinwoods.org/ entries/267 Hiking Trails North Pond Ridge Trail Athol The 1½-mile North Pond Ridge Trail begins in the Fittz Family Thousand-Acre Swamp Memorial Forest in Orange. This Thousand-Acre Swamp is a wet- trail connects with the white- land that is fed by Thousand-Acre blazed Bullard Farm Loop and the Brook, a dammed former reservoir. Chestnut Hill Trail system. Today part of the swamp lies in

54 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield Athol, Royalston, Wendell Warwick, & Orange, MA Hidden Valley Memorial Forest Tully Trail and Loop Trails The 22-mile Tully Trail is the Within the Hidden Valley result of cooperation among Memorial Forest there are several government agencies, private loop trails. There is a blue-blazed organizations, land trusts, loop trail, which for a section individual landowners, and shares the path with the volunteers. The trail travels Metacomet Monadnock through diverse landscapes which Mattabesett (MMM) Trail and include forests, wetlands, lakes, skirts Lyons Brooks. A 20-minute ponds, rivers, streams, waterfalls, spur trail off this loop leads to swamps, marshes, bogs, ridgelines Jerusalem Hill. There is also a and hilltops. From the trail, there spur trail that leads to the seasonal are views of valleys and distant Lynne’s Falls. hills. The trail loops around Tully Website: http:// Mountain. The trailhead is located www.northquabbinwoods.org/ at Tully Lake Campground located entries/136 on Route 32 in Royalston, where parking, restrooms, and tent sites Wendell and Erving are available. Sections of the trail Metacomet Monadnock are easy or moderate while other Mattabesett Trail sections require strenuous effort. The Metacomet Monadnock The trail is marked by rectangular Mattabesett (MMM) Trail is a long yellow blazes and the blue-and- distance multi-state trail that trav- white Tully Trail logo. The Tully els from the Long Island Sound in Trail also connects in the north to Connecticut to Mount Monadnock the white-blazed Metacomet in New Hampshire. The Monadnock Mattabesett (MMM) Massachusetts section of the trail Trail. A trail shelter at the eastern travels through the Connecticut junction of the two trails is avail- River Valley and crosses the able on a first-come basis. A sec- Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway in tion of the Tully Trail is also used the towns of Wendell and Erving. as part of a more advanced six- Website: http:// mile mountain bike loop around www.amcberkshire.org/mmtrail Long Pond. The access to this mountain biking trail is located at Erving the Tully Lake Campground. Erving Castle/Hermit’s Cave Website: From 1867 to 1899, the Erving http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/h Castle was the home of John abitat/maps/wma/valleywma/tully Smith, a native of Scotland, who mountainwma.pdf by an interesting path lived as a hermit at this location. The site is a fascinating and strenuous place to visit. It is located on the slope of Hermit’s Mountain in Erving State Forest. It is accessible from the Metacomet-Monadnock- Mattabesett (MMM) Trail. A sign on Mountain Road directs hikers to

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 55 follow a 1.6 mile blue-blazed spur Orange trail that descends a steep grade to Orange Wildlife Management the cave site and its remnant stone- Area work and gardens. The spur trail The Orange Wildlife Management reconnects with the MMM Trail. Area is owned by the Website: http:// Massachusetts Division of www.northquabbinwoods.org/ Fisheries & Wildlife (MDFW). entries/62 Camping is permitted by permit of MDFW. See additional descrip- Greenfield tion of the facility earlier in this Ridge Trail (a continuation of chapter. the Pocumtuck Ridge Trail) Website: http://www.mass.gov/ The Ridge Trail is a system of dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ trails on Rocky Mountain (located valleywma/orangewma.pdf near the Poets Seat Tower) that stretches between Mountain Road Tully Mountain (to the South) and Stone Farm The area is owned by the Lane (to the North). Highland Massachusetts Division of Park runs south from Mountain Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW). Road to Sachem Head. Many of Camping is permitted by permit of these trails are suitable for cross- MDFW. See additional descrip- country skiing in the winter. In ad- tion of the facility earlier in this dition, the Ridge Trail travels chapter. along the top of the rocky ridge. Website: http://www.mass.gov/ This trail is a continuation of the dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ Pocumtuck Ridge Trail, which valleywma/tullymountainwma.pdf travels from Sugarloaf in South Deerfield. Parallel trails on both Wendell sides of the ridge, provide a wood- Wendell Wildlife Management lands experience. Area The Wendell Wildlife Management Area is owned by the Camping Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW). Athol Camping is permitted by permit of MDFW. See additional descrip- Millers River Wildlife tion of the facility earlier in this Management Area chapter. The Millers River Wildlife Website: http://www.mass.gov/ Management Area is owned by the dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/wma/ Massachusetts Division of valleywma/millersriverwma.pdf Fisheries & Wildlife (MDFW).

Camping is available by permit of MDFW. See additional descrip- Erving tion of the facility earlier in this Erving State Forest chapter. Website: http:// The Erving State Forest has camp- www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/ ing facilities at Laurel Lake that include toilet facilities and showers. The rates are affordable. The State Park campsites are

56 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield popular and are often sold out on weekends. See additional Whitewater Rafting, description of the facility earlier in this chapter. Canoeing, Kayaking

Gill Access to the Millers Barton Cove Campground River Barton Cove is located on a rocky Athol peninsula jutting into the There is car-top boat access to the Connecticut River. It has a picnic Millers River at the Alan E. Rich area, bathrooms, tent camping, and Environmental Park. minimal automobile access. There is a nature trail that meanders Orange along a scenic rocky ridge over- There is car-top boat access to the looking the river. In addition, Millers River at Riverfront Park. there is a public boat ramp a half- mile downstream. There are also a Erving number of interesting geological There are launches for kayaking, and natural features at the site canoeing and fishing located at the including an abandoned dinosaur Erving Treatment plant just west footprint quarry, unusual rock for- of Erving Center. Avid (more mations, and a multitude of ferns advanced) kayak and canoe and wildflowers. Canoes and enthusiasts prefer the whitewater kayaks can be rented on an hourly rapids located on the “Farley or daily basis. Also, riverboat Flats”. rides depart from nearby Northfield Mountain during Access to the summer and early fall. Each Connecticut River campsite provides a picnic table, Gill hibachi and fireplace. Showers are FirstLight Power Resources offers available near the ranger station, rental canoes and kayaks at Barton and there are two group sites Cove Campground. From this lo- available for larger groups cation it is possible to paddle in the interested in camping together. scenic Connecticut River and view Two sites suitable for pop-up the stunning French King Gorge trailers or class C camper vans are north of the cove. also available. The sites have no Rentals are available from utility hookups. Barton Cove Memorial Day to Labor Day. Campground is open Memorial Rentals are available by the hour, Day weekend through Labor Day. the day, or longer. Website: http:// The Barton Cove Campground www.firstlightpower.com/ also offers a weekend canoe shut- northfield/camping.asp tle service. The shuttle service

will also transport personal canoes.

It is highly recommended that res-

ervations are made. The shuttle

service offers three drop off points

for trips ranging from three hours

to two days. Website:

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 57 http://www.firstlightpower.com/no courses are not located within the rthfield/ project area they located within the Also, there is a public boat towns that are included in the ramp at Barton Cove. study area and therefore have been included in this inventory.

Cross-Country • Ellinwood Country Club. An 18 hole semi-private golf Skiing course located in Athol As noted earlier in this chapter, (http://www.ellinwoodcc.com/ cross-country skiing is allowed in ). many of the recreational and con- • Oakridge Golf Club. An 18 servation areas detailed in this sec- hole public golf course located tion of the report. It is an excellent in Gill. way to experience the beauty of • Thomas Memorial Golf and the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway Country Club. A 9 hole region. The following is a list municipal golf course in where cross-country skiing trails Turners Falls, Montague are located. These facilities are • Country Club of Greenfield. further detailed earlier in this An 18 hole semi-private golf chapter. club located in Greenfield ( http://www. • Bearsden Conservation Area, countryclubofgreenfield.net/). Athol • Meadows Golf Course. A 9 • Skyfields Arboretum, Athol hole public golf course located • Chestnut Hill Trail System, in Greenfield. Orange • Fittz Family Memorial Forest, Orange Hunting and Fishing • Hosmer Woods, Orange Hunting and fishing are allowed in • North Pond Ridge Trail, some of the recreational and con- Orange servation areas detailed in this • Hidden Valley Memorial chapter of the report. The follow- Forest, Wendell ing are list of where hunting and • Wendell State Forest, Wendell fishing are allowed. These facili- • Erving State Forest, Erving ties are further detailed earlier in • Erving Castle/ Hermit’s Cave, this chapter. Erving • Northfield Mountain • Bearsden Conservation Area, Recreation and Environmental Athol (hunting and fishing) Center, Erving and Northfield • Cass Meadow River Wildlife • Highland Pond, Greenfield Management Area, Athol • Ridge Trail, Greenfield (fishing permitted) • Millers River Wildlife Management Area (1), Athol Golfing (hunting and fishing permitted) There are a number of golf facili- • Thousand-Acre Swamp, Athol ties located within close vicinity of (fishing) the Byway. Although these golf • Chestnut Hill Trail System,

58 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield Orange (hunting and fishing Farm Stands permitted) • Seeds of Solidarity Farm, • Fittz Family Memorial Forest, Orange Orange (hunting permitted) (http://www.seedsofsolidarity. • Hosmer Woods, Orange org/). (hunting permitted) • Diemand Farm, Wendell. • North Pond Ridge Trail, Eggs, meat, compost and hay. Orange (hunting permitted) • Brook's Bend Farm, • Orange Wildlife Management Montague. Honey, eggs, Area, Orange (hunting and dairy, flowers, nursery, wool, fishing permitted) and meat. • Tully Mountain Wildlife • Old Depot Gardens, Management Area, Orange Montague. Vegetables, nurs- (hunting and fishing permitted) ery and flowers. • Millers River Wildlife • Bostrom Farm, Greenfield. Management Area, Wendell Dairy, eggs, fruit, compost, (fishing permitted) flowers, vegetable starts, berry • Wendell Wildlife Management plants and hay. Area, Wendell (hunting and • Glenbrook Gardens, fishing permitted) Greenfield. Cutting gardens, • Wendell State Forest, Wendell herb/cut flower bouquets, (hunting and fishing permitted) dried flowers and grasses, ar- • Erving State Forest, Erving rangements, wreaths and herb (hunting and fishing permitted) crafts, and daylilies. • Northfield Mountain, Erving • Common Wealth CSA, and Northfield (hunting Greenfield. A cooperative permitted) CSA of four farmers providing a wide variety of organic vegetables, greens, roots, Pick-your-own herbs, berries, melons and other products. Farms include Farms, Farm Shoestring Farm, Red Fire Stands, Agri- Farm, Graceland and The Benson Place. tourism, and Farmers Markets Agri-tourism There are a number of farms that Seeds of Solidarity Education offer opportunities to pick fruits Center, Inc. during various seasons in the (http://www.seedsofsolidarity.org/) Franklin County section of the . Seeds of Solidarity consists of byway. Berry and fruit picking are two entities: The Seeds of popular family outdoor activities. Solidarity Farm and the Seeds of Solidarity Education Center Inc., a Pick Your Own Farms nonprofit 501c(3) organization. Both Seeds of Solidarity Farm and Johnson's Farm, Orange. Seeds of Solidarity Education Johnson’s Farm offers farm prod- Center bring to life the connection ucts and maple syrup. Also offers between environmental and social breakfast, lunch, dinner, and ice justice issues through practice cream for eating in or take-out.

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 59 and education. The goal of the Millers River Greenway farm is to supply restaurants, coops (Athol and Orange) and markets, demonstrating The towns of Orange and Athol intensive food production through have identified the development of soil building, season extension in a bikeway/greenway along the the Northeast, and renewable fuel Millers River as a priority, and and energy for farm and home. have taken the initial steps towards Seeds of Solidarity Education completing a design. In 2000, an Center provides people of all ages initial feasibility study and route with the inspiration and practical assessment was completed for a tools to use renewable energy and potential off-road bicycle facility. grow food in their communities Initially, the proposed project was through several education to create a greenway along the initiatives. Millers River connecting Orange and Athol. However, after an as- Farmers Markets sessment of the right-of-way and • In Orange from May 31st to environmental impacts, this con- September 27th on Thursdays cept was determined to be infeasi- from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at ble and the idea of an on-road bi- Butterfield Park on East River cycle facility was established. Street. Another feasibility study was then • In Turners Falls, Montague prepared. That report included from May 9th to October 31st descriptions of the existing condi- on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. tions and traffic volumes on the to 6:00 p.m. next to roads that were being considered Peskeomskut Park at 6th Street as a part of the bicycle route, the and Avenue A. potential bicycle route alternatives • In Greenfield from May for the proposed on-road bicycle through October on Saturday facility connecting Orange and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Athol, an analysis of the alterna- Court Square in the road next tives, and a recommended route. to the Town Common and During 2004 and 2005, the Town Hall. FRCOG worked with the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), the Town of Athol and the Town of Orange to Bicycling complete additional conceptual design work for the Millers River Bicycling on Roads Greenway in the two towns. Road bicycling is an issue of much Further analysis of the on-road concern in the rural areas of the route that had been recommended Scenic Byway. While bicycling is as a result of the feasibility study not recommended on the Route 2 was completed. A revised route portions of the Mohawk Trail East, was developed which included there may be more suitable routes much of the on-road route identi- for road cycle touring that intersect fied in the 2000 study, but also the Scenic Byway and provide incorporates an off-road bicycle opportunities to explore the region path section in Athol. by bicycle. The proposed route is approximately 4 miles beginning at the

60 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield Riverfront Park. The route contin- towns of Greenfield, Montague, ues east on East River Street to its Gill and Erving along the Scenic intersection with Daniel Shays Byway. At this time, much of the Highway. The route then turns Franklin County Bikeway is north and follows Daniel Shays actively being constructed, or has Highway to an abandoned road recently been completed. The that is located just south of the in- remaining work will be completed tersection of Daniel Shays within the next two years. The six Highway and Route 2A. The pro- segments of the Franklin County posed route travels along this Bikeway are in varying stages of abandoned road (Procter Avenue) design, construction and comple- and then through land that is pub- tion. Four of these six segments licly owned. The route reconnects (the Canalside Trail, the Riverside with residential neighborhood Greenway, the Northfield streets (Jones Street, South Street Connector and Phase IV) travel and onto Canal Street) and then near or intersect the Scenic Byway. terminates in Athol at the Alan E. In addition, the East Mineral Road Rich Millers River Environmental Bridge is located within the Byway Park, which opened in the summer project area. of 2006. The design of the Millers The northern terminus of the River Greenway is still conceptual, Canalside Trail is at Unity Park in though it appears to be feasible. the Turners Falls section of The off-road section utilizes land Montague located within the that is almost entirely publicly project area. The entire Canalside owned. There is one location Trail is located in the towns of where a crossing of the Millers Montague and Deerfield. The River would be necessary. Canalside Trail connects the Great At this time, the Town of Falls Discovery Center and Unity Athol is consulting with Park in the Village of Turners Falls MassHighway and the Federal in Montague, to McClelland Farm Highway Administration to deter- Road (located off of River Road) mine if previously awarded in northeast Deerfield. This Transportation Enhancement fund- section of the bikeway is a 3.27- ing can be redirected to fund the mile off-road bicycle path which design of the proposed path. It is travels along an approximately 10- anticipated that the subsequent foot wide grass and dirt path stage of the design will be com- adjacent to the Connecticut River pleted in the next few years. Canal in Turners Falls and along an abandoned rail corridor Franklin County Bikeway (including a railroad bridge over (Greenfield, Montague, the confluence of the Deerfield and Erving and Gill) Connecticut Rivers) in Deerfield The FRCOG has been working to and Montague City. implement a regional bikeway The Great Falls Discovery system that is centered along the Center is considered to be the start Connecticut River, which includes and terminus of the Franklin both shared roadway and bicycle County Bikeway loop. The path facilities. This bikeway sys- Discovery Center is a visitors’ cen- tem is called the Franklin County ter and conservation education fa- Bikeway and includes routes in the cility for the 410-mile Silvio O.

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 61 Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge roads, while still providing access that was developed by the to the Connecticut River, as well Massachusetts Department of as the Northfield Mountain Rec- Conservation and Recreation, and reation and Environmental Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. and downtown Northfield. Riverside Greenway is in The Northfield Connector is Greenfield and is part of the located in the towns of Northfield Franklin County Bikeway and is and Erving. It is approximately 11 located within close proximity of miles of shared roadway that pro- the Byway in Greenfield. Com- vides a non-motorized link from pleted in the fall of 2004, the Montague to the Northfield Riverside Greenway is a one-mile Mountain Recreation and long off-road bike-path located in Environmental Center, and down- the Town of Greenfield. This path town Northfield. Northfield connects a densely populated resi- Mountain, owned by FirstLight dential area with a heavily used Power Resources, is both a large public recreation facility. It also regional employer (hydroelectric connects to nearby Greenfield power plant pumped storage facil- Community College and down- ity) and a significant regional rec- town Greenfield. The path is reation destination. Similarly, owned and maintained by the downtown Northfield is a thriving, Town of Greenfield, and includes a traditional village center. The bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Northfield Connector is located the Green River. entirely on existing roads. It does Phase IV of the Franklin not require land acquisition, County Bikeway is comprised of a design, engineering, or number of shared roadways con- construction. The connector nections that link the Canalside includes roadway signage that Trail, the Northfield Connector clearly indicates the bikeway route and the Riverside Greenway. and alerts motorists to the roads These shared roadway facilities are multiple use. located in the towns of Bernardston, Deerfield, Mountain Bicycling Greenfield, Gill and Montague. Mountain biking is permitted on In addition, the East Mineral many of the roads and trails within Road Bridge in Montague and Erving State Forest and Wendell Erving has been redesigned and re- State Forest. Some of these areas constructed for use as a bicycle offer rugged terrain that requires and pedestrian bridge. The recon- more experience, skill and condi- struction was completed in the tioning levels. The following is a summer of 2005. The bridge, a list of places where mountain bik- former motor vehicle bridge, ing is permitted. These facilities crosses the Millers River from East are further detailed earlier in this Mineral Road in Montague to chapter. Dorsey Road in Erving, and provides an important link in the • Bearsden Conservation Area, Franklin County Bikeway network. Athol This link makes it possible to • Tully Trail, Athol and Orange move the bikeway off of Route 2 • Chestnut Hill Trail System, and onto less heavily traveled Orange

62 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield • Fittz Family Memorial Forest, area. The Ledges are often closed Orange between early March and mid-July • Hosmer Woods, Orange due to peregrine falcons nesting • North Pond Ridge Trail, there. Orange • Wendell State Forest, Wendell Rose Ledge • Erving State Forest, Erving Rose Ledge is part of the trail • Rose Ledge, Erving system at the Northfield Mountain • Northfield Mountain Environmental and Recreation Recreation and Environmental Center. It is a popular destination Center, Erving and Northfield for rock climbers. It is accessible • Barton Cove Campground, from a spur off the Rose Ledge Gill Trail, a loop that is frequently used • GTD Griswold Conservation for hiking and snowshoeing. Area, Greenfield • Poet’s Seat, Ridge Trail, Greenfield Snowmobiling Snowmobiling is permitted at the following locations. These facili- Rock Climbing ties are further detailed earlier in The following is a list where rock this chapter. climbing is permitted. These facilities are further detailed earlier in • Bearsden Conservation Area, this chapter. Athol • Wendell State Forest, Wendell Orange • Erving State Forest, Erving

Tully Mountain Wildlife

Management Area Tully Mountain Wildlife Eco-Tourism Management Area is owned by the The natural and cultural resources Massachusetts Division of in the region provide many bene- Fisheries and Wildlife. The area fits to the residents and visitors of consists of a scenic and ecologi- the region. Local businesspeople cally diverse 1,200 acre area. and economic development practi- tioners are extending efforts to Erving particular niches of the tourism Farley Ledges industry, such as agri-tourism, eco- The Farley Ledges, owned by tourism, and cultural tourism FirstLight Power Resources, are related to artists and craftspeople. considered by some to be the Offerings such as farm stands, “crown jewel” of rock climbing in maple sugar houses serving Massachusetts. Farley Ledges pancakes, and other forms of includes both moderate and highly interactive experiences are difficult climbing features. The growing in the agricultural parking area and part of the trail industry. By offering value-added that accesses the Ledges were pur- products for sale and visitor chased in 2007 by the activities, many farms have Massachusetts Climbing Coalition increased the number of customers in an effort to ensure access to the and their profit margins while

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 63 diversifying their revenues. Eco-tourism activities include Universal Access outdoor recreation such as rafting and skiing as well as education (handicapped related opportunities, like guided accessibility to nature hikes. Efforts are underway in the North Quabbin region to recreational areas) encourage this type of tourism. DEM’s Universal Access Program Business activities that rely on is dedicated to providing outdoor natural resources help to preserve recreation opportunities in these assets and the region’s rural Massachusetts State Parks for character. visitors of all abilities. Accessibility to the State Parks and Forests is achieved through site improvements, specialized Geocaching adaptive recreation equipment, and Geocaching is an outdoor treasure- accessible recreation programs. hunting game in which the partici- Universal access has been made pants use a Global Positioning available to beaches, swimming, System (GPS) receiver or other fishing, boating, camping, cycling, navigational techniques to hide and hiking, picnicking and vistas seek containers (called throughout the Commonwealth. "geocaches" or "caches") any- There are a number of facilities where in the world. A typical located in the Mohawk Trail cache is a small waterproof Scenic Byway region that provide container containing a logbook and universal access to certain "treasure," usually toys or trinkets recreational activities. of little value. Today, well over 440,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the sport. Geocaches are currently Local Open Space placed in 222 countries around the and Recreation world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Plans The Great Northern Tier All of the towns within the Byway Geocaching Tournament is held study area have completed Open annually throughout Franklin Space and Recreation Plans within County. Expert and amateur the past five years. The purpose of geocachers, individuals, and fami- completing an Open Space and lies are all invited to join the hunt Recreation Plan is to provide an for “caches” hidden throughout accurate and thorough basis for de- Franklin County’s forests, parks, cision-making involving the farms and cultural sites using a current and future open space and hand-held GPS (Global recreation needs of the residents of Positioning System) receiver and a the particular town in which the list of coordinates. Camp plan is being completed. The most Keewanee in Greenfield is the updated plan brings together and home base, and there are over 60 builds upon the planning efforts of new caches around Franklin the past. These plans generally County. As part of the tournament identify the most important classes have also been offered on community and natural resources GPS use. needs in the Town and recommend 64 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield the steps necessary to satisfy these funding by private land trust and needs or protect the resources. state agencies. The following includes a brief Develop multi-user (walking, summary of the goals or recom- hiking, bicycling, cross-country mendations of these plans that skiing) trail systems that tie into directly relate to the Byway study existing ones, which can be area. accessed from publicly owned land or private lands with trail Athol easements. Athol is currently developing an Promote and help to protect Open Space and Recreation Plan. historically significant landscapes. Orange Open Space and Recreation Plan Erving (March 2002) Open Space and Recreation Plan Orange will complete a revision of (June 2002) its Open Space and Recreation An Open Space and Recreation Plan in 2009. Survey was mailed to all of the residents of the Town which pro- Wendell vided input during the process of developing this plan. In addition, Open Space and Recreation Plan six public meetings of the Open (April 2002) Space Planning Committee were The Wendell Open Space and held during the process including a Recreation Plan was established public forum. The following with input received from a 2001 recommendations were identified Open Space and Recreation Survey as a result of the plan: that was mailed to every household in the town. The following recom- • Prioritize Town sponsored mendations were identified that re- land protection projects that late to the Byway area: conserve forestland, drinking Prioritize Town sponsored water, streams and ponds, land protection projects that open fields, scenic views, conserve forestland, drinking wildlife habitat, wetlands and water, streams and ponds, open farmland. fields, scenic views, wildlife habitat, wetlands and farmland. • Take advantage of the Town’s Take advantage of the Town’s right-of-first refusal with right-of-first refusal with Chapter Chapter 61 parcels or assign- 61 parcels or assigning the right to ing the right to a third party. a third party. • Coordinate with regional and Coordinate with regional and state land protection efforts, in state land protection efforts, in and and around Erving, to ensure around Wendell, to ensure the the continued conservation of continued conservation of important natural, recreational important natural, recreational and and open space resources. open space resources. • Improve access to parks and Accept land and easement open space by the physically donations and facilitate the local handicapped, the elderly, and investment of land protection children by coordinating with

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 65 all relevant Town boards and “ n a t u r a l a n d c u l t u r a l committees. resources”. • Support the Recreation • Encourage landowners to con- Commission to be more effec- sider donating their land to the tive in providing needed Town of Gill for the conserva- recreational facilities and pro- tion of “natural and cultural” gramming for all of Erving’s resources. residents especially teens. • Explore revisions to Gill’s • Develop multi-user (walking, zoning bylaw that would result hiking, bicycling, cross- in greater protection of valued country skiing) trail systems “natural and cultural re- that tie into existing ones, sources” and, which could also which can be accessed from help to ensure that any land publicly owned land or private development provides benefits lands with trail easements. that reflect the town’s natural • Identify, promote and help resource conservation goals. protect historically significant • Promote existing and future areas and landscapes, such as recreational facilities and cemeteries. services by developing a guide • Seek to permanently protect to facilities, programs, and from development all lands trail systems in the town. that contain unusual plant • Support the development of communities and rare and multi-use and limited-use trail endangered species habitat. systems, which can be accessed from publicly owned Gill land or private lands with Open Space and Recreation Plan permission. (2005) • Identify recreational needs of The Town worked with the Mount residents of all ages and Grace Land Trust, the Gill develop new programs and Conservation Commission, the facilities as appropriate. Franklin Regional Council of • Explore opportunities to part- Governments and a team of gradu- ner with local, regional and ate students from UMass. The fol- statewide land conservation lowing recommendations were organizations and agencies to identified as a result of the plan: better leverage limited town dollars and volunteer hours • Be responsive to the needs of towards the conservation of farm and forest landowners priority resource areas. and other agricultural busi- • Explore the opportunities for nesses in town. Consider ways partnering with the open space that the town might support committees of surrounding agricultural operations as they towns on land conservation would other commercial or in- projects that protect landscape- dustrial businesses in town. scale resources like contiguous • Encourage the Town of Gill to forests, aquifers, core habitat accept more donated conserva- areas, and trail systems. tion land and conservation restrictions from willing landowners that protect valued

66 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield Montague chase of local farm and forest Open Space and Recreation Plan products. (2003) • Promote conservation of valu- An Open Space and Recreation able agricultural soils and per- Survey was mailed to all of the manent protection of farmland residents of the Montague which through the APR program, provided input during the process consistent with the plans and of developing this plan. In addi- desires of landowners. tion, public meetings were held in • Encourage the investment of each of the five villages of federal, state, municipal and Montague. The following recom- private dollars for the purpose mendations were identified as a of maintaining and developing result of the plan: recreational facilities in Montague. • Encourage permanent protec- • Support the implementation of tion of large blocks of con- the Franklin County Bikeway tiguous forest and establish- a significant portion of which ment of corridors between ex- is located in Montague. isting protected forest parcels. • Promote ongoing maintenance • Encourage permanent protec- and expansion of recreational tion of land along the banks of areas and programs provided the Connecticut, Sawmill and by Northeast Utilities [now Millers Rivers and support FirstLight Power Resources] ecological restoration efforts under its Federal Energy in these watersheds. Regulatory Commission • Purchase conservation restric- License, including but not tions from willing private limited to parks, the Canalside landowners in Montague. Trail and boat access to the • Encourage state agencies and Connecticut River. non-profit conservation or- • Maintain all existing ganizations like hand trusts to recreational facilities including purchase open space. trails. • Promote cleanup and redevel- • Explore cost-effective methods opment of abandoned and un- for developing safe bike routes derutilized industrial and between village centers and commercial properties. areas of interest. • Participate in region-wide land • Develop additional recrea- use planning efforts to ensure tional programming for chil- protection of the resources dren Montague shares with other • Assess the adequacy of exist- communities. ing recreational opportunities • Use private and town funding for senior citizens and consider to leverage bigger investments the development of new in protecting open space and programs and facilities if supporting local farm found to be necessary. businesses. • Seek to secure trail easements • Enhance the public visibility from private landowners for of agricultural businesses in passive recreational activities Montague and promote pur- including hiking, jogging, nature observation and cross-

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 67 country skiing. • Protect, preserve and enhance • Educate Montague residents conservation areas about existing areas of pro- • Protect and preserve important tected open space and promote agricultural lands use of those lands that provide • Preserve and protect “sacred public access fro recreation. places” such as historic places, • Promote Montague’s historic farms, agricultural and scenic and rural character and out- resources. door recreation opportunities • Develop and implement a pub- to tourists. lic awareness campaign aimed at informing residents and Greenfield schools of open space opportu- Open Space and Recreation Plan nities. (2006) • Use both public and private This plan was developed with funding to protect, preserve input gathered through an Open and enhance open space. Space and Recreation Survey that • Coordinate with federal, state, was distributed through the local regional and local entities to newspaper. Five thousand six hun- maximize protection of joint dred (5,600) surveys were distrib- resources. uted and 423 were returned (7.5% • Promote the creation of an response rate). In addition to open inter-connected hiking trail meetings of the Open Space system. Committee through the process, a • Incorporate river corridors and public hearing was also held as an watersheds into the concept of opportunity for residents to give Open Space Connections. feedback on the plan. The follow- • Promote the creation of “green ing recommendations were identi- space” along public ways and fied as a result of the plan: within neighborhoods.

• Enhance existing recreation facilities, including infrastruc- ture, drainage, access (pedestrian, vehicular, handicapped and parking) and security.

68 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield TABLE OF ACTIVITIES AT OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

BikingMountain – BikingRoad – Boat Ramp Camping Canoeing/Kayaking Skiing Cross-Country Markets Farmers Farm Stands Fishing Golfing Hiking/Snowshoeing Riding Horseback Hunting Pick you own Picnic Area Recreation Fields Climbing Rock Snowmobiling Swimming Watching Wildlife

Athol

Alan E. Rich √ √ √ √ √ √ Environmental Park

Bearsden Conservation √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Area Cass Meadow Wildlife √ √ √ √ √ Area

Ellinwood Country √ Club

Millers River √ Greenway

Millers River Wildlife √* √ √ √ √ Management Area

Skyfields Arboretum √ √

Thousand-Acre Swamp √ √ √

Tully Trail √ √

New England √ √ √ √ √ √ Equestrian Center Silver Lake Park √ √ √ √ √

Lake Ellis √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 69 TABLE OF ACTIVITIES AT OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

BikingMountain – BikingRoad – Boat Ramp Camping Canoeing/Kayaking Cross-Country Ski- Markets Farmers Farm Stands Fishing Golfing Hiking/Snowshoeing Riding Horseback Hunting Pick you own Picnic Area Recreation Fields Climbing Rock Snowmobiling Swimming Watching Wildlife

Orange

Battle-Dorrance Me- √ √ √ √ morial Forest

Chestnut Hill Trail √ √ √ √ √ √ System Farley Ledges √ Fittz Family Memorial √ √ √ √ √ Hosmer Woods √ √ √ √ √ Johnson’s Farm √ Memorial Park and √ Millers River Green- √ North Pond Ridge Trail √ √ √ √ Orange Farmers √ Market Orange Riverfront Park √ √ √

Orange Wildlife Man- √ √ √ √ Seeds of Solidarity

Tully Mountain* √ √ √ √ √ Tully Mountain √ √ √ √ Wildlife Management Area Tully Trail √ √

MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY 70 Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield TABLE OF ACTIVITIES AT OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

Wendell Diemand Farm

Hidden Valley √ √ √ Memorial Forest Metacomet √ √ Monadnock Mattabesett Trail Millers River Wildlife √ √ √ Management Area Wendell State Forest √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Wendell Wildlife √ √ √ √ Management Area* Erving

Erving State Forest √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Erving Castle/ Her- √ √ √

Erving Center Boat √ √

Farley Flats+

Franklin County Bike- √ √

Rose Ledge √ √ √ √

* Camping by permit from MDFW. + White water kayaking and canoeing.

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 71 TABLE OF ACTIVITIES AT OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

Erving

Erving State Forest √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Erving Castle/ Her- √ √ √

Erving Center Boat √ √

Farley Flats+

Franklin County Bike- √ √

Rose Ledge √ √ √ √

Gill

Barton Cove+ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Franklin County √ Bikeway Gill Public Boat Ramp √

Oakridge Golf Club √ * By permit of MDFW

MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY 72 Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield TABLE OF ACTIVITIES AT OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

Montague Brook’s Bend Farm √ Franklin County √ √ √ √ Bikeway – Canalside Trail and East Mineral

Old Depot Gardens √ Thomas Memorial Golf √ Turners Falls Farmers √ Unity Park √ √ √ √ Greenfield Bostrom Farm √ Country Club of √ Greenfield

Common Wealth CSA √ Franklin County √ Bikeway – Riverside

Glenbrook Gardens √ Greenfield Energy Park √ √ Greenfield Farmers √ GTD Griswold √ √ √ Conservation Area Highland Pond √ Meadows Golf Course √ Poet’s Seat and Ridge √ √ √ √ Trail

CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreation Resources 73 ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Issues

Below are concerns that were discussed during the Corridor Management Plan development process:

• There is a concern that many visitors to the Byway area are unaware of the wide array of recreational resources that exist in the Byway area. • There is a need to provide information on the recreational resources for visitors to the area. • The maintenance of the existing facilities is a concern.

Recommendations

•Compile, publish and distribute a comprehensive guide or pamphlet with information on the recreational opportunities in the Byway towns. •In coordination with guide sign projects for other Byways (such as the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway West, Connecticut River Scenic Farm Byway, and Route 122 Byway), develop a system of directional signs for recreational and other points of interest within the Byway region. •Develop a website with information on the recreational opportunities in the Byway towns that also links with tourism websites and websites for area towns, organizations, and events. The Mohawk Trail East Byway website would be developed in coordination with the promotional campaign underway for all the western Massachusetts byways and creation of web sites for the other byways. •Coordinate with regional, state and non-profit land protection efforts to ensure the continued conservation of important natural, recreational, scenic, and open space resources. •Encourage towns to prioritize land for open space, and natural, cultural, and scenic resource protection and for recreation purposes. •Seek to acquire conservation restrictions, agricultural preservation restrictions or land from willing property owners for the protection of recreational and natural resources within the Byway region through existing programs and grant sources. •Educate landowners and communities about the Chapter 61, Chapter 61A, and Chapter 61B Programs for temporary land protection, and about other land conservation programs and funding sources. •Improve access to parks and recreational areas within the Byway region for the physically handicapped, elderly, and children. •Develop and maintain multi-use and limited-use trails to provide access to natural, scenic and recreational areas where appropriate. •Link the Byway with community development and preservation by utilizing resources such as eco-tourism, heritage tourism, and the marketing of local products. •Enhance the public visibility of agricultural and forestry businesses in the Byway region and promote the purchase of local farm and forest products. •Encourage the investment of federal, state, municipal and private dollars for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding recreational areas, facilities and programs within the Byway region. •Develop safe bike routes within the Byway towns that connect the village centers and places of interest. •Seek to secure trail easements from willing landowners for passive recreational activities including hiking, jogging, nature observation and cross-country skiing. •Identify and develop additional access points for recreational use of the Connecticut, Millers and Green Rivers. • Develop roadside pull-off areas to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

74 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY Eastern Section — Athol to Greenfield