CHAPTER 4 Outdoor Recreational Resources HE OUTDOOR recreational resources located along the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway are among the region’s greatest assets. The Deerfield River and the mountain ous terrain of the Berkshire Hills provide the backdrop Tfor a wealth of outdoor activities along the Byway corridor. The large variety of outdoor recreational activities include camping, hik- ing, mountain biking, whitewater sports, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, golfing, off-road driving, rock climbing, cross-country ski- ing, snowmobiling and downhill skiing. This chapter of the Corri- dor Management Plan inventories 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 re- sources within a half-mile radius of the Byway (Route 2), the recre- ational 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 been included. The resources located directly along the Byway are noted as such. There is an outstanding system of viewing are also enjoyed. In addition, state forests, parks and wildlife man- there are a number of open space and agement areas near the Mohawk Trail conservation areas that are owned by Scenic Byway in northwestern other organizations, such as munici- Franklin and northern Berkshire palities or nonprofit conservation or- Counties. The Department of Envi- ganizations, and maintained for public ronmental Management (DEM) owns use. and manages seven properties that are Many of the State forest facilities located either along the Byway or have overnight accommodations, toilet within a few minutes drive off of the facilities and showers; however, the Byway. In addition, the Massachusetts schedules and availability varies from Division of Fisheries and Wildlife park to park. Some of the facilities are manages one wildlife area located near only available in the warmer weather. the Byway study area. Combined, Mohawk Trail State Forest, and Savoy these areas provide almost 36,000 acres Mountain State Forest offer overnight and hundreds of miles of multiple use accommodations year-round. The in- trails for hiking, mountain biking, expensive accommodation and facili- horseback riding, cross-country ski- ties provided at the state park ing, off-road driving and campsites and cabins are popular with snowmobiling. Most but not all of the various groups, and are often sold out State forests also have facilities for on weekends. The policy for renting a camping, swimming, and picnicking, camping site without an advance reser- while fishing, hunting and wildlife vation varies from park to park. Reser- 44 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY The Byway as it travels through vations are strongly encouraged, and scription of the facility and a summary Mohawk Trail State Forest in are booked through Reserve America of the activities available at each of Charlemont by calling 1-877-I-CAMP-MA or 1- these sites are also included below. 877-422-6762 or visiting their website at www.ReserveAmerica.com. Reser- CHARLEMONT vations may be made as early as six Mohawk Trail State Forest months prior to the date of arrival or ★ 6,457 acres as late as two days before arrival. Mohawk Trail State Forest is lo- cated on Route 2 four miles west of Charlemont center. The Mohawk Trail State Forests State Forest is one of the most scenic woodland areas in Massachusetts. This and Wildlife state forest encompasses much of the last remaining old growth forest in the state. Management Areas The forest includes over 18 miles of riv- Below is a listing of the parks, state ers and streams that are excellent for forests, conservation areas and wildlife trout fishing; a swimming area in the management areas located either di- Cold River; and a day use picnic area. rectly on the Mohawk Trail Scenic By- There are 56 campsites and six overnight way or within the towns along the log cabins. The six units, along with toi- Byway. DEM maintains the State For- let and shower facilities, are open year est and Parks system, while the Divi- round, which is rare for most of the state sion of Fisheries and Wildlife maintain forest facilities in Western Massachusetts. the Wildlife Management Areas. The Many of the original Native American parks, state forests, conservation areas trails, including the Mahican-Mohawk and wildlife management areas that are Trail, are open for hiking. The activities located directly along Byway are noted available in the forest include: handi- with a star icon (MM★ ). A brief de- capped accessible camping, handicapped accessible picnicking, handicapped acces- CHAPTER 4: Outdoor Recreational Resources 45 chasm, finally plunging over a preci- pice to a clear pool below. The facilities and activities available include: fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, camping, cross-country skiing, hunt- ing, accessible camping, accessible restrooms, accessible picnicking, ac- cessible trails, boating (non-motor- ized), boat ramp, canoeing, historic site, designated off-road vehicle trails, horseback riding trails, interpretive program, picnicking, restrooms, scenic viewing area, showers and walking trails. FLORIDA Florida State Forest 778 Acres This State Forest can be accessed from an unmarked trailhead at the Western Sum- mit in North Adams. This forest is for Savoy State Forest, one of the passive day use only; there are no formal many state-owned recreational sible restrooms, camping, canoeing, pic- trails and no facilities on the property. facilities in the Byway region. nic area, camping, swimming, fishing, hunting (with restrictions), interpretive NORTH ADAMS program (seasonal), restroom facilities Natural Bridge State Park and showers, scenic viewing area, walking 47 acres trails, hiking, cross-country skiing, The site of a major marble snowshoeing. ★ quarry from 1810 until 1947, Natural Bridge State Park offers visi- SAVOY tors the opportunity to tour the aban- Savoy Mountain State Forest doned quarry and see the only marble 11,118 acres dam in North America. The “natural ★ Savoy Mountain State Forest en- bridge” is a marble arch created over compasses many miles of thousands of years of melting glaciers wooded trails that are available for rec- and the fast-flowing Hudson Brook. reational use during all of the seasons. The bridge spans a rushing brook that The scenic North and South Ponds, tumbles through a steep gorge. The with wooded edges and hills rising in quarry produced course-grained white the distance, offer tranquil places to marble from the early 1800s and was a fish, picnic and swim. Forty-five camp- privately owned tourist attraction sites are located in an old apple orchard from 1950 to 1983. The property be- and four log cabins with stone chim- came a state park in 1985 and is man- neys overlook South Pond. These cab- aged by DEM. During the summer ins were built by the Civilian months, park interpreters are on hand Conservation Corps (CCC) and are to explain the natural forces that cre- available for rental year-round. The ated the bridge and its more recent state forest’s spectacular natural fea- human-related history. The facilities tures include Bog Pond, with its float- and activities available include: pic- ing bog islands, and Tannery Falls, nicking, fishing, hunting, hiking, with multiple cascades through a deep cross-country skiing, historic site, in- 46 MOHAWK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY terpretive program, restrooms, scenic clude: hiking, camping, wilderness viewing area, and walking trails. camping, historic site, cross country skiing, hunting (with restrictions), in- CLARKSBURG terpretive program, picnicking, rest- Clarksburg State Forest rooms, scenic viewing, visitor center Approximately 3,000 acres and snowmobiling. The historic Thun- Like Florida State Forest, this property derbolt Trail is available for rugged is rustic and has no facilities. There is downhill skiing. a minimal trail system, but breathtak- ing views of both the Berkshire Hills WILLIAMSTOWN and Green Mountains can be seen Green River Wildlife from the Appalachian Trail and the Management Area Pine Cobble Trail. The activities avail- 489 acres able include hunting and hiking. This management area is located just south of the Five Corners intersection of NORTH ADAMS/WILLIAMSTOWN Routes 7 and 43. The activities available Mount Greylock include hiking, hunting, and fishing. State Reservation 12,500 acres WILLIAMSTOWN Mount Greylock is the highest peak in Taconic Trail State Park Massachusetts (3,491 feet). Mt. Grey- 1,774 acres lock was acquired by the Common- This park is located along the ridgeline wealth in 1898, and was the first state of the Taconic Hills, which border the park. For years, Mt. Greylock has in- Massachusetts-New York state line. spired artists and writers, including au- Majestic views of mountainous New thors Herman Melville and Henry David York, Vermont, and Massachusetts can Thoreau. The summit, which offers a be seen from the Taconic Crest Trail, a five-state view, can be reached by foot, well-know north-south hiking trail that bicycle, skis or automobile. Bascom traverses the mountain tops of this Lodge, built by the Civilian Conserva- range. There are no facilities in this tion Corps (CCC) in 1937, provides park; motorized vehicles are prohibited. overnight accommodations and meals at The facilities and activities available in- the summit during the summer and fall. clude: hiking, hunting and fishing. The reservation is a naturalist’s de- light with 45 miles of trails including As can be seen by this long list of rec- the Appalachian Trail. To reduce con- reational facilities, the State of Massa- MAJOR FINDING flict between users, a limited number of chusetts owns several thousands of acres trails are designated to allow mountain of land open to the public.