The Bay State
Massachusetts
The Berkshires, Cape Cod, and the Appalachian Trail through some of the oldest settled forest in the country.
Massachusetts at a Glance
State Forests
Massachusetts manages over 300,000 acres of state forest, with October Mountain State Forest the largest at 16,500 acres
Mount Greylock
Mount Greylock State Reservation protects the highest point in Massachusetts, with an 87-ft war memorial tower on the summit and panoramic views
Appalachian Trail
The AT crosses 90 miles through Massachusetts, passing through October Mountain and the Berkshire Hills
Cape Cod
Cape Cod National Seashore protects 44,000 acres of beaches, dunes, and Atlantic coast accessible year-round
Quabbin Reservoir
The Quabbin Reservoir watershed in central Massachusetts is one of the largest uninhabited tracts of land in southern New England
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation south of Boston is one of the largest protected areas within 10 miles of any major American city
When to Visit
May through October. Fall foliage typically peaks mid-October in the Berkshires. Spring wildflowers are excellent in April. Winter hiking at higher elevations requires snowshoes and ice traction.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
North Adams
Berkshires city at the base of Mount Greylock, near the AT and the Savoy Mountain State Forest network.
Springfield
Connecticut River Valley hub near October Mountain State Forest, Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, and the southern Berkshires trail network.
Did You Know?
Massachusetts has no national forest but has one of the most comprehensive state forest systems in New England, with over 170 separate properties.
The Appalachian Trail's Massachusetts section is known as the 'social section,' with road crossings every few miles and nearby towns.
Quabbin Reservoir was created in the 1930s by flooding four towns, and the protected watershed now supports nesting bald eagles and recovering moose populations.
Mount Tom State Reservation in the Connecticut River Valley sits on a traprock ridge that produces some of the finest hawk watching in New England during September migration.
The Trustees of Reservations, founded in 1891, is the world's first private land trust and manages 120 properties across Massachusetts.