October Mountain State Forest is a state park in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.
Understand
[edit]The park is a 16,460-acre (6,660 ha) forest and recreational preserve. It is the largest state forest in Massachusetts and is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Most of the park is in the town of Washington, and the street address, main entrance, and main camping area is in Lee. Additional portions of the preserve stretch into Becket and Lenox.
History
[edit]What became October Mountain State Forest originated as the personal estate of William C. Whitney, the Secretary of the Navy for President Grover Cleveland. That initial 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) was sold to the public in 1915 for a total of $60,000. Part of the money for the sale came from a pledge of a group of Berkshire residents. The park opened to the public that same year. The name "October Mountain" is credited to the author Herman Melville, who had a view of the mountain from his home in Pittsfield.
Landscape
[edit]The forest lies within part of the Hoosac Mountain Range in the west-central Berkshires region. The namesake mountain is the forest's highest point. It is a steeply rising ridge above the Housatonic River to the west. The center area of the forest is upland that includes several reservoirs and the Washington Mountain Marsh. The eastern section of the forest has a second, lower ridge, known as Washington Mountain.
Flora and fauna
[edit]Climate
[edit]Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]By bus
[edit]On foot
[edit]The Appalachian Trail runs through the Washington portion of the reserve and is the most convenient trail by which to access the forest. The reserve can also be accessed on foot from the main lot in Lee.
Fees and permits
[edit]Get around
[edit]See
[edit]Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Lodging
[edit]Camping
[edit]Backcountry
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through October Mountain State Forest |
| Adams ← Dalton ← | N  S
|
→ Becket → Lee |