October Mountain State Forest

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Parks Directory of the United States:

October Mountain State Forest

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US State Park, Massachusetts

317 Woodland Rd
Lee, MA 1238
www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/octm.htm

Phone: 413-243-1778
Size: 16,500 acres. Location: In the central Berkshires in western Massachusetts, via US 20. Facilities: 46 campsites (including some wheelchair access sites), showers, restrooms (wheelchair access), trails, boat ramp and public landing. Activities: Camping, boating (non-motorized), canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, off-road vehicle riding (including ATVs), hunting (with restrictions), cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. Special Features: October Mountain is the largest state forest in Massachusetts, with trails for every level of experience. One of the most scenic trails leads to Schermerhorn Gorge, a natural feature that has intrigued generations of geologists. The forest also includes a segment of the Appalachian Trail.

Wikipedia on Answers.com:

October Mountain State Forest

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October Mountain State Forest is a state forest in Lee, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The 16,500-acre (67 km2) forest, the largest state forest in Massachusetts, is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation with scenic trails leading to Schermerhorn Gorge.

Herman Melville is reputed as having anointed the area as "October Mountain". His home in Pittsfield overlooks some of the hills. The forest came to Federal ownership via the estate of William C. Whitney, President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of the Navy. Berkshireweb.com describes this acquisition as[1]:

In 1915 a group of Berkshire men pledged $25,000.00 to enable the state to buy the 11,000 acre William C. Whitney estate. Together with State Funds this parcel cost $60,000. The same year the area was opened to the public.


External links

References

  1. ^ "October Mountain State Forest". berkshireweb.com. berkshireweb.com. http://www.berkshireweb.com/sports/parks/october.html. Retrieved 2010-08-18. 

Coordinates: 42°20′39.88″N 73°10′34.55″W / 42.3444111°N 73.1762639°W / 42.3444111; -73.1762639



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