The forest came into state ownership via the estate of William C. Whitney, President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of the Navy. The purchase of the initial 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) was made in 1915 for a total of $60,000, part of which came through the pledge of a group of Berkshire residents. The area was opened to the public that year.[3] The name "October Mountain" is said to have been bestowed by author Herman Melville, whose home in Pittsfield overlooked the area.[4]
The view off of the Appalachian Trail in October Mountain State Forest of the Washington Mountain Marsh near West Branch Road. (Washington, Massachusetts)
Activities and amenitiesedit
Forest trails are available for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and off-road vehicle use. Trails include a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) interpretive trail around Washington Mountain Marsh,[5] a portion of the Appalachian Trail, and a trail through scenic Schermerhorn Gorge. The forest has 47 campsites including wheelchair-accessible sites. Recreational opportunities include non-motorized boating, fishing, and restricted hunting.[4]
Geographyedit
The forest encompasses a portion of the Hoosac Range on the western edge of the central Berkshires. The eponymous October Mountain is a ridge that rises steeply above the Housatonic River valley to the west and contains the forest's highest point. The central portion of the forest is an uplands area that includes several reservoirs, and the Washington Mountain Marsh. The eastern edge of the forest has a second, lower ridge, known as Washington Mountain.
^"2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
^ ab"October Mountain State Forest". Sports and Recreation in the Berkshires. The BerkshireWeb. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
^ abc"October Mount State Forest". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
^"Washington Mountain Marsh Interpretive Trail" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. August 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
External linksedit
October Mountain State Forest Department of Conservation and Recreation
January 01, 1970
october, mountain, state, forest, acre, forest, recreational, preserve, located, primarily, town, washington, with, adjoining, parcels, becket, lenox, largest, state, forest, massachusetts, managed, massachusetts, department, conservation, recreation, finerty,. October Mountain State Forest is a 16 460 acre 6 660 ha forest and recreational preserve located primarily in the town of Washington with adjoining parcels in Becket Lee and Lenox 3 It is the largest state forest in Massachusetts and is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation 4 October Mountain State ForestFinerty Pond in October Mountain State Forest Becket Massachusetts Location in MassachusettsShow map of MassachusettsOctober Mountain State Forest the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationBecket Lee Lenox Washington Berkshire Massachusetts United StatesCoordinates42 21 00 N 73 10 28 W 42 35000 N 73 17444 W 42 35000 73 17444 1 Area16 460 acres 66 6 km2 2 Elevation1 841 ft 561 m 1 Established1915Governing bodyMassachusetts Department of Conservation and RecreationWebsiteOctober Mountain State Forest Contents 1 History 2 Activities and amenities 3 Geography 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe forest came into state ownership via the estate of William C Whitney President Grover Cleveland s Secretary of the Navy The purchase of the initial 11 000 acres 4 500 ha was made in 1915 for a total of 60 000 part of which came through the pledge of a group of Berkshire residents The area was opened to the public that year 3 The name October Mountain is said to have been bestowed by author Herman Melville whose home in Pittsfield overlooked the area 4 nbsp The view off of the Appalachian Trail in October Mountain State Forest of the Washington Mountain Marsh near West Branch Road Washington Massachusetts Activities and amenities editForest trails are available for hiking mountain biking cross country skiing and off road vehicle use Trails include a 2 7 mile 4 3 km interpretive trail around Washington Mountain Marsh 5 a portion of the Appalachian Trail and a trail through scenic Schermerhorn Gorge The forest has 47 campsites including wheelchair accessible sites Recreational opportunities include non motorized boating fishing and restricted hunting 4 Geography editThe forest encompasses a portion of the Hoosac Range on the western edge of the central Berkshires The eponymous October Mountain is a ridge that rises steeply above the Housatonic River valley to the west and contains the forest s highest point The central portion of the forest is an uplands area that includes several reservoirs and the Washington Mountain Marsh The eastern edge of the forest has a second lower ridge known as Washington Mountain References edit a b October Mountain State Forest Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 2012 Acreage Listing PDF Department of Conservation and Recreation April 2012 Retrieved January 19 2014 a b October Mountain State Forest Sports and Recreation in the Berkshires The BerkshireWeb Retrieved August 18 2010 a b c October Mount State Forest MassParks Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Retrieved July 23 2013 Washington Mountain Marsh Interpretive Trail PDF Department of Conservation and Recreation August 2011 Retrieved September 18 2015 External links editOctober Mountain State Forest Department of Conservation and Recreation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title October Mountain State Forest amp oldid 1113618461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
