Passive Recreation
Fishing
– Fishing is allowed in conservation areas, in accordance with Massachusetts law. A fishing license is required. You must be 15 years old for a fishing license. Refer to Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife for more information on regulations and fishing seasons.Hunting
– Hunting is allowed in season in the following conservation areas only: Lawrence Swamp, Holyoke Range, Atkins Flats east of the brook, and Simmons Farm, Katherine Cole, Podick, Houston and Gage, and Eastman Brook. All hunting must be conducted in accordance with Massachusetts law. Refer to Hunting page for more details.Swimming
– Swimming at Puffers Pond is at your own risk – no life guards are on duty.Canoe and Kayak
– May be used only at designated launch ramps.Horses and Mt. Bikes
- The following areas have no formal trails but are generally dry enough for horse or mountain bike use:- Mt. Pollux
- Haskins Meadow
- Gull Pond
While motorized vehicles are prohibited from all trails, the following trails or sections of trails are off limits to horses and mountain bikes because of seasonally wet conditions or fragile soils:
Eastman Brook
|
Elf Meadow |
Norman Cousins - Kestrel Trust (Access trail from Leverett Road) |
Larch Hill & Larch Hill North |
Upper & Lower Mill River | Hop Brook & Wentworth Farm |
Podick & Katharine Cole | Brickyard - Northern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail |
Mt. Castor Upper Fort River |
Gralenski Farm, Houston & Gage Parcels - Shutesbury |
Lower Fort River | Robert Frost Trail - Lawrence Swamp Section, Amherst Woods Section, Echo Hill Section, Mill River Section, & Eastman Brook Section |
Plum Brook - North, Central & South | KC Trail - Amherst Woods Section, Mt. Castor Section, & Shays Street to Middle Street Section |
Cider Mill Pond & King's Reserve |
The following trails or section of trails are open to horses and mountain bikes with the precaution that during wet conditions horses and mountain bikes stay off until trails are dry again:
Wildwood | Sweet Alice |
Atkins Flats - Well No.4 Road and woods road to Warren Wright Road |
Fortier |
Mt. Holyoke Range | Pulpit Hill |
Amethyst Brook | Robert Frost Trail - Holyoke Range Section, Harkness Brook Section, Amethyst Brook to Pratt Corner Road Section, Mt. Toby Section, & Montague Wildlife Corridor Section |
Plum Springs | KC Trail - Plum Springs Section and Mt. Holyoke Range Section |
Brickyard - Southern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail |
The following areas have no formal trails and are not appropriate for horse or mountain bike use because of wet conditions or other reasons:
Cushman Brook | Steigner |
Hawley Swamp | Gulliver Meadow |
Longley Swamp | Rolling Ridge |
Salem | Cherry Lane (Robert K. Patterson Area) |
Bayberry | High Point Drive |
Hart Farm | Applewood |
Simmons Farm |