Monroe State Forest

Monroe State Forest is a publicly owned forest with recreational features located in the towns of Monroe and Florida, Massachusetts. A small portion of the state forest borders the state of Vermont. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.[2]

Monroe State Forest
Location in Massachusetts
LocationMonroe, Florida, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°43′16″N 72°59′41″W
Area3,750 acres (15.2 km2)[1]
Established1924
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteMonroe State Forest

History

The majority of land was once farmland; 19th-century cellar holes and stone walls can be found throughout the area.[2] The state forest was established in 1924. Workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps were active here in the 1930s. Their contributions included the construction of the Raycroft Lookout, a stone platform offering dramatic vistas of the Deerfield River.[3]

Natural features

The forest's rugged terrain of steep mountains and deep valleys include Spruce Mountain as well as Dunbar Brook, which drops 700 vertical feet in two miles, cascading over boulders and forming countless waterfalls, rapids, and pools.[2]

Old growth

Researchers have identified 273 acres (110 ha) of old-growth sites in the forest. Species represented include eastern hemlock, white pine, red spruce, and hardwoods such as yellow birch, sweet birch, American beech, American basswood, and white ash.[4][5]

Activities and amenities

The forest has trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Fishing and restricted hunting are also available.[2] Scenic views of the Hoosac Range, Green Mountains, and Deerfield River can be found at the Raycroft Lookout, a stone platform reached by ascending a steep path.[3]

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References
  1. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  2. "Monroe State Forest". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. "The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Statewide Survey of Civilian Conservation Corps Resources". Prepared by Shary Page Berg (Beth McKinney, ed.) for the Massachusetts Office of Historic Resources. January 1999. pp. 87–88. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  4. Davis, Mary Byrd (January 23, 2008). "Massachusetts" (PDF). Old Growth in the East: A Survey. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  5. See the list of old growth forests in Massachusetts for specific locations.
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