Otter River State Forest is a publicly owned forest and recreational preserve located in the
towns
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
of
Templeton,
Winchendon, and
Royalston in
Massachusetts
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managed by the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. The DCR's mission i ...
. The
state forest
A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory.
Background
The precise application of the terms vary by jurisdiction. For example:
* In Australia, a ...
encompasses the land surrounding the junction of the
Otter and
Millers
A miller is a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents ...
rivers.
Habitats include
freshwater marsh
A freshwater marsh is a non-tidal, non-forested marsh wetland that contains fresh water, and is continuously or frequently flooded. Freshwater marshes primarily consist of sedges, grasses, and emergent plants. Freshwater marshes are usually found ...
, northern hardwood stands, and pine groves planted by the
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...
to reforest former farmlands.
[
]
History
The forest was the first property acquired by the State Forest Commission in 1915; it was formally established in 1917.[ A 100-year birthday celebration was held on the forest grounds in August 2015.][
The Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the forest during the 1930s. The Corps' handiwork can be seen in the dam at the northern end of Beaman Pond and the visitor contact station on the east side of the pond. The pond's Corps-built stone bathhouse no longer exists.][
]
Activities and amenities
*Day-use area: The developed portion of the forest is accessed from Winchendon Road (Rt 202) on the north side of the village of Baldwinville. Facilities centered on Beaman Pond include a swimming beach, ballfield, picnicking areas, and pavilion. Handicapped-accessible facilities include restrooms and showers.[
*Trails: The extensive trail system is used for walking, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dog-sledding.
*Camping: There are 85 seasonal campsites, including ]yurts
A yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger ( Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered and insulated with skins or felt and traditionally used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes and mountains of Central Asia. ...
.[
*The forest also offers fishing, restricted hunting, and interpretive programs.
*The camping club that formed at Otter River State Forest as the New England Campers Association in 1957 and known today as the North American Family Campers Association maintains a brick garden to remember members and chapters. A garden bench is dedicated to former NAFCA President, Roger Swallow (1941-2007).][
]
References
External links
Otter River State Forest
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Otter River State Forest Map
Department of Conservation and Recreation
{{Protected areas of Massachusetts
Massachusetts state forests
Protected areas of Worcester County, Massachusetts
Civilian Conservation Corps in Massachusetts
Campgrounds in Massachusetts
Protected areas established in 1915
1915 establishments in Massachusetts