October Mountain State Forest is a forest and recreational preserve located primarily in the

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Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

with adjoining parcels in

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, Lee, and Lenox. It is the largest

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 ...

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and is 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 ...

History

The forest came into state ownership via the estate of William C. Whitney, President

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

. The purchase of the initial 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. The name "October Mountain" is said to have been bestowed by author

Herman Melville Herman Melville ( born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are ''Moby-Dick'' (1851); ''Typee'' (1846), a rom ...

, whose home in Pittsfield overlooked the area. Shaker Brook Swamp off AT October Mountain Forest

Activities and amenities

Forest trails are available for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and off-road vehicle use. Trails include a interpretive trail around Washington Mountain Marsh, a portion of the

Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...

, 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.

Geography

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.

References

External links

October Mountain State Forest
Department of Conservation and Recreation {{Protected Areas of Massachusetts Massachusetts state forests Protected areas of Berkshire County, Massachusetts Campgrounds in Massachusetts Protected areas established in 1915 1915 establishments in Massachusetts