Tolland State Forest is a publicly owned forest with recreational features covering 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
Otis
Otis may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Characters
* Otis (Superman), in the films ''Superman'' and ''Superman II'' and related DC Comics media
** Otis Graves, in the TV series ''Supergirl''
* Otis (The Walking Dead), Otis (''The Walking Dead' ...
,
Tolland,
Blandford
Blandford Forum ( ), commonly Blandford, is a market town in Dorset, England, sited by the River Stour about northwest of Poole. It was the administrative headquarters of North Dorset District until April 2019, when this was abolished and i ...
and
Sandisfield in the southern
Berkshire Hills
The Berkshires () are a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The term "Berkshires" is normally used by locals in reference to the portion of the Vermont-based Green Mountains that ex ...
of
.
[ 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 ...
centers on the Otis Reservoir
Otis Reservoir is a reservoir located primarily in Otis, Massachusetts, United States. Small portions are also in Tolland, MA, and Blandford, MA. The lake is popular for boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, camping, and water ...
, the largest body of water for recreational use in western Massachusetts.[ The forest is managed by the ]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 is ...
.
History
The state forest was created with the state's purchase of cut-over lumber lands in 1925. A 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 ...
camp opened here in 1933. The Corps created the day-use and camping areas on the peninsula that extends into Otis Reservoir.[ In 1966, the state expanded the forest through the purchase of the reservoir and surrounding lands.][
]
Activities and amenities
Forest trails are available for hiking, mountain biking, off-road vehicles, and cross-country skiing. The campground includes sites for tents and RVs. The day-use area offers swimming, picnicking, and a boat ramp. The reservoir is stocked in spring and fall with trout by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.[ The forest also offers educational programs and restricted hunting.][
]
References
External links
Tolland State Forest
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Tolland State Forest Trail Map
Department of Conservation and Recreation
{{authority control
State parks of Massachusetts
Massachusetts natural resources
Parks in Hampden County, Massachusetts
Parks in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Campgrounds in Massachusetts
Civilian Conservation Corps in Massachusetts
Sandisfield, Massachusetts
Protected areas established in 1925
1925 establishments in Massachusetts