| October Mountain State Forest | |
|---|---|
 Finerty Pond in October Mountain State Forest (Becket, Massachusetts). | |
  October Mountain State Forest Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts October Mountain State Forest October Mountain State Forest (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Becket,Lee,Lenox, andWashington,Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°22′08″N73°13′01″W / 42.3688237°N 73.2168178°W /42.3688237; -73.2168178[1] |
| Area | 16,460 acres (6,660 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 1,972 ft (601 m)[1] |
| Established | 1915 |
| Administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Official website |
October Mountain State Forest is a 16,460-acre (6,660 ha) forest and recreational preserve located primarily in thetown ofWashington with adjoining parcels inBecket,Lee, andLenox.[3] It is the largeststate forest inMassachusetts and is managed by theMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[4]
The forest came into state ownership via the estate ofWilliam C. Whitney, PresidentGrover Cleveland'sSecretary of the Navy. The purchase of the initial 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) 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.[3] The name "October Mountain" is said to have been bestowed by authorHerman Melville, whose home inPittsfield overlooked the area.[4]
Forest trails are available for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and off-road vehicle use. Trails include a 2.7-mile (4.3 km)interpretive trail around Washington Mountain Marsh,[5] a portion of theAppalachian Trail, 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.[4]
The forest encompasses a portion of theHoosac Range on the western edge of the central Berkshires. The eponymous October Mountain is a ridge that rises steeply above theHousatonic 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.[6]
