Extensive trail system ruined by ATVs creating mudholes, eroding soil, generally destroying it for other users.

First time visiting this state forest. I found this place in the hiking book and it says good for snowshoeing. So I tried today. Because it snowed yesterday it was a good condition. Snow is very soft and powdery. It seems people snowshoe here 3 miles, but not further. We snowshoe 6 miles, so was breaking trail a lot. It was scenic and nice. read more

Pittsfield State Forest - Parks Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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It was raining so hard at the pond and my hook kept getting stuck on the rocks so I don't recommend this place if you want to go fishing but the view was okay. read more

I've been mountain biking and hiking here in the spring and fall, and snow shoeing in the winter. There are also lots of trails for quads and snow mobiles, which is why I'm giving three stars instead of four. No offense to those of you who like motorized vehicles, but they detract from my experience a little bit. I have enough noise in my life; I come to the woods for peace and quiet! Plus, they contribute to a lot of erosion on the trails, which makes for a much rougher ride if you're biking. I will say, however, that all the motorheads I've encountered here have been considerate of those around them. And fortunately, the park is large enough that you can avoid the hum of the engines and gasoline smell with a little effort. If you go deep enough, you really feel like it's just you alone in the middle of the wilderness. What a fantastic place to hide a body. read more

Pittsfield State Forest - Parks Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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I think it's kind of silly to review a state forest but this is one of the most serene ones I've ever been to. I love this place. It's a Wonderful place for Hikes ranging from relatively easy to difficult. I have done a few hikes here. I recommend starting by visiting the Twin Ponds and doing the hikes around there. These can be accessed via a trailhead off Brickyard Road immediately over the state line in NY. These are rated as Moderate. read more

A good place to camp, or just plan a day-hike with family or friends. Form their site: Streams, waterfalls and flowering shrubs abound in Pittsfield State Forest. 65 acres of wild azalea fields are a profusion of pink blossoms in June. The forest has two camping areas and two picnic areas. Fishermen frequent scenic Berry Pond, one of the highest natural water bodies in the state at 2,150 feet in elevation. The vista from the top of Berry Mountain, accessible by auto road from April to December, is a striking panorama and a great place to watch the sun set. 30 miles of trails encourage visitors to escape into the quiet of the state forest which follows the crest of the Taconic Mountain Range separating Massachusetts and New York. Access is available at several locations to the Taconic Crest Trail a 35 mile long hiking trail. The paved three-quarter mile Tranquility Trail is popular with wheelchair-users and other visitors who favor its smooth surface. A wheelchair-accessible picnic area and restroom are located nearby. Nearby Balance Rock State Park is located in the northeast corner of Pittsfield State Forest. Here a huge 165-ton limestone boulder is balanced precariously upon bedrock, a natural curiosity. ATV and Motorcycle Permit Information for 2010 DCR offers a limited All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Off Highway Motorcycle (OHM) trail system at Pittsfield State Forest for the 2011 season. Approximately 20 miles of trails was closed to OHVs in 2010 to protect resources regulated under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, (M.G.L. c. 131A). Approximately 14 miles of trails will open for ATV and OHM use beginning Saturday, May 28, 2011. In the interest of public safety, DCR has instituted a required trail permit for ATV and OHM users of Pittsfield State Forest ATV/OHM trails. This process is intended to ensure that overuse of the limited trail system does not present a safety risk to motorized or non-motorized users of the trails. read more

Great State Park, well-maintained, with a helpful, knowledgeable staff, and clean, up-to-date facilities. The only downers were several water outlets that didn't work, and that the tent site we stayed in (as with others we saw) was small and too close to the other sites around it for comfort. But we made do. All told, a good value for a camping trip. read more

I had site 13 way up the top of the mountain. It's primitive camping up there with only accommodations being a porta potty. It was full when I arrived but after I requested it to be emptied they made a call and had it done same day. I thought the showers were way too hot but nobody else was complaining about that...in fact one lady said it was freezing cold. I turned lobster red both times I took a shower. I decided to go without one after the second one. Those are my only complaints and I dont think they are at all significant. The campground is well maintained. It's really a nice quiet place to get away from people and all the rudeness of society. I was able to enjoy an almost humanless interaction camping experience...as everyone seemed to be staying at the lower main campground sites. I used my coffee maker in the main bathrooms and headed to the top lookout of the mountain every morning and sat there enjoying my coffee overlooking the beautiful state of NY and the gorgeous views. I camped Sunday through Saturday and I dreaded the weekend...sure enough campers came in and started up with the door slamming glad I was leaving on Saturday. With the porta potty door slam at 5 am I was up and shaking out my tarp and rattle rattle noise maker myself packing away my stuff til around 8 am. I've been camping all over new england and I have never seen the animal that is hanging around sites 11, 12 and 13. When I first spotted it I thought it was someones pet monkey. The thing is a cross between a monkey, panda and a sloth. I have no idea what it is but it was amazing to watch. Huge thick long tail like a dogs, the animal what dirty white color and the small rounded ears were black and it had a black snout. It moved real slow like a sloth and it stood on its hind legs and checked out every single leaf on the smaller trees looking for something specific I'm guessing slugs. I wish I had taken a closer look at its hands or paws. It wasn't bothered by the flash lights and it came right behind my fire pit about 10 feet from where I sat and I didn't dare get any closer and my phone camera could not pick it up.....I was there a whole week and could hear it walking through the woods at night. Only when another camper came in and flashed the lights on it did I realize it was there. read more

My family was visiting and looking for a waterfall to visit. Lulu's Cascade came up so we decided to come. We drove past a small dam near a dirty pond and continued to drive up the mountain. The top was nice and we stopped to take pictures. We proceeded down the mountain and then reached the exit. We asked an employee where the waterfall was. He said it was the tiny puddle that we passed. It was EXTREMELY underwhelming but luckily we all laughed it off. Lulu's "Cascade" shouldn't be considered a waterfall. muah. read more

This is a neat little state park that's off the beaten path, but not too far from the lodging and downtown strip of Pittsfield. It's great for a quick hike or bird watching or for an afternoon with the kids. read more

Gorgeous state park! Kind of a hike to drive to, secluded but very private and unbelievable surroundings. Restroom building is alright, cleaner than I expected but no showers. Be careful, you may see a bear! read more

I love this place. I rent a space every year. So relaxing and beautiful. I never have noise complaints about the 'neighbors'. The facility is always clean, but that might be because I go the first weekend they are open.The ride to the top of the mountain.....breath-taking. I could sit there all day. I am so happy I was introduced to this place. I drive 3 hours to get there, and would do it again in a heartbeat. read more

We have been camping here many years! This year there is restrictions on how long you can camp and how many sites you can have. I am a single parent who takes 3 special needs children camping for most of the summer, 4 weeks. I also get two sites each time we camp, as my children are up early (4:00 -5:00 AM) and ready to go. Lulu pond has been closed several times do to contamination and you can not swim in berry pond. You can no longer camp for a month, it is only 14 days per year. I can no longer get two sites so I can have a barrier between other campers and my children. VERY DISAPPOINTED! read more

I camped there for a weekend, the sites were nice, however they didn't have a sign for my site so I had to ask the landscape guy who was mowing where to go. The bathrooms had locks on the stall doors but nothing to keep them locked. I asked about showers and they said this was initally a primitive campground and the showers should be installed by this august (2013). I think for a few days its good but I'm planning a week long soon to the area and will look elsewhere. read more

Great campground. Do not miss blueberry pond MA highest natural body of water!! Too bad the showers will not be ready until next year...