This heavily wooded park, minutes from interstate route 495, offers abundant beauty and many opportunities for recreation. four lakes provide excellent fishing. swimming for camping patrons only is available at the beach on middle pond. biking, canoeing, walking, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing are popular activities. in the fall the contrast of scarlet cranberry bogs against the pines is breathtaking.

The former moseley family estate on the merrimack river, this park features 19th century gardens and plantings, rolling meadows, towering pines, and one of the largest naturally-occurring stands of mountain laurel in massachusetts. most breathtaking are the ornamental trees and masses of azaleas and rhododendrons that bloom in may and june. an exquisite place for walking, biking, horseback riding and informal picnics. special use permits may be obtained for wedding ceremonies and similar programs.

The renovated facility offers a large indoor recreational arena that offers a year round, climate controlled recreational space which is connected to the melnea a. cass memorial pool.  the facility was built to be a flexible space that can accommodate many different uses.

Open year-round, dawn to dusk. the middlesex fells reservation's 2,575 acres offer a welcome retreat for city dwellers and a suitable terrain for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, rock climbers, cross-country skiers and picnickers as well as natural and cultural history buffs. "fells" is the saxon word for rocky, hilly tracts of land - an apt name for this scenic area which is rich in local history. this picturesque area was once favored for timber, granite quarrying, ice industry, and water power for the many mills including one that manufactured some of the first vulcanized rubber products. the area was first explored by governor winthrop and his men in the winter of 1632: " ...they came to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre and very thick with trees of pine and beech and the pond had divers small rocks standing up here and there in it, which therefore called spot pond." (quote from gov. winthrop's private papers)

A clear, cold river cascades through mohawk trail state forest along a rocky streambed. one of the most scenic woodland areas in massachusetts, the state forest offers visitors a taste of real wilderness in a rustic setting. over 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, deep gorges and tall old-growth trees support a diversity of plant and animal life. 56 wooded campsites are available seasonally, and six overnight log cabins are available year-round.

Wild and rugged monroe state forest has deep valleys, steep mountains and tall trees reaching for the sky. to view this forested landscape with valley-filled fog is an unforgettable experience. a hike to the top of spruce mountain or to ccc-built raycroft lookout offers magnificent panoramas of the surrounding hoosac and green mountains and deerfield river. from the parking area off river road, hike the dunbar brook trail through shaded stands of old-growth old-growth eastern hemlock and associated northern hardwood trees. this pristine brook tumbles and drops 700 vertical feet in two miles, over huge moss-covered boulders forming entrancing waterfalls, rapids and pools.

A peaceful 400-acre retreat in the heart of central massachusetts, moore was the site of grist and saw mills from 1747 through the early part of this century. it then became a private estate. what remains today is the best of both: stone mill foundations, a restored sawmill, and mountains of glorious rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurel. the flowers cascade down hills, line wooded paths and decorate waterfalls.

Open year round dawn to dusk. the dcr martini shell was built in 1960 as an outdoor theatre and is named in honor of francis d. martini, a us army private who died in combat in world war ii, and is 34 feet tall with 334 square feet of stage area (approximately 30 feet wide at front, 10 feet wide at back, 20 feet deep) the shell is located at 1015 truman parkway in the readville/hyde park section of boston. the park area is 5.6 acres, shaped as an elongated triangle, situated between truman parkway and the neponset river

In the extreme southwest corner of massachusetts is a cluster of parks noted for their spectacular scenery and stunning views. they surround "the dome" of mount everett in this 1,356 acre state reservation. seasonal road access and parking is available to the guilder pond day-use area. from thereon a 0.75 mile path leads to the top of mount everett. at the 2,624-foot elev. summit, amidst an unusual dwarf pitch pine-scrub oak forest, is a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of massachusetts, new york and connecticut.

At 1,621 feet, mount grace is the third highest elevation in massachusetts, east of the connecticut river. recreation activities at the 1,458-acre state forest include hiking, walking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hunting (in season).

At 3,491 feet, mount greylock is the highest point in massachusetts. rising above the surrounding berkshire landscape, dramatic views of 60-90 miles distant may be seen. it became massachusetts' first wilderness state park, acquired by the commonwealth in 1898, to preserve its natural environment for public enjoyment. wild and rugged yet intimate and accessible, mount greylock rewards the visitor exploring this special place of scenic and natural beauty.

Rising roughly 1,000 feet in elevation, mt. holyoke range state park straddles the seven-mile ridge that runs from hadley to belchertown. the ridge is a patchwork of state, town and private lands. parcels acquired by the state since the 1970's bring the park to over 3,000 acres. the notch visitor center, located on route 116 in amherst, is open daily. displays and interpretive programs are available in season. the park's friends group offers hikes and programs throughout the year.

Mt. sugarloaf offers a commanding view of the connecticut river, the pioneer valley, and the pelham and berkshire hills. consisting of two peaks, north and south sugarloaf, the reservation offers picnicking, scenic viewing and hiking. an auto road winds to the summit, making south sugarloaf mountain accessible by private automobiles. available on the summit is a pavilion for scenic viewing and picnicking.

Mt. tom boasts an unparalleled view of the connecticut valley north and south, the berkshire mountains to the west and the pelham hills to the east. this 2,082 acre facility offers 20 miles of hiking and walking trails; picnicking; canoeing and fishing on lake bray; and cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter. mt. tom also offers a children's play area.

In the extreme southwest corner of massachusetts is a cluster of state parks noted for their spectacular scenery and breathtaking views. situated high on a mountain plateau, much of this forest was once clear-cut between the late-1700s to mid-1800s, to produce charcoal fuel for local iron forges. today, amidst the re-grown red oak-northern hardwood forest, the 4,169 acre mount washington state forest offers 30 miles of trails over rugged terrain and wilderness camping. hike the south taconic trail to the 2,250 ft. elev. summit of alander mountain for amazing views. or follow the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way along the ridgeline and through sage's ravine. springtime features include blooming mountain laurel and azalea; and in summer, a carpet of ferns.

High atop captain's hill, 200 feet above sea level, stands the myles standish monument, a 116-foot granite shaft crowned by a 14-foot statue of captain myles standish, military leader of plymouth colony. begun in 1872, completed in 1898, and refurbished in 1988, the monument offers a panoramic view of the south shore-church spires, several 19th-century lighthouses, the five-mile-long duxbury beach, plymouth harbor, and the blue hills off to the northwest.

Sprawling across the southern sections of plymouth and carver, myles standish state forest is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern massachusetts. mssf offers five camping areas, tucked into the forest or set along the edges of four of the park's 16 ponds. All are beautifully maintained and a section of the charge pond area is set aside specifically for horse camping. a day-use area at college pond offers picnicking, swimming, fishing, canoeing. fifteen miles of bicycle trails, 35 miles of equestrian trails and 13 miles of hiking trails take visitors deep into the forest, which includes one of the largest contiguous pitch pine/scrub oak communities north of long island.

Open year round, dawn to dusk. the banks of the mystic river are almost entirely publicly owned, from the amelia earhart dam at the mouth of the mystic lakes, making it one of the commonwealth's best protected streams. the river has been much altered since the 1800's when its shores were largely saltmarsh.

Open year-round, dawn to dusk. lifeguards on duty from late june to early september. nantasket beach has been a popular summer destination for city dwellers since the middle of the 19th century. the reservation encompasses 26 acres along one and a third miles of oceanfront. the historic Paragon Carousel evokes memories of the area's amusement park history. band concerts and public dance lessons are popular summertime events.

The nashua river rail trail is a former railroad right of way that travels 11 miles through the towns of ayer, groton, pepperell and dunstable. the trail offers a 10-foot wide paved surface for the entire length, and a five-foot wide gravel equestrian path for seven miles of the trail from groton center to the new hampshire border in dunstable. the entire trail is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, inline skaters, wheelchairs, and cross-country skiers.

Acquired by the state in 1999, nasketucket bay state reservation in mattapoisett offers 209 acres of wooded trails, open field and rocky shoreline for the public to enjoy.

Discover a geologic wonder at this 48 acre park. examine the only naturally formed white marble arch and man-made white marble dam in north america, and tour an abandoned marble quarry. the "natural bridge" for which the park is named, according to geologists, is 550 million year old bedrock marble, carved into an arch by the force of glacial melt water over 13,000 years ago; one of the best places in new england to demonstrate the effects of glaciation. the bridge spans rushing hudson brook as it twists and tumbles through a steep 60-foot deep gorge.

Open year round dawn to dusk. the neponset river, unlike the charles and mystic rivers, remains a natural estuary with extensive marshlands at its mouth and significant freshwater wetlands along much of its upstream length. it provides an unusually rich and diverse habitat for both plants and animals including a number of threatened and endangered species. the estuarine portion of the neponset river upstream of granite avenue is characterized by extensive tidal marshes. granite bound for boston from quincy was transferred by early railroad to boats at a pier on the milton shore. this segment of the river offers interesting canoeing and nature study opportunities.

Travel the road to the upper campgrounds in nickerson state park and you may think for a moment that you have been magically transported to the berkshire hills or the piney woods of the carolinas. nowhere in sight are the sand dunes and salt marshes usually associated with cape cod. instead, you are surrounded by woods that slope down to the banks of eight crystal clear fresh water ponds. yet, if you walk or bicycle through the woods, you will find no rivers or streams feeding the ponds. these are “kettle ponds,” among more than 300 formed as glaciers retreated from the cape over 10,000 years ago. completely dependent on groundwater and precipitation, the water level in the ponds fluctuates from season to season and year to year.

The norwottock rail trail is an 11 mile path linking northampton, hadley, and amherst along the former boston & main railroad right-of-way. the path's level terrain provides safe passage for pedestrians, wheelchairs, joggers, skaters, bicyclists, and cross-country skier of all ages and abilities. motorized vehicles and horses are prohibited. both ends of the path offer free parking for trail users – elwell state park on damon road in northampton and station road in south amherst. public restrooms are available at the parking area at elwell recreation area.