Western Massachusetts Tacomas

It is for a 5 ft.
sorry.

 

i think you got the wrong road. Ok, say you turn onto east new lenox road from williams. You go all the way to the end of east new lenox. You can turn right to head towards the canoe launch/train tracks. Or you can go straight. Go straight across at the intersecion, This is the road. It follows the river and goes all the way to woods pond. I think your talking about one of the roads that goes up the mountain.

 

How you doing @js312? Haven't talked with you in a while.

 

The road to the right of woods pond, going straight north along the river.

 

And heres the other end where it meets east new lenox. Its called roaring brook.

 

yup. This area is literally a maze of back roads. Ive lived here my whole life(26 years) and could still easily get lost.

 

Interesting, might be worth a ride out there sometime

 

october mountain located here is the biggest wilderness area in Ma.

 

I'm talking about going left at the end of East New Lenox.

 

Never been up that road.

 

drfunker, you get up too early What do you do for work? Me neither. But i know it goes all the way up the mountain. I will do some exploring in the next few weeks and report back.

 

Kids.

 

You know what I'm sayin'

 

Trust me I do, our 1 year old is a full time job that's for sure

 

@skiergd011013 went exploring a bit today.
Been in the Beartown s.f.?

 

More exploring today. Will post up some pics later.

 

Last couple of days have been about exploring the Berkshire hills-and-dales.
I used to surf in my younger days and I know that talking about secret surf spots was a "no no" to anyone that wasn't your closest surf buddy. But as there are many waves in a storm there are many miles of roads in the Berkshires. And I think it would be kinda cool to pass someone on these roads once in a while.

Looked into Beartown S.F. first. Went through it starting on Benedict Pond Rd. from the south. There were two cars in the main lot when I got there. Felt like the place was empty (which it was). After a paved section of Benedict Pond Rd. I took lower Mt. Wilcox Rd. This was a wooded, and what they refer to on the map as, an unpaved road. Easily passable with any vehicle really. Passed one truck coming toward me. I think he mans the fire tower that is located on Mt. Wilcox.
Noticed a few unpaved/unmaintained roads on either side of these "unpaved" ones. These look passable (and fun), with the right equipment and experience. I think it unwise to travel them a la "solo vehicle".

Next up - North to grab maps from a couple north county S.F. locations.
Up 8A to 116 and on to the Savoy S.F. Burnett Rd., listed as "poor condition" was not at all poor. There has been a lot of road work done in the area and they have been recycling the old black top by crushing it up and laying it down as a filler on the dirt roads. Quite cleaver and frugal (@LUSETACO). Took Burnett Rd. to the first DCR area off of that road. There was a beautiful camping area with many grassy tent sites. Would love to come back to this spot to do some camping at another time. Headed north to North Pond. Beautiful little pond with a small, non-motorized boat launch and beach. Great picnic area! Gotta get back on dirt. Took a right off of Central Shaft Rd. to South County Rd.

Then to route 2.
The plan was to take route 2 east to the road named Black Brook Rd. That plan was nixed quickly when the entrance to said Black Brook Rd. was block with jersey barriers. Within the last 5 years or so, this area has had major erosion from different storms (think hurricane Sandy). I believe that is why this road is now closed off to through traffic. Would be worth a hike in there at a later time to check it out.

Plan B - Follow Rt. 2 east until I could get access to another unpaved section. Route 2 is a beautiful winding road that follows the Deerfield river. If any of yous plan to come from the booming metropolis of eastern Mass. to explore the Wild West, travel this way. Yes, it is longer than the major highways, but well worth the peace and relaxation of slow and steady moving traffic. If you want to call it traffic .
Took Rt. 2 east to Route 8A south also know as West Hawley Rd. still looking for an unpaved section into the Dubuque S.F. I must say, this forest looks to be the most rugged of the ones that I visited. The map shows many "unpaved/unmaintained" sections. I did try to get into the park though Savoy Rd. but had to turn around once I hit one of said sections. Didn't want to risk being stuck without help.
A little further on 8A, the main entrance to the s.f. was on the right. Went in to see how the access looked through Kingholt Rd. and again, the same observation as above. As you can see from the map for this property, this is the west side that I am trying to access. Take a look at that east side!
So, this park for me was kind of a strike out, in terms of passing through on any unpaved sections. I tucked my tail between my legs and conceded.

Off to look for the Windsor S.F.
This one was a bit harder to find from a road atlas. Went east on 116, south on 8A, over an unpaved side road, on to Rt. 9 east and then finally found signs for the park off of Rt. 9. This park is now a ghost town. One of the ones that has been shut down, most likely, due to financial constraints. The main gate was locked and camping area was closed. Kinda sad, but the unpaved section are all open!
This S.F. had the best "find" of them all. There was an very old cemetery tuck in the woods, off to the side of the unpaved Bush Rd.
Had to stop there to explore. The dates on the stones were thought provokingly old.
Many very young children, days old at the time of death and surprisingly, many old timers too. There is one person in there that lived until he was 106 years old!
Continued out on Bush Rd. back to 116 east. I recalled from my first pass down this road earlier where I was. Well.....that was a full day! But...a tour of the Mass S.F. in the Wild West would not be complete

without a trip up to Mt. Greylock.
After being in all of these state forests all day long, this one felt like the "old granddaddy" of them all. This is my favorite park. The one I refer to as "The Hill". I have spent many hours and many miles exploring this park on foot, in every season, enjoying it in various ways. This is the highest point in the state of mAssachussets. Well worth the trip on a paved section to see the views and breathe the fresh air.

Got a pizza, had a beer, while looking east into Adams.
What a full and enjoyable day. Many people that live within the shadow of Mt. Greylock will never in a life time do what I did this day. That is kinda sad to think about, but is not the life for me.
I have to get out and wander and get lost. I need it to refuel my soul.
I hope this trip report was as fun to read for you as it was for me to relive it and type it for you.


@skiergd011013, @js312, @Sloth, @ERMB
Thanks for the stickah! @PeeRunner

 

I've seen that cemetery. I drove through a lot of Windsor State Forest a long time ago. I seem to remember the roads were generally in good shape with one or two exceptions..

 

Just passing through.