Leominster State Forest

About Leominster State Forest

The forest is conveniently located at the intersection of 28 and Rte 2 and is easily accessible to the communities of Boston and Worcester. Leominster State Forest is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Massachusetts and the only state forest in Massachusetts with a population of more than 1,000 people. Conveniently located at an intersection of 28 (Rtes 2), the forest is easily accessible to local residents and is easy to reach communities such as Boston, Worcester, Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, Springfield, Quincy, Dorchester, Plymouth, Northampton, Southampton and Westport.

Parking is available on the Rte. Parking charges are levied on Memorial Day and Labor Day in paved parking lots, and on weekends in off-street parking lots.

The forest offers year-round recreational opportunities, ranging from mountain biking and swimming in summer to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter. Nature lovers will enjoy a variety of opportunities to observe all kinds of wildlife, as well as hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and fishing.

In the early 17th century, the Massachusetts Bay Colony Court granted a series of land grants to the families of soldiers who had fallen in the French and Indian Wars, as well as to soldiers who had fallen during the Franco-Indian War. Many of these plots became part of the unincorporated Notown settlement, which today is almost entirely part of the Leominster state forest. Notown was incorporated into the Leminster, Fitchburg, Westminster and Princeton cities in 1838. The forest was already used by the Indians, who used the rocks of Crow Hill as a shelter and smoke signals for neighboring tribes.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, park interpreters perform all sorts of interpreting programs. Some of these programs include birdwatching, as you can see below, birdwatching through the park and a history lesson on Notown's history.

For hikers, the Midstate Trail, a 95-mile trail that runs from Rhode Island to the New Hampshire border, runs along the park's western edge. The popular day trip Mid State Trail starts at Redemption Rock on Rte 140 in Princeton and leads to scenic ridges, including Crow's Hill Ledges. The Leominster State Forest Facebook page provides information on upcoming events being announced by the parks and the trail's website. Paths in the Leomaland State Forest: The paths in and out of the Leomster State Forest are extensive and offer a wide terrain.

Wachusett Greenways, a local conservation group, offers year-round guided hikes in Princeton, Sterling and surrounding towns. If you drive south of Redemption Rock, there is a DCR - managed property on the south side of Rte 140, north of the park.

The New England Mountain Bike Association is an ardent supporter of the trail system here, and the terrain available to mountain bikers ranges from dirt roads and mountain bike trails to asphalt trails and trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. NEMBA's Wachusett Chapters typically hold annual mountain bike events, such as the annual Mountain Bikers of New Hampshire event. The hiking trails are not taboo for cyclists due to the high number of paths in the park.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fun and improve the trails in the park, and a popular and unique activity at SPF is climbing the Crow's Hill Ledges.

The beach at Crow's Hill Pond is one of two beautiful picnic spots that also offer picnic tables, barbecues and a modern bathhouse. A permit is required for the picnic area, which costs $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Other ponds in the park are off limits for swimming, but DCR lifeguards are in place from mid-June until Labor Day. Kayakers, canoeists and fishing enthusiasts enjoy using the Paradise Pond for recreational activities, and the numerous islands and bays within the bay itself offer countless opportunities to explore it.

Hunting is also allowed in the park, but regulations apply, and the paradise pond is easy to plant. Crow Hill Pond trout are fished by Mass several times a year. Fishing and wildlife, as well as several other species.

Snowmobiling is limited to dirt and all other motorized uses are prohibited, but winter recreation includes snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. Snowmobiling is on unpaved ground and any other use of snowmobiles is prohibited.