Passive Recreation

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Fishing

– Fishing is allowed in conservation areas, in accordance with Massachusetts law.  A fishing license is required.   You must be 15 years old for a fishing license.  Refer to Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife for more information on regulations and fishing seasons.

Hunting

– Hunting is allowed in season in the following conservation areas only: Lawrence Swamp, Holyoke Range, Atkins Flats east of the brook, and Simmons Farm, Katherine Cole, Podick, Houston and Gage, and Eastman Brook.  All hunting must be conducted in accordance with Massachusetts law.  Refer to Hunting page for more details.
 

Swimming

– Swimming at Puffers Pond is at your own risk – no life guards are on duty.

Canoe and Kayak

– May be used only at designated launch ramps.

Horses and Mt. Bikes

- The following areas have no formal trails but are generally dry enough for horse or mountain bike use:
  • Mt. Pollux
  • Haskins Meadow
  • Gull Pond

While motorized vehicles are prohibited from all trails, the following trails or sections of trails are off limits to horses and mountain bikes because of seasonally wet conditions or fragile soils:

  Eastman Brook
  Elf Meadow
  Norman Cousins - Kestrel Trust (Access trail 
  from Leverett Road) 
  Larch Hill & Larch Hill North
  Upper & Lower Mill River   Hop Brook & Wentworth Farm
  Podick & Katharine Cole   Brickyard - Northern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail

  Mt. Castor Upper Fort River

  Gralenski Farm, Houston & Gage Parcels - Shutesbury
  Lower Fort River   Robert Frost Trail - Lawrence Swamp Section, Amherst
  Woods Section, Echo Hill Section, Mill River Section, &
  Eastman Brook Section
  Plum Brook - North, Central & South   KC Trail - Amherst Woods Section, Mt. Castor Section, &  
  Shays Street to Middle Street Section
  Cider Mill Pond & King's Reserve  

The following trails or section of trails are open to horses and mountain bikes with the precaution that during wet conditions horses and mountain bikes stay off until trails are dry again:

  Wildwood   Sweet Alice
  Atkins Flats - Well No.4 Road and woods road
  to Warren Wright Road
  Fortier
  Mt. Holyoke Range   Pulpit Hill
  Amethyst Brook   Robert Frost Trail - Holyoke Range Section, Harkness Brook
  Section, Amethyst Brook to Pratt Corner Road Section, Mt.
  Toby Section, & Montague Wildlife Corridor Section
  Plum Springs   KC Trail - Plum Springs Section and Mt. Holyoke Range
  Section
    Brickyard - Southern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail












The following areas have no formal trails and are not appropriate for horse or mountain bike use because of wet conditions or other reasons:

  Cushman Brook   Steigner
  Hawley Swamp   Gulliver Meadow
  Longley Swamp   Rolling Ridge
  Salem   Cherry Lane (Robert K. Patterson Area)
  Bayberry   High Point Drive
  Hart Farm   Applewood
  Simmons Farm