Federated Women's Club State Forest, State forest in Petersham, Massachusetts, United States
Federated Women's Club State Forest is a protected woodland area spanning 984 acres in Petersham, featuring a mix of pine, maple, birch, and hemlock trees. The property sits within the watershed of the Quabbin Reservoir and maintains its natural forest composition throughout.
The forest gained its current boundaries after the Quabbin Reservoir was created in the 1930s, when several settlements in the region had to be relocated. Remnants of these earlier communities, including cellar holes and foundations, remain scattered throughout the woodland today.
The forest serves as a place where visitors connect with native wildlife and undisturbed natural spaces. This reflects a broader tradition of valuing forests as sanctuaries where people and nature coexist.
Visitors can use primitive camping sites on a first-come basis after checking in at the nearby Erving State Forest. Registration is required before camping and should be completed at the office located about 15 miles away.
A small dam on Fever Brook creates a water body that draws both local and migrating bird species to the same spot. This quiet water feature offers visitors a chance to observe birds without expecting such an opportunity deep within a forest setting.
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