Brooks Woodland Preserve

Brooks Woodland Preserve is a nature reserve covering 693 acres in western Massachusetts, dominated by red oak, hemlock, and white pine forests. The land is threaded with streams and wetland areas that give it natural character.

The land was originally Nipmuc territory before becoming colonial farmland in the 18th century. Stone walls from six 19th-century farmsteads still mark the landscape today.

The preserve was named after James Wilson Brooks, an industrialist who worked to protect the region's forests and wild places. Today visitors can sense this connection to local stewardship through the careful management of the land.

The preserve has two main parking areas: one on East Street for the Roaring Brook section and another on Quaker Drive for other parts of the reserve. A network of 13 miles of trails connects different areas and lets visitors explore at their own pace.

Granite outcrops and glacial boulders create natural shelters where porcupines make their homes throughout the preserve. These geological features are woven into the landscape and support the area's animal life.