Brooks Woodland Preserve

The Brooks Woodland Preserve spans 693 acres containing forests of red oaks, hemlocks, and white pines, along with streams and wetland areas.

The land transformed from Nipmuc territory to colonial farmland in the 18th century, with stone walls from six 19th-century farmsteads still visible throughout.

The preserve honors James Wilson Brooks, an industrialist who protected over 2,000 acres of forest land in Petersham, including the Harvard Forest research center.

Visitors can explore 13 miles of trails through three connected parcels, with parking available on East Street for Roaring Brook and Quaker Drive for other areas.

Granite outcrops and cascading glacial boulders form natural shelters where porcupines make their dens among the preserve's geological formations.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1975

GPS coordinates: 42.49440,-72.17530

Latest update: March 6, 2025 02:59