October Mountain State Forest
The largest state forest in Massachusetts. Its forest lakes, campgrounds and trails make it a peaceful place to visit during foliage season.
The forest spans several towns, including Lee and Lenox, and covers about 16,000 acres. Trails such as the Finerty Pond track and the Schermerhorn Memorial Trail cross its woodlands and wetlands, and the Appalachian Trail also passes through. There are campgrounds, and in autumn the forest is ablaze with color, with far fewer visitors than Mount Greylock. Entry is free, but camping requires a reservation. Most forest roads are dirt, and some sections require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. It is about 8 km from Lenox.
Opening hours
All day (campground seasonal)
Nearby sights
- Arrowhead (Herman Melville's Home)
- Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum
- Shakespeare & Company
- The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home
- Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
- Berkshire Museum
- Tanglewood
- Naumkeag