Monroe State Forest
State forest in northwestern Massachusetts
title: "Monroe State Forest" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["massachusetts-state-forests", "civilian-conservation-corps-in-massachusetts", "parks-in-franklin-county,-massachusetts", "florida,-massachusetts", "protected-areas-established-in-1924", "old-growth-forests", "1924-establishments-in-massachusetts"] description: "State forest in northwestern Massachusetts" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_State_Forest" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary State forest in northwestern Massachusetts ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox protected area"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Monroe State Forest |
| photo_caption | Spruce Mountain vista |
| map | USA Massachusetts#USA |
| map_size | 280 |
| map_caption | Location in Massachusetts |
| relief | 1 |
| label | Monroe State Forest |
| location | Monroe and Florida, Massachusetts, United States |
| coordinates | |
| coords_ref | |
| area | 3750 acre |
| area_ref | |
| elevation | 2717 ft |
| established | 1924 |
| administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Monroe State Forest | photo = | photo_caption = Spruce Mountain vista | photo_alt = | map = USA Massachusetts#USA | map_size = 280 | map_caption = Location in Massachusetts | relief = 1 | label = Monroe State Forest | location = Monroe and Florida, Massachusetts, United States | nearest_city = | coordinates = | coords_ref = | area = 3750 acre | area_ref = | elevation = 2717 ft | established = 1924 | named_for = | administrator = Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = | embedded = Monroe State Forest is a Massachusetts state forest with recreational features located in the towns of Monroe and Florida. A small portion of the borders the state of Vermont. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
History
The majority of land was once farmland. 19th-century cellar holes and stone walls can be found throughout the area.
Natural features
The forest's rugged terrain of steep mountains and deep valleys include Spruce Mountain as well as Dunbar Brook, which drops 700 vertical feet in two miles, cascading over boulders and forming countless waterfalls, rapids and pools.
Old growth forest
Researchers have identified 273 acre of old-growth forest sites in the park. Species represented include eastern hemlock, Eastern White Pine, red spruce, and hardwoods such as yellow birch, sweet birch, American beech, American basswood, and white ash.
Activities and amenities
The forest has trails for hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Fishing and restricted hunting are permitted. Scenic views of the Hoosac Range, Green Mountains and Deerfield River can be found at the Raycroft Lookout, a stone platform reached by ascending a steep path.
References
References
- {{cite gnis. 607736. Spruce Mountain
- (January 1999). "The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Statewide Survey of Civilian Conservation Corps Resources". Prepared by Shary Page Berg (Beth McKinney, ed.) for the Massachusetts Office of Historic Resources.
- Davis, Mary Byrd. (January 23, 2008). "Massachusetts". Old Growth in the East: A Survey.
- See the [[list of old growth forests in Massachusetts]] for specific locations.
- (April 2012). "2012 Acreage Listing". Department of Conservation and Recreation.
- (2017-07-14). "Monroe State Forest". Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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