Massachusetts offers outdoor enthusiasts a wealth of outdoor experiences. From beaches to mountains, Massachusetts provides something to explore in every season of the year.
Jiminy Peak in Princeton offers intermediate trails with a good mixture of powder, crud and hardpacked snow for intermediate skiers. Other nearby ski areas include Berkshire East, Wachusett Mountain and Ski Ward.
WAMC's Jim Levulis talks to Beth Card about this newly formed entity from the Baker administration.
What Opportunities Exist for Outdoor Activities?
Massachusetts offers an abundance of exciting outdoor activities, from hiking and skiing to exploring nature. Residents and visitors alike turn to the great outdoors for a boost of adrenaline.
The Baker administration recently unveiled the newly established Office of Outdoor Recreation within its Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. This office's primary mission is to coordinate outdoor recreation policy across governmental bodies and private entities, WAMC's Jim Levulis spoke with Anne Gobi of Massachusetts Sportsmen's Caucus about her hopes for its new Office. Gobi expressed that she believes its benefits would filter down to communities throughout Massachusetts while at the same time ensure outdoor recreation remains accessible regardless of physical abilities or income levels.
Responsive Management recently conducted a survey that indicated nearly 85% of respondents support additional public funding via lottery funds or an increase in existing state sales taxes on sporting goods and equipment sales for protecting nature in Massachusetts communities, and encouraging people to get out more often. The findings support our existing knowledge: that Massachusetts residents value spending time outdoors; use nature to enhance mental and physical wellbeing, and desire more opportunities to explore our state's natural beauty.
On Wednesday, April 10, The Trustees testified before the Joint Committee on Environment, Transportation, and Public Works at the legislature in support of bills H.757 and S.488 before Massachusetts. Their testimony focused on the importance of expanding access to outdoor recreation while strengthening the Massachusetts economy - prioritizing projects that support underserved communities like Environmental Justice communities as well as expanding opportunities for Massachusetts residents to enjoy economic, social, and health benefits from outdoor recreation - along with joining an array of public and private organizations supporting them - read more here!
Hiking
Boston may be best known for its restaurants, nightlife, and theaters, but Bay State also boasts scenic beaches and hiking trails renowned for taking hikers through wooded preserves of Berkshire Mountains, across waterfalls, and around scenic gorges - yet there are plenty of scenic hiking opportunities near Boston itself.
One of the most picturesque Massachusetts hiking trails is Skyline Loop Trail at Blue Hill Reservation. This moderate hike provides stunning city views from its summit and is especially striking during fall foliage season. Another great option is Noanet Woodlands' Noanet Trail; its lollipop-shaped loop traverses over 200 acres of forest and features streams, several spring ponds, and vernal pools as well as mixed hardwood forest with hemlock and red maple trees - it is especially picturesque during spring when meadow wildflowers reach their peak!
Hikers can enjoy the Robert Frost Trail, a 47-mile path through southeastern Massachusetts named for poet Robert Frost who once resided there. Hikers can explore at their own pace; no guide is provided on the trail. Nearer Boston there's the Freedom Trail which provides visitors with easy-walk access to many historic sites including standing where the Boston Massacre took place, visiting Paul Revere's house, and walking the decks of Old Ironsides shipyard.
Western Massachusetts boasts many hiking opportunities, like Mount Greylock Summit Trail - home of Massachusetts' highest peak with its 3,491-foot summit offering stunning 360-degree views of five states from its 3,491-foot summit on clear days. Though steeper in parts, experienced hikers should find Mount Greylock suitable. For something gentler try Questing Trail at Leffingwell with over two miles of easy pathways winding their way through forests and meadows.
Skiing
Massachusetts may not be one of New England's biggest ski states, but it still boasts several incredible ski resorts. Some are closer to Boston than others but all offer something skiers and snowboarders love: snow! Due to cold winter temperatures in Massachusetts, snow doesn't melt quickly providing plenty of opportunities for skiing and snowboarding throughout the state.
Massachusetts ski areas can usually be found in the western Berkshire Mountains that extend into upstate New York, known for their outstanding skiing conditions with downhill ski resorts and cross-country trails that are meticulously groomed. The ski season in Massachusetts typically lasts from late November or December through March 31.
The Berkshires are famously well known for providing an abundance of outdoor activities, from hiking and horseback riding to mountain bike trails and plenty of snow cover - often lasting months at a time! Due to the area's elevated terrain, snowfall often accumulates quickly on slopes here.
Wachusett Mountain in central Massachusetts provides more challenging conditions. This resort features numerous beginner trails as well as advanced terrain. Families will especially love this destination; Wachusett also boasts one of the region's best snowmaking systems!
Blue Hills Ski Area in Canton, Massachusetts is a favorite with both Boston-area residents and visitors. While not the biggest, its perfectly groomed terrain has garnered numerous rave reviews from skiers vouching for its quality; just keep in mind it can get very busy on weekends; plan accordingly!
Other ski areas throughout Massachusetts include Nashoba Valley in Westford, which boasts 17 trails and an expansive tubing park with night skiing popular here and even offering special facilities for young kids.
Jiminy Peak in nearby Butternut Hill is another smaller ski area to consider visiting, with only 4 lifts servicing 9 trails but has earned itself a reputation among intermediate skiers as a fantastic place for intermediate skiing - often even being compared with Hunter in New York!
Exploring Nature
Massachusetts boasts many natural wonders, from manmade lakes to entire peninsulas. Massachusetts' stunning landscapes provide the ideal setting to experience nature first-hand, from birdwatching and wildflower spotting to mountain biking and swimming.
Massachusetts offers breathtaking natural beauty that can be discovered through parks, state and town forests, wildlife habitats, and regional trail systems. Massachusetts also plays an integral part in protecting its culture and heritage through historic sites highlighting this natural splendor.
Appleton Farms of Hamilton and Ipswich serve as an exemplary case in point. Open for tours and educational programs, its fields teem with meadowlarks, its wetlands attract migrating marsh birds, while its woods feature walking trails for walking or horseback riding - reflecting its preservationist stewardship which was at the core of early conservation efforts in Massachusetts (Rivers 1998).
Sherburne Nature Center in Dartmouth provides another great example. Boasting an environmental education center, several trails, oak-hickory forests, freshwater wetlands, and salt marshes - this site is an excellent place for hiking, dog-walking, or taking children on nature walks, plus numerous learning programs throughout the year.
Massachusetts' numerous state and local forests offer many recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, boating, and more. Massachusetts forests also host wildlife such as moose, deer, raccoons, and various birds which make the experience all the more accessible for people living nearby - making these sites easy to access for daylong exploration!
Massachusetts offers numerous parks and trails that provide ample opportunity for exploring nature. This includes long north-south trails such as Warner Trail and Metacomet-Monadnock Trail that are maintained by volunteers; Taconic Crest, South Taconic Trail, and others have all been added since 1989 - many inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Central Park in New York City while leading other cities to incorporate large "country" parks into their planning processes.
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