Beartown State Forest RV & Campground Guide
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Beartown State Forest covers about 12,000 acres in western Massachusetts, not far from the New York state border. Beartown State Forest is popular with hikers and bikers as well as people who ride horses. You can swim, fish, and canoe on the water, and during the winter, you can snowmobile or break out your cross-country skis. Nearby Cities: •Great Barrington, MA •Springfield, MA •Worcester, MA •Albany, NY
Spring 43 F to 68 F
Summer 74 F to 82 F
Fall 48 F to 71 F
Winter 10 F to 33 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Beartown State Forest
Beartown State Forest Campground •Water hookup: No •Electrical hookup: No •Sewer hookup: No •Wi-Fi: No •Pet-friendly: Yes •Max RV length: 25 feet •Other amenities: Composting toilets, potable water, fire rings, food storage lockers, and picnic tables
Prospect Lake Park
A short drive from Beartown, this campground offers 125 sites along the forested shores of Prospect Lake. With waterfront views, full hookups, and plenty of recreational games and activities, this campground is the perfect retreat after a long day exploring Beartown State Forest. Rates are $36-40 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wifi: N/A
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Showers, laundromat, picnic tables, fire rings, yard games, sport courts, waterslide, beaches, swimming, fishing, kayaking, boat rentals, camp store
Laurel Ridge Campground
Thirty minutes east of Beartown, this campground has spacious RV campsites surrounded by grassy fields and tall oak trees. Enjoy peace and quiet, cool off in the swimming pool, or partake in weekend festivities like bingo and craft nights. Rates are $42 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wifi: No
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Showers, bathhouse, playground, basketball court, horseshoes, swimming pool, fire rings, picnic tables, dumping station
What to Do at
Beartown State Forest
Outdoor enthusiasts like you can enjoy hiking, biking, or both through the forest's many trails. On the water, you can canoe, kayak, or swim. As long as you have the requisite license and stay in designated areas, then you can go hunting, too. During the winter, you can get your exercise while cross-country skiing or find your thrills by ripping down the trails on a snowmobile.
Inside Beartown State Forest
Beartown State Forest’s location in the Berkshires is ideal for visitors who want to beat the heat by splashing around Benedict Pond in the summer or play in the snow-covered wilderness during the winter. With hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching also available year-round, Beartown State Forest is a haven for nature lovers no matter the season.
Hiking and Biking - An extensive trail network weaves through Beartown State Forest, making hiking and biking popular activities year-round. Walk along the 1.5-mile Benedict Pond Loop Trail for scenic views of the pond or hike part of the Appalachian Trail that passes through pockets of forests and brush in Beartown. Many animals live in the area, including bears, deer, and foxes, making it prime for wildlife watching.
Water Sports - When temperatures start to soar, Benedict Pond becomes a popular spot for visitors to cool off from the heat. Take a refreshing swim in the pond, fish from the pier for freshwater species like largemouth bass, perch, and sunfish, or launch your boat or kayak into the waters to explore the pond and surrounding areas.
Hiking
Most of the hiking trails in Beartown State Forest are moderately tough. There is one popular easy trail and one popular difficult trail. The hard trail is part of the much larger Appalachian Trail. The section in Beartown State Forest is called the Beartown to Bald Top trail. It's 23 miles one way, and over those 23 miles, it climbs more than 4,000 feet. This trail takes nearly 11 hours to complete in one direction, so it's a multiday trip for experienced hikers. At the other end of the spectrum, there's the Bendict Pond Loop Trail. It's only 1.7 miles long, and it only gains about 100 feet of elevation. The trails are also popular with people who ride horses.
Nature Watching
You'll catch sight of many animals and plants within the forest, including raccoons, bobcats, deer, and bears. If you're a birder, then open up your notebook and get ready to write down different varieties of thrush, warbler, chickadee, catbird, and finch.
Climbing
There is no climbing in Beartown State Forest, but one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Northeast is just 80 miles away near New Paltz, New York. At the Shawangunk Range, you can find routes for every climber from beginner to expert.
Flora and Fauna
There are two areas of old growth within Beartown State Forest. The first covers 10 acres near Burgoyne Pass. There you will find eastern hemlock, northern red oak, sweet birch, yellow birch, and eastern white pine. Near East Brook, there are 12 acres of eastern hemlock and yellow birch. During the spring and early summer, the wildflowers bloom. Beavers build dams along the streams within the forest. Birds fly overhead. Bears roam free, and so do bobcats. Be careful not to approach any predator closer than 175 feet.
Geocaching
There are more than a dozen geocaches along one road and some of the trails within Beartown State Forest. The road is a dirt road, so it's best to hunt for geocaches along it during the late spring and summer.
How to Get to
Beartown State Forest
From Great Barrington, drive north a short distance on Route 7. Turn southeast on Route 183. Follow Route 183 until it becomes Route 23. Take Route 23 to Blue Hill Road. Turn northwest on Blue Hill Road, and follow the signs for Beartown State Forest. From Springfield, drive west on Route 90 until you get to the exit for Blandford. Exit Route 90, and follow the signs for the town of Blandford. Once in Blandford, drive west on Route 23. Follow Route 23 through Monterey until you reach Blue Hill Road. Turn northwest on Blue Hill Road. The signs will take you to Beartown State Forest. From Albany, NY, take Route 90 to the exit for Stockbridge. Exit Route 90, and drive to Stockbridge. From there, follow Route 7 south until you get to Mountain Valley Road. Drive southeast on Mountain Valley Road, and watch for the signs that say Beartown State Forest. From Hartford, CT, follow Route 91 north to Springfield, and then proceed to Beartown State Forest as if you had started at Springfield.
Entering Beartown State Forest
Resident Parking May 14 until Labor Day : $8.0
Non-Resident Parking May 14 until Labor Day : $30.0
Resident All-Parks Annual Pass : $60.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Beartown State Forest
Any time of year is good to visit because the hiking trails turn into trails for winter activities when it snows.
As the name implies, bears are common, which is why there are food storage boxes at each campsite. Bobcats hunt game in the forest, too. Deer are common, and the forest provides shelter for dozens of different species of birds. The forest is also home to beavers and fishers, which are relatives of the weasel and mink. Wild turkeys pass through the area occasionally.
Yes, there are 12 RV-specific dry campsites at the Beartown State Forest Campground. You should note that these sites only accommodate smaller RVs, however.
Yes, you must make reservations when camping at Beartown State Forest. For Massachusetts residents, the cost is $14 per day. For nonresidents, it's $40 per day. Every time you make a reservation, there is also a $4.50 fee per transaction. It's important to remember, too, that you are only allowed to camp at this campground for a total of 14 days in any calendar year.
Yes, you can bring your pets along. You're limited to four pets per campsite. They must be leashed when outside your RV, and those leases must be no more than 6 feet long. You are also responsible for cleaning up after your pets.