Tag Archives: trees

April 19, 2025

2024 Fall Mum Show (Botanic Garden at Smith College, Northampton, MA)

Date Of Event: November 8, 2024

Location: Botanic Garden at Smith College, 16 College Lane
Northampton, MA (2 hours northwest of Boston, MA)

Summary: Chrysanthemums in a variety of shapes and hues took center stage at the botanic garden. There were also a few additional surprises at last year’s event.

It’s amazing the things you find when you finally clean up. I came across a memory card I thought I had lost. Among the photos in the memory card was the colorful “Mums Show” at the Botanic Garden at Smith College. I am especially glad I was able to post these photos for a reason I will reveal later. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much I enjoyed taking these photos!

This was the last Mums show at Smith College. There are a variety of reasons why Smith College is ending this tradition. It was a tradition that lasted over 120 years. The main reasons for their decision are minimizing pesticide usage, prioritizing educational opportunities as well as the lack of space, resources and staff required to put on the show.

The show spanned two greenhouses jam packed with colorful mums. The second greenhouse of the exhibit features hybridized mums created by students in Gaby Immerman’s class: Plants in the Landscape. Gabby holds a joint appointment as biology faculty and as the experiential learning specialist. Besides being a teacher at Smith College, Gaby has also served on the Board of Grow Food Northampton.

You may notice some numbers in or near some of the mums. Visitors could vote for their favorite mums. Finally, an election I can get excited about.

The mums were in full display throughout the show. I love how they always seem to mix the colors of the different flowers and plants.

As I found out during this show, there are a wide variety of types of Chrysanthemums. This “mum” is called a Early-Flowering Incurved Chrysanthemum, or Incurved Mum.

The Mums Show features not only Chrysanthemums but a variety of trees, plants and flowers. This Theobroma cacao Malvaceae, or more commonly known as the cacao tree or cocoa tree, smells just like cocoa or chocolate. This makes sense since its seeds are used to make cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, cocoa solids and, of course, chocolate. Since the tree is native to the tropics of the Americas, the area where this tree was planted and cared for had to be kept at a relatively warm temperature and humid climate.

These star like flowers are called Hoya Carnosa (aka the wax plant or porcelain flower). It is native to East Asia.

So, if “mums: aren’t your thing, there are lots of other trees, plants and flowers to attract your attention.

You may notice what looks like steam or more accurately condensation in some of the photos. This is due to the warm climate in the room with the cocoa tree and other plants, trees and flowers that required a warmer temperature to thrive.

I was able to enter the botanic garden and hour early. So, I was able to get most of my photos without people in the background of the photos (one of my pet peeves). I did get this guy hard at work in my photo though.

One of my favorite parts of the botanic garden is this wall of cacti.

This cactus looked kind of creepy! It reminded me of a creepy crawler you might see in a horror or sci-fi show!

There also was a preview of one of the temporary exhibits at the garden called “Botanical Bodies: When Identity Blossoms On Skin.” The exhibit showcased photos of tattoos that people, some students and faculty at the college, have on their bodies.

The student-curated photography exhibit explores the intimate relationship between nature and personal identity through photographs and stories of individuals adorned with botanical tattoos that celebrate the beauty and diversity of plant life as a form of self-expression. Each photo is said to tell a story that connects us to nature, heritage and personal meaning. The exhibit, which was installed at the end of January, will run through May 30, 2025. So, there is still time to see it!

10 Comments | tags: Botanic Garden, Chrysanthemums, floral, flowers, garden, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, Smith College, travel, trees | posted in flowers, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, plants

December 12, 2024

2024 Feztival Of Trees (West Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: November 30, 2024

Location: 1080 Riverdale, St West Springfield, MA (an hour and a half west of Boston, MA)

Website: Feztival Of Trees

Summary: The Mehla Shriners hosted their annual Feztival of Trees to raise funds for their charitable causes.

Trees were aglow in Springfield at the 2024 Feztival of Trees. As the name suggests, the festival was run by the Melha Shriners.

There were an array of different trees and wreaths to see.

The trees that lit up were fun to watch!

Visitors could enter a raffle for their favorite trees. And there were many to chose from!

Some of my favorite decorations were not traditional trees or not even trees at all like this “ladder tree” and some of the inflatable decorations.

The ornaments and decor were very festive and at times inspiring!

Some of the trees had themes. This tree had a bee theme.

This was a Halloween tree!

And there was this Irish/St Patrick’s Day tree!

One particular themed tree stood out. “Snacking Around the Christmas Tree” was decorated by Ed Lyons in memory of his wife of 49 years. A variety of snacks such as M&M’s, Lay’s potato chips and Frito’s (his wife especially liked chips) hung from the tree. Ed used to jokingly call them “stinky snacks” because of their strong odors!

The Ornament Lady was taking orders for handmade ornaments…unless you wanted a Yankees ornament!

Mr. and Mrs. Clause stopped by to make sure everyone was still on the “nice” list! But, don’t worry if you’re not on the list! You still have a few more weeks to get on the list!

All of the proceeds generated from the event went to the Mehla Shriners to assist with their charitable endeavors!

16 Comments | tags: Christmas, christmas-tree, decor, holidays, Massachusetts, New England, photograhy, Santa Clause, travel, trees, West Springfield | posted in Christmas, holidays, Massachusetts, New England, trees, West Springfield

June 2, 2022

The Blue Trees (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 23, 2022

Location: Salem, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: street parking and garage parking is available near the exhibit

Universally Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Summary: The Blue Trees, an outdoor art exhibit, is adding some color to the streets of Salem, MA

If you have been seeing blue trees in the Salem (MA) area, don’t buy new glasses or make an appointment to see your eye doctor. You’re not seeing things. The trees in Salem have turned blue. At least some of them have.

The Blue Trees exhibit is the brainchild of Konstantin Dimopoulos, a conceptual and social artist originally from Port Said, Egypt. The Blue Trees are meant to draw attention to the deforestation happening around the globe. The environmentally safe watercolor used on the trees is temporary and is harmless to the trees, surrounding environment, people, waterways and wildlife. It will be washed away with the rain and other weather conditions. There are currently 27 places to see these blue trees including Houston, Sacramento, Vancouver, Singapore, Germany, Australia and, of course, Salem.

The trees were painted in time for Earth Day of this year and I was fortunate enough to see one of the painters at work.

The trees, which are part of the Peabody Essex Museum’s exhibit, can be found by the museum on Essex St.

5 Comments | tags: art, blue, deforestation, Dimopoulos, Massachusetts, New England, Photography, photos, Salem, tourism, trees | posted in art, blue, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, trees

June 30, 2019

Bradley Palmer State Park (Topsfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 1, 2019

Location: 40 Asbury St, Topsfield, MA

Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset

Cost: Daily parking fee charged Memorial Day weekend through October 31

MA resident $5

Non-MA resident $10

There is a pay station located at the parking lot.

Parking: There is a parking area for about 50 or so cars.

Trails Size and Difficulty: 721 acres, easy to moderate

Universally Accessible: Yes, the main trail is universally accessible

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Bradley Palmer State Park Website

Bradley Palmer State Park Trail Map

Highlights: equestrian trails, meadows, plants, flowers, scenic views, wildlife, historic site, wading pool (June 26 – September 7 Open daily, 9:30am to 7:00pm)

Named after noted attorney and businessman Bradley Palmer, Bradley Palmer State Park has numerous trails for cycling, horse riding or just hiking as well as beauty unmatched by most parks in the area.

There is a variety of wildlife at Bradley Palmer. Snakes (garters mostly), frogs and toads and birds are abundant at the park. I was careful to not get too close to the Fowler’s toad as it has poison glands that meet at the back of their eyes. Actually, I had no idea about this while I took the photo. It was only after I had somewhat foolishly gotten close to the frog, taken the photo and researched what type of frog it was that I found about this. I am always careful to not disturb the wildlife though. The only reason it looks like I was very close was because of my telephoto lens. But it is something to keep in mind next time.

There are also numerous equestrian trails for horse riders to take their horses on.

There are also open fields with obstacles for horses to make jumps.

In fact, it is the open areas with long trails that make Bradley Palmer so special. There are so many pretty trees and flowers along the trails which are located along the Ipswich River. I could walk along the seemingly endless trails just taking in the scenic views along the way.

There are also historic buildings at the park. Palmer had constructed a mansion called Willow Dale where he resided. The building was restored in 2007 and is used for wedding receptions and other celebratory events under the name Willowdale Estate. I didn’t take photos of the remodeled building as there was a wedding reception taking place there during my visit.

There is also an old abandoned building at one of the entrances to the park. I’m not sure what it was originally used for (perhaps a horse barn as Bradley Palmer enjoyed horses). But, it is fun to think of it as being the home of a gnome or some other fantastical creature.

Bradley Palmer is a dog friendly park. There is more than 720 acres for you and your pooch to explore. Luke, a 7 year old, Tree Walker Coon hound, had fun on the trail.

The one thing that made this shoot somewhat challenging (despite the birds who kept flying away before I could shoot them) was the lighting at the park. Sunlight can be very difficult to work with. Frankly, it is often easier to get a darker image and fix it in post production. An over exposed photo can be very hard to “fix” later. This is why it’s important to get the photo right in the camera whenever possible,

There are two easier ways to avoid getting too much light in your photo: come back later and (time permitting) shoot the photo at a later time when the lighting may be better or try to position yourself in a different angle where the light may be less harsh. Those suggestions may seem obvious but sometimes the most obvious ideas do not always come to mind, especially if we may not have time to shoot the image later in the day.

When I took a beginner photography class, the teacher told us to shoot at 5.6 “because he said so.” While it is obvious that this is not always the best setting to use, I did notice I shot most of my photos at 5.6 or 4.0. Of course, it will vary upon where and when and the environment you’re shooting in, 5.6 is a good place to set your camera at and you can always adjust from there if you’re unsure what setting to use, particularly for beginners.

In a future post I will share some thoughts on photographing birds. You know, the least frustrating part of photography ( :

9 Comments | tags: birds, Bradley Palmer State Park., dogs, flowers, frogs, historic, Massachusetts, New England, scenic, snakes, toads, Topsfield, trees | posted in historical, Massachusetts, New England, park, photography, Uncategorized

July 15, 2018

Long Hill (Beverly, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates of Visits: June 17, 2018 and July 13, 2018

Location: 572 Essex St, Beverly, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston,MA)

Hours: Gardens are open year-round, daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Allow a minimum of 1½ hours. Peak bloom in May and June. Guided tours are offered in spring, summer, and fall and by appt.

Cost: Free

Parking: There is ample parking at the end of the entrance of the park to the left of the road

Trail Size/Difficulty: 1.2 mile loop, easy to slightly moderate in some areas

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the estate and the grounds of the estate are accessible, although the trails may not be accessible to some people

Dog Friendly: Yes

Websites: Long Hill Trustees Website

Long Hill Facebook page

Maps: Map of Long Hill Gardens

Long Hill Trail Map

Highlights: gardens, trails, wildlife, farm, Long Hill estate, family friendly, children’s garden

Fun Facts:

The estate located at Long Hill was purchased by former Atlantic Monthly editor Ellery Sedgwick
The estate is available for weddings and other events
The trustees have partnered with the Food Project to give children the opportunity to learn about sustainable agricultural practices

So, it’s the middle of July already. How did that happen?

After a brief heatwave, the weather has improved and it has been the perfect weather for a walk and photo session at Long Hill. In fact, I liked it so much I went twice.

Long Hill is teeming with flowers and plant life, especially this time of the year.

Adjacent to the flower gardens is what appears to be a storage area where they keep flowers to be planted at a later time.

There are also several flower beds and a well maintained garden next to the main parking area.

There are a variety of trees at Long Hill. Many of them have the name of the tree posted on them.

But, there is only one truly majestic tree at Long Hill; the tree standing in front of the estate at Long Hill.

This dramatic copper beech was planted by the estate owner Mabel Sedgwick. The twin trunks of the tree seem to hug each other and merge together. In fact, legend holds that two trees were planted in the same hole and then they grew together.

The grounds of the estate are well manicured with statues and other decorative items scattered around. The grounds of the house consist of six acres of gardens, including formal, geometric outdoor “rooms.” The sections or “rooms” include a variety of flowers such as handkerchief trees, southern magnolias and other plants that aren’t typically seen this far north.

The grounds are also a wonderful place to have a picnic with your family as this family did with their little one. Their little one was standing behind the tree when the photo was taken.

As if all this wasn’t enough, there is also a 1.2 mile trail with mostly gentle with some moderate inclines. You can find many birds, garter snakes, frog and even a few chipmunks along the way.

If you get tired along the way don’t worry. There are chairs for you to sit.

There are certain sounds you expect to hear while hiking along a trail. A bird squawking. A frog croaking or even a chipmunk chirping. These are all normal sounds you may hear along the trail. But, a rooster crowing? Yes, there is a small farm at Long Hill.

Next to the farm is a community outreach program called The Food Project to teach children how to grow sustainable foods, conserve and even pick their own fruit and vegetables.

Long Hill is a dog friendly park (technically, you may be asked to register your pet and sign some forms beforehand).

During my visits I saw a number of cute dogs.

Brutus is a 5 year old Doberman.

Remy is a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier mix.

Whiskey is a 5 year old mixed breed dog.

Don’t forge to stop by my Facebook page to view photos, posts and other fun stuff not included in my blog!

12 Comments | tags: Beverly, dogs, flowers, Hiking, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, trees | posted in dogs, flowers, garden, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, trees, Uncategorized

December 3, 2017

High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary (Shelburne, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: October 14, 2017

Location: Patten Road, Shelburne, MA

Hours: Trails are open dawn until dusk

Cost: Free

Parking: there are 2 parking lots. The first parking lot (called the “overflow parking lot”) which has room for about 10 cars is at the beginning of the entrance. The other parking area is about a quarter of a mile down the main entrance road. On the left of the road is room for about a dozen cars.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 782 acres, 5 miles/easy with some moderate inclines

Handicapped Accessible: No

Dog Friendly: No

Website: High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary

Trail Map: High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

Highlights: scenic, “high ledge”, wildlife, easy trails, vernal pool, flowers, foliage during the fall

Known for its pretty views of the Deerfield River Valley and Mount Greylock area, its variety of flowers along its trails and its various wildlife, High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place for a quick hike to some beautiful views.

The sanctuary is a mixture of 5 miles of paved and dirt trails with a few boardwalks over some marshy areas.

Even though it was near the end of the foliage season, there was still lots of foliage on the trees during my visit. The leaves on the ground added to the beauty of the sanctuary.

Rumor has it wolves roamed the High Ledges. The Wolves’ Den Loop Trail leads to a geologic feature where local lore has it that the last wolf in the region was exterminated.

The highlight of the sanctuary is the overlook, or “high ledge” along the (wait for it…)…Ledges Trail. The rolling hills and colorful trees offer a picturesque vista.

It’s said you can see Mount Greylock from the ledge on a clear day. See it? It’s right there…

Well, it’s somewhere there.

The trails at High Ledges are easy overall. But there are some strenuous areas. My advice would be to stay on the main trails and to basically back track or follow the trail you took to the vista since that is the most direct route back and the trail is the easiest to travel, unless you’re looking for a challenge. I felt the urge for a challenge that day and I usually do try the various trails so I can get a good feel of the park. However, there really wasn’t, save for a few chipmunks and trees, along the side trails.

Chipmunks were busy storing nuts, and chewing on a few, in preparation for another long winter that will sadly soon be here.

4 Comments | tags: foliage, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, Shelburne, trees, views | posted in foliage, High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, Shelburne, trees, Uncategorized

August 11, 2017

Prescott Park (Portsmouth, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 29, 2017

Location: 105 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH

Hours: open daily, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a parking lot located on Old Bay St as well as street parking throughout the area

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: No

Website: Prescott Park

Highlights: flowers and plants, scenic, family friendly

Bursting with color and fragrances, Prescott Park is sure to impress even those with the faintest of green thumbs.

A gift from Sarah and Josie Prescott in 1940, Prescott Park has come a long way from its industrial beginnings. The highlight of the park, at least during the summer, has to be the garden that sits at the entrance by Old Bay St and Marcy St. But, Prescott Park has more than just flowers there.

Prescott Park is much more than the garden that I focused on during my visit. In fact, it is such a big area that they hold concerts with such popular artists as Aaron Neville and Valerie June and other events at the park. During my visit they were holding a children’s party where a play was being performed.

There are two memorials at Prescott Park. The first memorial is a fountain which is dedicated to a fountain dedicated to Charles Emerson Hovey, an Ensign in the United States Navy and Portsmouth, NH native, who was killed in action on September 24, 1911.

The next memorial is less obvious. A sign and anchor stand in front of the prominent flower bed at the front of the garden.

The sign in front of the flower bed states “A Salute To An Ordinary Hero.” This “ordinary hero” was Billy Juse, a New Hampshire native, who died in an underground tunnel while he was working on the Deer Island Project during the 1990’s. He was 34. Since he and another coworker, Tim Nordeen, died on the same day John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s body was recovered, his story was overlooked in the news. One solemn reminder remains in the park.

There are also view of the Piscataqua River, a popular spot for boating and kayaking.

There are benches, art and pretty trees and flowers on the way to the garden at Prescott Park.

Prescott Park has a variety of beautiful and colorful plants and flowers. Since we’ve had so much rain and

The flowers ranged from the common to the unique.

To the left in the photo is Pelargonium Geranium Timeless Orange (yeah they look red to me as well), To the right is the Pelargonium Geranium Timeless Pink. Yeah, I know all of the types of flowers in the world. Kidding. They all had their names neatly written on them on cards by the flower beds.

Now for the truly scary part of the tour. The dinosaurs have invaded Prescott Park. This is a great way to get kids interested and involved in viewing the flowers and plants at Prescott. I

Sadly, dogs are not allowed at the flower garden area of Prescott Park. But, I did see lots of dogs like Teddy, a 10 year old Pomeranian, passing by on Old Bay Street which is next to the flower garden.

Today’s featured link is a link to an article that appeared in the Boston Globe magazine about the tragedy on the Deer Island Project in which Billy Juse and some of his co workers perished: Deer Island Tragedy

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8 Comments | tags: dog, family friendly, flowers, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, portsmouth, Prescott Park, scenic, trees | posted in dog, family friendly, flowers, New England, new hampshire, park, photographs, photography, photos, portsmouth, Prescott Park, Uncategorized

August 7, 2017

Bare Cove Park (Hingham, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Visit: July 28 & 30, 2017

Location: Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, MA (about 20 minutes south of Boston)

Hours: open daily, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There are several parking areas. The main parking area on Bare Cove Park Drive has room for about 40-50 vehicles

Trail Size/Difficulty: 484 acres, easy trails

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Fitbit stats: 3:16, 985 calories, 10,069 steps, 4.21 miles

Highlights: scenic, water, family friendly, dock house with historical military items, wildlife

Website: Bare Cove Park

I made two visits to Bare Cove Park. The first time I visited the park was July 28th. I got there late on the 28th and the lighting was poor. So, I stopped by two days later, Sunday, July 30.

As you can see by the photos, there are some beautiful sunsets at Bear Cove. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t very good, though.

Once the site of a U.S. Naval depot (more on this later), Bare Cove Park now is the home to a variety of wildlife. I found many birds during my visit. There are also supposed to be fox, deer and other animals at the park. I didn’t see any of them. But, I did see evidence of them.

If you look closely at the little bird photo at the end, the bird has his or her lunch.

There was a crisp pre-autumn chill in the air when I made my way to Bare Cove Park. It reminded me of the mornings you whittle away before the college and pro football games start. But, I’d rather spend my day at Bare Cove anytime.

The views are simply amazing.

The thing that stood out to me mostly are the variety of pretty trees and flowers at the park.

Bare Cove is only 484 acres and it’s very easy to get around, even without a map of the park. Trust me, I didn’t even get lost and I always get lost. The trails are easy with hardly any inclines and they are mostly paved if you stay on the main trail.

Because of its proximity to Boston, Hingham was considered an important location for the military to produce ammunition and other supplies during World War II. The magazines, or manufacturing buildings, ran 24 hours, 7 days a week and employed thousands of people at is peak.

The dock house (only open Sunday from 12-2) has a variety of items from World War II that were manufactured in this very same area.

There are also two memorials outside of the dockchouse as well as other items from the days of the hey day at Bare Cove. The ammunition depot was closed in the early 1970’s.

The memorial to the left, lying vertically on the ground, is dedicated to the men and women who worked at the ammunition depot during World War i, World War II and the Korean Conflict.

The memorial to the right standing up is dedicated to naval crew members who were lost when some ammunition exploded on a ship they were loading.

While dogs are allowed at Bare Cove the park is not considered a “dog park” per se. All dogs are expected to be leashed or respond immediately to voice commands. In my visits there all of these dogs fit into both or either category.

Here are a few of the cute four legged visitors at Bare Cove that I ran into during my visits.

Hickory is a 7 year old tree walking coon hound.

Bronn, named after a Games Of Throne charcater, is a 9 month old Newfie. His mommy was teaching to fetch.

Gracie is a super friendly 2 year old pitbull.

Tundra (on the left), a 2 year old Golden Retriever, just got finished with his swim and was getting ready to go home. His sibling, Piper (on the right), didn’t want to leave..

During my first visit, on the 28th of July, I met a very nice lady with three dogs.

America is a 10 year old mixed breed dog who got that name because the dog is a mix of many breeds, kind of like how America is a mix of all kinds of people.

Sophia is a 6 year old chihuahua.

Lily is a 10 year old Lab and Collie mix.

Bruiser is a 6 year old part pitbull.

Below is a video of fireflies at Bare Cove Park. The lack of light and various animal aand bird noises give it a little bit of a spooky feel.

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Today’s featured link is a link to a 30 minute documentary that explains the history of Bear Cove Park. The documentary was put together by Scott McMillan, the very same man who gave me a detailed tour of the dockhouse.

12 Comments | tags: Bare Cove Park, birds, dogs, flowers, Hingham, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trees | posted in Bare Cove Park, dog, flowers, Hingham, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, trees, Uncategorized

July 23, 2017

Windsor Lake (North Adams, MA)

By New England Nomad

9 Comments | tags: birds, boating, flower, lake, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photograohs, Photography, photos, plants, rafting, trees, water | posted in birds, lake, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, water

July 2, 2017

Harold Parker State Forest (No. Andover, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 25, 2017

Location: 305 Middleton St., No. Andover, MA (about 30 minutes north of Boston and about 1 hour southeast of Concord, NH)

Cost: There are several parking stations to pay per the hour or you can park at the headquarters which is what I did. There wasn’t a charge to park at the headquarters the day I visited. The charge to park at Berry Pond is $5 for MA vehicles; $6 for non-MA vehicles

Hours: trails are open sunrise to sunset. Berry Pond Beach is open 10am-6pm from June 25- Sept 5.

Parking: There are several parking lots throughout the automated pay stations.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 35 miles of logging roads and trails/easy with some challenging inclines

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the main paves trail is and Berry Pond has several handicapped parking spaces right near the beach.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, beach, lakes, extensive trail system, campground area, rock climbing

Website: Harold Parker State Forest

Trail Map: Harold Parker State Forest Trail Map

One of the more vast state forests I have visited to date, Harold Parker State Forest boasts over 35 miles of trails and roads, a beach (Berry Pond), several ponds and lakes and a variety of wildlife. I spent over 6 hours there and, while I did cover a lot of ground, there was surely some a lot I didn’t see. Tip of the day: if you do go, bring a trail map!

The trails at Harold Parker are generally easy with some moderate inclines. Due to the various streams and wetlands, there are also several boardwalk trails.

Harold Parker is a popular spot for cyclists. According to the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) the single track riding rates at Harold Parker State Forest are: 30% easy, 30% moderate, and 40% difficult with some rocky sections.

It is a little difficult finding the exact entrance to Harold Parker (I found 3 different addresses but I included the address of the headquarters at the top of this post). It’s not a bad thing, though, because you can park in any of the various parking areas. Just to make sure to pay at the pay station when you do park. You can also drive to each different parking area as the main road is paved and fairly wide enough for traffic, cyclists and hikers to share the road.

I began my day at Stearns Pond, one of the many ponds in the area. Fishing is allowed and I met a friendly fisherman who goes there regularly to cast his lines. They also allow non-motorized boating in the ponds. There is an annual fishing festival held in September at the state forest.

Stearns Pond is only one of the many ponds, rivers and streams at Harold Parker State Forest. In fact, it’s hard to keep track of which pond or river you are at, even with the aid of a map. But, there were some amazing views from the various bodies of water.

Unexpectedly, I came across this huge rock. I bet there’s a good story about this rock. I couldn’t find anything about in my research, though. It’s one big rock, though! Right!?

One of the highlights of Harold Parker is Berry Pond which is essentially a beach area and playground for children and families. It was a perfect beach day and the beach was packed. But, with photographic trickery I was able to photograph the beach without showing the sun bathers and swimmers. After all, not everyone wants to be seen in their Speedo.

Walking along the SKUG Reservation Trail, I came across the site of an old quarry and soapstone mill, the Jenkins Mill. There’s not much now to indicate it was once a quarry. If not for the marking on the map and a few rocks dispersed around the area, I would not have known it was once there. It’s kind of a shame that something that meant so much to so many people and was once such an important part of the area is now little more than a blip on the screen.

There are lots of birds, chipmunks, frogs and other critters visible along the trail and in the water at Harold Parker.

Harold Parker State Forest is a dog friendly park. However, I didn’t see as many dogs as I thought I would. I did manage to see these three cuties, though!

Suzie is a 7 month old English Setter. She is hearing impaired. So, she can hear some sounds. Her dad uses signals to help him communicate with her.