Mount Grace State Forest is a Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 state forest

State forest

A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...

 located in Warwick

Warwick, Massachusetts

Warwick is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 750 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation

Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...

 (DCR).

Description

Mount Grace State Forest is a 1458 acres (6 km²) forest

Forest

A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...

 highlighted by the 1625 feet (495 m) Mount Grace

Mount Grace

Mount Grace, , is a prominent monadnock located in north central Massachusetts in the town of Warwick, approximately two miles south of the New Hampshire border. The mountain is rugged and largely wooded, but a firetower on the summit provides expansive views of the surrounding rural countryside....

, the third highest point in the Commonwealth east of the Connecticut River

Connecticut River

The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...

 after Mount Wachusett and Mount Watatic. The forest is popular for hiking

Hiking

Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...

 and horseback riding; the 110-mile Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts and the central uplands of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire...

 passes through it.

The forest borders Warwick State Forest to the west.

Mount Grace is connected with history from the Colonial skirmishes against the Wompanoag Indians, known as King Phillip's War. In 1676, Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster

Lancaster, Massachusetts

Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...

(40 miles to the east) was captured, along with her infant daughter Grace, by a band of King Phillip's warriors. On a march toward Canada the baby died, and it is said to have been buried by her mother's hands at the foot of the mountain that now bears her name.

Recreational opportunities

• Hiking
• Horseback Riding Trails
• Hunting (restricted)
• Mountain Biking
• Picnicking
• Restrooms
• Skiing (Cross-Country)
• Swimming
• Walking Trails

External links

• Park Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/mgrc.htm
• Trail Map: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/mt-grace.gif