Otter River State Forest
Encyclopedia
Otter River State Forest is a Massachusetts
state forest
located in the village of Baldwinville
in Templeton
. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR). Otter River State Forest was the first property acquired by the State Forest Commission in 1915.
s from freshwater marsh
to northern hardwood stands and pine groves planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps
to reforest former farmlands.
The developed portion of the forest is accessed from Route 202 and is centered around Beamans Pond. Facilities include trails, a swimming beach, ballfield, picnic areas and a pavilion for up to fifty people. This day use area is completely handicapped accessible and includes restrooms and showers.
camping. Camping season is from mid-May through mid-October. Office hours are 10 am – 10 pm.
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 the village of Baldwinville
Baldwinville, Massachusetts
Baldwinville is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Templeton in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,028 at the 2010 census. The name also refers to the local post office or railroad station...
in Templeton
Templeton, Massachusetts
Templeton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,013 at the 2010 census. The town comprises four main villages: Templeton Center, East Templeton, Baldwinville, and Otter River...
. 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). Otter River State Forest was the first property acquired by the State Forest Commission in 1915.
Description
Otter River State Forest encompasses the land surrounding the junction of the Otter and Millers rivers. The property has a variety of habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s from freshwater marsh
Freshwater marsh
A freshwater marsh is a marsh that contains fresh water. They are usually found near the mouths of rivers and are present in areas with low drainage. The Florida Everglades, the largest freshwater marsh in the United States, are an example of this type of marsh....
to northern hardwood stands and pine groves planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
to reforest former farmlands.
The developed portion of the forest is accessed from Route 202 and is centered around Beamans Pond. Facilities include trails, a swimming beach, ballfield, picnic areas and a pavilion for up to fifty people. This day use area is completely handicapped accessible and includes restrooms and showers.
Camping
There are 85 campsites, including yurtYurt
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...
camping. Camping season is from mid-May through mid-October. Office hours are 10 am – 10 pm.
Recreational opportunities
- Interpretive program
- Picknicking
- Hiking and walking trails
- Swimming
- Mountain biking
- Fishing
- Hunting (restrictions)
- Pavilion – 50 person capacity
- Cross-country skiing
- Group day use
