List of old-growth forests in Massachusetts

The following is a list of old-growth forests in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Old growth is defined as those forests that have not been logged (and have not been significantly disturbed by human beings) in the last 150 years. "Virgin forests" are those old-growth forests that show no sign of having ever been logged.

A total of 2,742 acres (1,110 ha) of old-growth forest has been identified in Massachusetts.[1] Massachusetts' old growth occurs almost entirely within the Northeastern Highlands ecoregion. The following list identifies some of the sites and their locations:[2]

List

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Name Location County Size (ha) Coordinates Elevation (m) Aspect
Burgoyne Pass Beartown State Forest Berkshire 1.2 42°16′3″N 73°17′8″W / 42.26750°N 73.28556°W / 42.26750; -73.28556 390-470 S–SW
Ice Gulch East Mountain State Forest 3.6 42°9′30″N 73°19′18″W / 42.15833°N 73.32167°W / 42.15833; -73.32167 405–440 SE–SW
Cold River: Route 2 to Black Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest/Cold River Virgin Forest Franklin 38.4 42°38′7″N 72°58′48″W / 42.63528°N 72.98000°W / 42.63528; -72.98000 350–420 NW–NE
Cold River: Route 2 to Black Brook Picnic Area Mohawk Trail State Forest/Cold River Virgin Forest Franklin 14.2 42°37′48″N 72°58′0″W / 42.63000°N 72.96667°W / 42.63000; -72.96667 320–450 N–NW
Lower Gulf Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 6.1 42°37′53″N 72°59′52″W / 42.63139°N 72.99778°W / 42.63139; -72.99778 380–415 NW
Manning Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 6.1 42°38′23″N 72°59′20″W / 42.63972°N 72.98889°W / 42.63972; -72.98889 375–420 NE
Black Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 10.1 42°37′45″N 72°58′12″W / 42.62917°N 72.97000°W / 42.62917; -72.97000 360–500 N–NW
Tannery Falls Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 3.6 42°37′39″N 73°0′12″W / 42.62750°N 73.00333°W / 42.62750; -73.00333 390–420 NW
Todd and Clark Mountains Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 80.9 42°38′50″N 72°56′45″W / 42.64722°N 72.94583°W / 42.64722; -72.94583 330–460 Varied
Trout Brook West Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 6.1 42°37′57″N 72°56′19″W / 42.63250°N 72.93861°W / 42.63250; -72.93861 410–450 E
Hawks Mountain Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 2 42°37′45″N 72°55′34″W / 42.62917°N 72.92611°W / 42.62917; -72.92611 360–410 NW
Thumper Mountain Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 0.8 42°38′23″N 72°56′6″W / 42.63972°N 72.93500°W / 42.63972; -72.93500 250–270 NE
Middle Cold River to Route 2 Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 18.2 42°38′3″N 72°59′29″W / 42.63417°N 72.99139°W / 42.63417; -72.99139 360–415 N
Upper Cold River Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 32.4 42°39′7″N 73°1′0″W / 42.65194°N 73.01667°W / 42.65194; -73.01667 390–450 Varied
Upper Gulf Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 8.1 42°37′59″N 73°0′43″W / 42.63306°N 73.01194°W / 42.63306; -73.01194 380–415 NE
Bear Swamp Monroe State Forest 12.1 42°41′50″N 72°57′31″W / 42.69722°N 72.95861°W / 42.69722; -72.95861 360–480 E
Dunbar Brook Monroe State Forest 8.1 42°42′14″N 72°58′8″W / 42.70389°N 72.96889°W / 42.70389; -72.96889 390–490 NE
Parsonage Brook Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°42′44″N 72°58′46″W / 42.71222°N 72.97944°W / 42.71222; -72.97944 470–510 NW
Spruce Mountain Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°42′52″N 72°59′56″W / 42.71444°N 72.99889°W / 42.71444; -72.99889 600–670 SE
Smith Brook-Deerfield River Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°41′58″N 72°58′56″W / 42.69944°N 72.98222°W / 42.69944; -72.98222 360–450 NE
Hunt Hill Monroe State Forest 2.8 42°41′25″N 72°58′53″W / 42.69028°N 72.98139°W / 42.69028; -72.98139 520–600 SE
Mount Everett-Glen Brook Mount Everett State Reservation Berkshire 14.2 42°6′37″N 73°25′32″W / 42.11028°N 73.42556°W / 42.11028; -73.42556 490–560 NE
Mount Everett-Guilder Pond Mount Everett State Reservation Berkshire 1.6 42°6′36″N 73°26′22″W / 42.11000°N 73.43944°W / 42.11000; -73.43944 610–630 SW
The Hopper Mount Greylock State Reservation Berkshire 46.5 42°39′2″N 73°9′58″W / 42.65056°N 73.16611°W / 42.65056; -73.16611 540–720 Varied
Stony Ledge Mount Greylock State Reservation Berkshire 4 42°38′54″N 73°11′34″W / 42.64833°N 73.19278°W / 42.64833; -73.19278 675–720 NE
Mount Williams Mount Greylock State Reservation Berkshire 10.1 42°40′32″N 73°9′59″W / 42.67556°N 73.16639°W / 42.67556; -73.16639 510–600 NW–NE
Roaring Brook Mount Greylock State Reservation Berkshire 10.1 42°37′44″N 73°12′5″W / 42.62889°N 73.20139°W / 42.62889; -73.20139 550–630 N–NW
Mount Wachusett Wachusett Mountain State Reservation Worcester 80.9 42°29′0″N 71°53′0″W / 42.48333°N 71.88333°W / 42.48333; -71.88333 425–520 Varied
Bash Bish Falls Mount Washington State Forest Berkshire 15.4 42°6′47″N 73°29′43″W / 42.11306°N 73.49528°W / 42.11306; -73.49528 415–485 N–NE
Mount Race Mount Washington State Forest Berkshire 2 42°4′39″N 73°25′47″W / 42.07750°N 73.42972°W / 42.07750; -73.42972 645–710 Varied
Sages Ravine-Bear Rock Falls Mount Washington State Forest Berkshire 4.9 42°3′18″N 73°26′4″W / 42.05500°N 73.43444°W / 42.05500; -73.43444 350–420 N
Alander Mountain Mount Washington State Forest Berkshire 2 42°5′7″N 73°28′48″W / 42.08528°N 73.48000°W / 42.08528; -73.48000 585–610 SW
The Rivulet William Cullen Bryant Homestead[3][4] Hampshire 80 42°28′16″N 72°56′26″W / 42.47111°N 72.94056°W / 42.47111; -72.94056 373-446
Windsor Jambs Windsor State Forest Berkshire 1.2 42°31′20″N 72°59′35″W / 42.52222°N 72.99306°W / 42.52222; -72.99306 430–475 SW

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mary Byrd Davis (January 23, 2008). "Old Growth in the East: A Survey". Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  2. ^ D'Amato, A.; Orwig, D.; Foster, D. (2006). "New Estimates of Massachusetts Old-growth Forests: Useful Data for Regional Conservation and Forest Reserve Planning" (PDF). Northeastern Naturalist. 13 (4): 495–506. doi:10.1656/1092-6194(2006)13[495:NEOMOF]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  3. ^ Old Growth Forest Network. "The Rivulet at William Cullen Bryant Homestead". Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Eastern Native Tree Society. "The Bryant Woods". Retrieved January 17, 2019.