About Bear's Den |
6 acres |
Take a short walk to a scenic waterfall or the site of an historic mill.
What makes Bear’s Den a special place?On its way to the Quabbin Reservoir, the Middle Branch of the Swift River cascades into an intriguing woodland pool at the bottom of a secluded gorge. Here, along a short, quarter-mile trail, you have two choices: go to the left and you can explore the enchanting waterfall; head to the right to follow the stream as it tumbles through large boulders past the site of an old mill.
According to local legend, in 1675, the great chief Metacomet (known to European settlers as King Philip) met here with neighboring chieftains to plan attacks on Hadley, Deerfield, and Northampton.
A black bear shot on the property gives the
reservation its name.
Trails
A single 0.25-mile trail; moderate hiking. Children should be monitored closely as there is a steep drop on the rim of the trail.
When to Visit
Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
Regulations & Advisories
- Be sure to watch your children closely as there are steep drops and rocky terrain throughout this reservation.
- Seasonal hunting is permitted at this property subject to all state and town laws. Learn more about hunting on Trustees land.
Directions
18 Neilson Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Telephone: 413.532.1631
E-mail: central@ttor.org
Latitude: 42.541
Longitude: -72.325
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Rt. 2, Exit 16, follow Rt. 202 South. Shortly after Rt. 202 merges with Rt. 122 South, turn right onto Elm St. Turn left on Neilson Rd. Follow Neilson Road for 0.5 mi. to entrance and roadside parking on right.
Admission
When to Visit
Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
Admission
FREE to all
Property History
Property Acquisition History
Bequest of Mrs. Grais Poole Burrage in 1968. Additional land given by Mrs. Dorothy Fittz in 1988.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are no volunteer positions at this reservation at this time; please check again later or click here to find other opportunities near you.
Work Parties
There are no work parties at this reservation at this time; please check again later or click here to find other work parties near you.
Maps and Resources
At present, a downloadable trail map for Bear's Den is not available.
Planning Your Visit
Community Links
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.
Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:
- Protect wildlife and plants.
- Guard against all risk of fire.
- Help keep air and water clean.
- Carry out what you carry in.
- Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
- Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
- Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
- Enjoy and share the landscape with others.
Click on links below for further visitor information:
Tell Us What You Think
We’d love to hear about your visit. Click here to take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us about this reservation, you can use this form to send it to us, too.
Share your experiences with other visitors! Simply fill out the form below and we’ll post your comment here on this page.
Announcements & Alerts
No advisories at this time.
Upcoming Things To Do
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Submitted by witiii on: December 29, 2009