Follow miles of footpaths and old farm roads through a massive expanse of diverse forest, pristine streams, and wetlands.

What makes Brooks Woodland Preserve a special place?
Brooks has more than 13 miles of trail accessible from different street locations throughout the town of Petersham. Once home to Nipmuc Indians, then cleared for open pastureland, the Brooks Woodland Preserve is now largely covered by a forest of towering red oaks, hemlocks, and white pine. Old stone walls, reminders of former agricultural use, cross the forest floor, passing through patches of maidenhair ferns, winterberry, and partridgeberry. Six early–19th-century farmsteads can be rediscovered here.

Along parts of the Swift River, Moccasin Brook, and Roaring Brook, beavers have dammed the streams, creating wetlands. A cascade of glacial boulders near outcrops of granite ledge provides dens for porcupines.

The Preserve is named for James Willson Brooks, who set aside more than 2,000 acres of Petersham’s forest for conservation purposes, including Harvard Forest with its renowned research center. Adjacent to the Preserve is the 1500-plus acre Rutland Brook Sanctuary of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Trails
13.5 miles of trails and woods roads. Moderate hiking.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours, longer if also visiting North Common Meadow or Swift River Reservation. Winter access to the parking area on Quaker Drive is restricted between the months of November and April.

Regulations & Advisories

• Mountain biking is permitted only on designated trails.

Directions

East Street and Quaker Drive
Petersham, MA
Telephone: 978.840.4446
E-mail: central@ttor.org

Get directions on Google Maps.

To Roaring Brook Tract: From Petersham Center, take East St. 0.8 mi. to entrance and roadside parking on left. To Swift River and Connor's Pond Tracts: From intersection of Rts. 122 and 32 south of Petersham Center, follow Rt. 122/32 south for 1.5 mi. Turn left onto Quaker Dr. and follow for 0.5 mi. Entrance and roadside parking on both sides of road.

Admission

Property History

Volunteer Opportunities

Work Parties

Maps and Resources

Printed trail maps are distributed free from bulletin boards in parking areas. Please understand that supplies sometimes run out. You may also download trail a map from this web site or mail order trail maps in advance of your visit.

Additional resources

• History of Land Use at Brooks Woodland Preserve (PDF)

Planning Your Visit

• 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:

Before Setting Out

Enjoying Trustees Reservations

Safety

About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land

Tell Us What You Think

Submitted by Bob on: September 9, 2009

I found the visit quite interesting in terms of the history and topography. The one problem I encountered was when I was descending from the 'scenic vista' via trail 47a. At the end of a steep pitch, the trail just seemed to end. There was no indication of it no matter how hard I looked. To be honest, the trail was somewhat ill-used -- many fallen trees over it. If it weren't for the trampled area between green ferns I would not have been able to follow it as far as I did. I almost bushwacked my way to the clearing I saw through the trees that I had passed on the way up, knowing there was a trail along its southern boundary. But, it was late in the day, and I back tracked the way I had arrived. Also, many of the trail intersection signs were nonexistent. Fortunately I had printed out the PDF trail map from your website.

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