Between Springfield And Worcester Is New England's Scenic State Forest With Trails, Fishing, And Ponds

If you're driving across Massachusetts, it's pretty easy to put on cruise control and zone out once you merge onto I-90, the longest highway in the United States, in Boston. But you definitely shouldn't do that. Aside from being potentially dangerous, you're also ignoring some spectacular detours along the way. One of them, Brimfield State Forest, has more than 20 miles of trails and roads, as well as three ponds where you can go fishing. It's certainly worth slowing down for a picturesque spot like this.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the Civilian Conservation Corps to create jobs and enhance publicly owned land around the country. One of the CCC's camps was set up in Brimfield, a small, rural town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The CCC workers helped build the infrastructure in Brimfield State Forest, a mixed hardwood and conifer forest whose land was originally purchased by Massachusetts in 1924. The Dingley Dell Dam, Dean Pond, the Dean Pond Recreation Area, and former logging paths turned into real roads were among their many projects in the state forest.

Brimfield State Forest is now one of 77 state forests in the Bay State. It's a peaceful spot, spread across more than 3,500 acres, that sits about halfway between two of Massachusetts' largest cities. Springfield is only 26 miles to the west, while Worcester, where you'll find a gorgeous getaway with beaches, fishing, and cozy cabins, is 32 miles to the east.

Brimfield State Forest's extensive trail-and-road system can be used throughout the year by bikers and hikers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers, and even horseback riders. An easy trail on which to start is the Dean Pond Loop. After parking at the Dean Pond Recreation Area, you can circle the edge of the 11-acre pond — crossing a bridge, walking through the forest, and passing the Dingley Dell Dam — in a one-mile loop. This trail, a popular spot for people to bring their dogs, is "very nice all year round [for] some good picnicking spots," according to one AllTrails user.

For a longer hike, you can follow the Hemlock Gorge Trail and Dean Pond Loop. You'll see two ponds, Dean and the smaller Dearth Hill, as well as water rushing through Hemlock Gorge, along this moderate, 4.4-mile loop trail. Since Hemlock Gorge, once a CCC picnic area, is now abandoned, you're likely to have this quiet place all to yourself. Just be sure to watch your footing in the overgrown area.

Near the northern tip of Dean Pond, you'll also find the beginning of the Summit Trail to Mount Waddaquaduck Trail. This nearly 2-mile, out-and-back trail climbs through the forest, over rocks, and around a CCC-built lean-to to reach the top of Mount Waddaquaduck, which, at 1,207 feet, is the highest point in Brimfield. If you look to the east, you can probably see nearby Sturbridge, a "portrait of old New England charm," in the distance.

While hiking around Dean and Dearth Hill Ponds, you might notice some fishermen casting in them since Brimfield State Forest is known as a great fishing spot for beginners. Dearth Hill Pond has clear, shallow water, which makes it easy to see bluegills and pumpkinseeds. South of Dearth Hill Pond and tucked in the woods, you'll find Woodman Pond, which is known for its largemouth bass and more bluegills. You can take your canoe or kayak out on this 8-acre pond, too. However, Dean Pond is the largest one here. The man-made pond is regularly stocked with brook and brown trout, and ice fishermen return once it freezes over in the winter.

As with all of Massachusetts' state parks, there's no cost to visit Brimfield State Forest, which is open from sunrise to sunset every day. You do have to pay a daily fee to park here, though. If you plan on fishing, you'll also need to obtain a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license if you're between the ages of 17 and 70.

Though Brimfield State Forest is less than 35 miles from Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), you can only fly to the small airport from five cities on the East Coast. For additional departure cities, you should consider flying to Hartford, Connecticut, where you'll find America's oldest public art museum. It's not much farther to the state capital's Bradley International Airport (BDL), which receives nonstop flights from cities all over the country.