The 10 Hands-Down Best State Forests To Visit In New England

New England is known for its charming coastal towns, historic villages, and dramatic fall foliage, but some of the region's most beautiful landscapes lie deep within its more than 150 state forests. Across the six-state region, wooded landscapes range from rugged mountain terrain and alpine lakes in Vermont and New Hampshire to quiet ponds, waterfalls, and dense hardwood stands in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

These forests extend well beyond hiking trails, offering opportunities for canoeing, wildlife watching, horseback riding, swimming, and biking. From snow-covered paths in winter to vibrant wildflower blooms in spring and summer, New England's state forests offer year-round ways to experience the outdoors. Many are also located near charming small towns, including Groton State Forest, which extends into Peacham, Vermont. In fall, sugar maples, birches, and other deciduous trees transform the landscape with brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold.

To determine New England's 10 best state forests, we first considered the quality and variety of both outdoor experiences and scenic beauty. We looked at hiking trails, lakes and ponds, waterfalls, mountain views, swimming and fishing, wildlife, and other distinctive features. We also considered the character of nearby communities and the seasonal experiences available throughout the year.

Harold Parker State Forest encompasses roughly 3,300 acres of wooded hills and 11 ponds less than an hour from Boston. This scenic New England state forest offers camping, swimming, fishing, and trails, with plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors year-round. The forest is especially appealing for hiking, with a network of trails winding through central hardwood, hemlock, and white pine forest, as well as around its many ponds. The Brackett Pond and Bear Pond Loop is among the most popular hikes, taking trekkers on a 2.2-mile journey with about 95 feet of elevation gain.

Rising above the Connecticut River in southwestern New Hampshire, Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest offers striking wooded trails and elevated river views just across the state border from Brattleboro, Vermont. The forest covers 520 acres and is anchored by 1,335-foot Mount Wantastiquet, whose slopes are cloaked in dense hardwood forest and rocky outcrops. One of the most popular hiking trails is the Wantastiquet Natural Area Summit Trail, which winds up the mountain with spectacular views across the Connecticut River Valley.

With its open meadows, stone walls, and wooded trails, Topsmead State Forest offers a peaceful glimpse into Connecticut's rural landscape. The roughly 600-acre forest lies about 30 miles west of Hartford and centers on Topsmead Mansion, a Tudor Revival summer estate begun in 1923 and completed in 1925 that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In spring and summer, the mansion's gardens burst with color, and the surrounding stone walls lend the landscape an almost storybook-like New England character. Several trails wind through the property, including the popular Topsmead Red Trail, which covers 1.8 miles and gains 91 feet of elevation.

Spanning roughly 26,000 acres in central Vermont, Groton State Forest is a large public land that lies about 25 miles east of Montpelier. Dense stands of spruce, fir, and red maple blanket the mountainsides, and mist often hangs over the forested ridges in the early morning. Hiking is a major draw, with a popular route leading to Owl's Head, where a short climb rewards hikers with panoramic views of the surrounding Green Mountains and Lake Groton. The forest also encompasses several state parks, including Stillwater, Ricker Pond, and Boulder Beach. Peacham, one of the towns the forest extends into, is known for fall foliage, stargazing, and antiques.

Stretching across 12,400 acres of pine and oak woodland, Myles Standish State Forest is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts and sits about 5 miles west of Plymouth. The forest's trail network offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding through pine-scrub oak barrens and pine needle-blanketed forest floors. The Charge Pond also has a section for horse camping for those looking to stay overnight. Visitors can explore popular hikes like the 3.7-mile Bentley Loop Trail or the easier, 2.6-mile East Head Pond Trail.

Far north in New Hampshire's Great North Woods region, Connecticut Lakes State Forest lies near the Canadian border in Pittsburg. The forest sits between Second and Third Connecticut lakes, with towering trees crowding the shoreline. Trails and forest roads provide access to the lakes and surrounding woodland, and the area's remote location makes it a popular destination for spotting moose and other wildlife. The nearby Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Working Forest offers additional opportunities to explore the expansive northern landscape on an over 146,000-acre property.

Nestled on the banks of Lake Zoar, Paugussett State Forest covers roughly 2,000 acres in western Connecticut, about 23 miles north of Bridgeport. The forest is especially popular with hikers, and the Zoar Trail offers waterfalls, lakeside views, and serene forests. Fishing, boating, wildlife watching, and hunting are also popular activities. The forest's rocky terrain and wooded shoreline create plenty of opportunities for photography and nature walks. Be on the lookout for rugged rock outcrops rising beneath the canopy of towering hardwoods.

Mountain scenery takes center stage at C.C. Putnam State Forest — a sprawling preserve in northern Vermont, roughly 12 miles from Montpelier. Covering over 17,500 acres of green space, Vermont's fifth-largest state forest offers miles of enchanting mountain trails that appeal especially to hikers, but visitors can also mountain bike, hunt, and view wildlife. One of the forest's most popular hikes is the Stowe Pinnacle via Pinnacle Meadow Trail, a 3.4-mile route with 1,062 feet of elevation gain through dense forests and rolling mountainsides. 

Centered around Wallum Lake in southern Massachusetts, Douglas State Forest encompasses 5,907 acres of woodland and lies about 22 miles southwest of Worcester. The forest's extensive trail system offers hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, while Wallum Lake is a popular spot for swimming, trout fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the warmer months. The 3.8-mile Midstate Trail Waterfall Loop follows the Wallum Lake shoreline and passes pine forests, mossy rocks, ferns, and secluded woodlands.

Set among the Berkshire Mountains, Savoy Mountain State Forest encompasses more than 10,000 acres of forest, ponds, and mountain terrain about 9 miles from North Adams. More than 50 miles of trails traverse the property. One of the most popular is the moderate, 5.2-mile Tannery Falls Trail, which winds its way past two brooks to the falls with 708 feet of elevation gain. Another must-see spot is North Pond, accessible via the 2.8-mile North Pond Loop. The forest is perched above the state at nearly 1,800 feet, providing sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and wildlife watching are popular forest activities.