Leominster State Forest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leominster State Forest is a Massachusetts state forest located in Leominster, Fitchburg, Princeton, Sterling and Westminster. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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[edit] Description
Leominster State Forest is a 4,300-acre (17 km²) forest principally used for mountain biking and hiking.
Plants such as mountain laurel are common within the forest, and diverse wildlife is abundant.
The Midstate Trail runs through the western edge of the forest.
[edit] History
The forest has a rich history of land use, dating back to Native Americans who used the Crow Hill ledges for shelter and for sending smoke signals to neighboring tribes. In the early 18th century, a series of land grants were given to the heirs of soldiers killed in the French and Indian Wars, by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many of these parcels became part of the unincorporated settlement known as Notown, almost all of which is part of Leominster State Forest today. In 1838 the lands of Notown were finally incorporated into the towns of Leominster, Fitchburg, Westminster and Princeton. Today, there are numerous cellar holes, stonewalls and fruit trees still visible along the forest roads and trails.[1]
[edit] Recreational Opportunities
- Boating (non-motorized)
- Canoeing
- Educational/Interpretive Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic Site
- Hunting (restricted)
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
- Restrooms
- Scenic Viewing Area
- Skiing (Cross-Country)
- Swimming
- Walking Trails
[edit] External links
- Park Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/lmsf.htm
- Trail Map: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/Leominster.gif
[edit] References
- ^ Department of Conservation and Recreation: Leominster State Forest Retrieved June 29, 2006.
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