Hike #25: D.A.R. State Forest - Goshen, MA

Date Hiked:  Saturday, April 23, 2016
Estimated distance round-trip: 4.29 miles
Weather: 59°F, sunny
Resources: DAR State Forest, Trail Map,
Highlights of the trip:  Walk along lake
Progress toward 2016 hiking goals:  25/52 hikes; 91.01/250 miles; 13.6/25 miles on Tunxis Trail**

Today, I went hiking with a friend and her husband.  They live in Agawam, so it seemed like a good opportunity to knock off another of my hiking goals:   Visit a "new-to-me" state park or forest in Massachusetts.  We chose the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) State Forest in Goshen.

The night before we went, I saw that the state had closed the park early last fall so that they could begin work on the dam on Upper Highland Lake.  There was no indication that the park had re-opened, it just said, "see you next spring".  Hmm.  I poked around on the internet, hoping to find more information, but didn't find any.  We took our chances.  We got up to the main entrance and it was closed.  It looked newly paved, though, so I assume it will be open soon.  We drove around the north end of the park and down West Road (spectacular views to the east) and parked near the gate at Moore Hill Road.

Starting at this end, put us close to the fire tower.  On the way up, a brush truck (small fire department truck) passed us going in the opposite direction.  It passed us again a few minutes later going back with a pickup truck behind it.  They must have gone down to let the other truck in the gate.  When we got to the tower, there were several fire vehicles there and the men were up in the tower.  This was a real fire tower viewing station, not like the other fire towers I have seen locally that are just a viewing platform.  With the firemen up above and a "No Trespassing" sign below, I wasn't going to go up.  (Although looking at the state website, it says "Climb the Goshen fire tower for spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley and into five states.")  Oh, well.

Before getting to the tower, we had run into a mountain biker who suggested we take the Long Trail down to the lake.  He even waited for us at the tower to show us the correct trail.  The trails are marked in some spots, but not in others and are not separately color coded.  It does become a little confusing.

A small stream near Upper Highland Lake.

We walked along the lake shore, which was very pretty.  We came to a small beach that is only available for people who are camping.

Upper end of Highland Lake looking toward dam.

When we got down to Moore Hill Road, we had the choice of taking the road back or following the New England Mountain Bike Association Trail, which had been suggested earlier by the biker we met.  Because it was already 4:45 p.m. and it was going to take me an hour and a half to get home, we opted for the road.

We didn't even scratch the surface of the trails available here.  I think it would definitely be worth a return trip, especially in the fall.  And now that I know that the state's own website suggests you climb the tower, I will make sure I do!