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| Home > Massachusetts > October Mountain |
October Mountain State Forest
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
| Other Names | Ashley Lake, Sandwash Reservoir, Washington Mountain Lake, Woods Pond, Buckley Dunton Lake, Yokum Pond, Finerty Pond Dam, Becket Mountain, Walling Mountain, Bald Top, Rocktober |
| Last Known Status | Open |
This large state forest offers 27 miles of ATV trails that wind through over 16,000 acres of mixed hardwood trees. There are multiple staging areas along with access to the famous Appalachian Trail (non-motorized use).
The trails form several long loops but most of the terrain is very rocky, making this a bit of a challenge for an inexperienced rider. This place is sometimes called "Rocktober" because of the rugged terrain. Nearby Pittsfield State Forest might be a better option for those looking for easier terrain with a nearby campground.
The trails are only open to motorized use during daylight hours between May through the end of November. Snowmobiles can explore these trails during winter months.
The forest offers one campground that has basic amenities but there is no direct trail access, which means unless street legal, machines must be hauled to and from the staging areas.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Massachusetts Registration Sticker |
| Dates Open | May through last Sunday of November | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | No | ATVs and motorcycles must be registered in Massachusetts, no reciprocity with other states. |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (96 dB) | |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | Yes (50 inches) | has entrance gate or posts vehicles under 900lbs dry weight and 50 inches wide permitted |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Permitted | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Yes | required by state law |
 Camping | Some Areas | (camp in developed sites only) |
 Campfires | Some Areas | (permitted in developed campsites only) |
| Night Riding | No | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | vehicles must stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 16,500 acres (26 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 27 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 1000 to 2000 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Some | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud | Some | |
| Dust | None | |
| Rocks |  Mostly | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | Some | |
| Water Crossings | Some | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms | None | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Roads | Some | |
| Shade |  Many | |
| Hazards |  Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Little | |
 Amateur | Some | |
 Expert | Mostly |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | State Forest |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (S) | Lee Sunoco (413) 243-4356 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (S) | Lee |
 Water | On Site | |
 RV Hookup | 5-20 Miles (NE) | Summit Hill Campground (413) 623-5761 |
 RV Disposal | On Site | $15/non-campers |
| Campground | On Site | |
 Conv Store | 5-20 Miles (SW) | O'Connell Convenience Plus (413) 298-4036 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | Yes Tent: $17.00 RV: $17.00 Addtl. Vehicle: $0.00 October Mountain State Forest Campground Fee - $17/night/residents; $54/night/non-residents. Residency determined by vehicle license plate. |
| Comment | RVs restricted to 34'. Large and small yurts available, call for rates and availability. |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Stockbridge, MA | ||
| Address | 256 Woodland Road, Lee, MA 01238 | ||
| From: Lenox, MA
1) Take US-7 North about 5 miles 2) Turn right on Walker Street, continue 1.7 miles 3) Turn left on Willow Hill Road, continue 1.6 miles. 4) Staging area will be on the right. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | October Mountain State Forest 256 Woodland Road Lee, MA 01238 (413) 243-1778 www.mass.gov |
| Contact Info | Massachusetts Environmental Police 251 Causeway Street, Suite 101 Boston, MA 02114 (617) 626-1610 www.mass.gov |
| Comment | ATV/Motorcycle Registration Info |
| Contact Info | Reserve America (877) 422-6762 (877) 620-2267 www.reserveamerica.com |
| Comment | campground reservations |
| Contact Info | Patriots All Terrain Club P.O. Box 2967 Pittsfield, MA 01201 patriotsatv@yahoo.com www.patriotsatv.org |
| Comment | Offroad club that does trail maintenance and group rides in Massachusetts and surrounding states. |
October Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 7/31/2011 (Thanks!)
October Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/3/2012 (Thanks!)
October Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 7/31/2011 (Thanks!)
October Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/3/2012 (Thanks!)
October Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/3/2012 (Thanks!)
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS