Federated Women Club State Forest
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The Federated Women Club State Forest is a 850-acre forest located in the state of Massachusetts.
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Summary
The forest is known for its diverse plant and animal life, as well as its many hiking trails and picnic areas. Visitors to the forest can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and bird-watching.
Some of the specific points of interest in the forest include the Federated Women's Club Memorial Grove, which features a memorial to the women's club members who helped create the forest, as well as the Forest Museum, which offers exhibits on the history of the area. There are also numerous campgrounds and picnic areas throughout the forest, making it a great place for families and groups to enjoy a day or weekend trip.
Interesting facts about the Federated Women Club State Forest include that it is named after the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs, which played a major role in the creation and preservation of the forest. Additionally, the forest is home to a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species, including the Eastern box turtle and the Eastern red-backed salamander.
The best time of year to visit the Federated Women Club State Forest is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is mild and the forest is in full bloom. However, visitors can also enjoy the fall foliage in the autumn months, when the forest's trees turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
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Erving State Forest
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