Pantry Brook Wildlife Management Area
Rate this placeNearby: Featherland Park Feeley Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Pantry Brook Wildlife Management Area is a protected area in Massachusetts that spans over 1,500 acres of land.
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Summary
It offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and birdwatching. The area is known for its diverse wildlife including black bears, bobcats, and bald eagles.
One of the main reasons to visit Pantry Brook Wildlife Management Area is to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings and engage in outdoor activities. The area is also a popular spot for birdwatchers as it is home to over 150 species of birds. Visitors can also explore the many hiking trails that wind through the forests, streams, and ponds.
There are several points of interest to see in the area, including the Pantry Brook Falls, which is a scenic waterfall that can be accessed via a short hiking trail. The area is also home to the Pantry Brook Reservoir, which is popular for fishing and boating. Visitors can also explore the many wetlands and marshes that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was originally inhabited by the Nipmuc people. The area was later used for farming and logging, and was eventually turned into a wildlife management area in the 1950s.
The best time of year to visit Pantry Brook Wildlife Management Area is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. Visitors should be aware that hunting is allowed in the area during certain times of the year, so it is important to check the hunting schedule before planning a visit.
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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
Featherland Park
Feeley Park
Walden Pond State Reservation
Cousins Park
Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest Sudbury