Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest

Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro
State Forest
Map showing the location of Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Map showing the location of Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Location in Massachusetts
Map showing the location of Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Map showing the location of Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest (the United States)
LocationLowell, Dracut, Tyngsboro, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°39′47″N 71°22′03″W / 42.66306°N 71.36750°W / 42.66306; -71.36750
Area1,109 acres (4.49 km2)[1]
Elevation151 ft (46 m)[2]
Established1941
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteLowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro
State Forest

Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest is a publicly owned forest with recreational features measuring 1,109 acres (449 ha) that overlap the City of Lowell, and the towns of Dracut and Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. The forest, which includes some 180 acres (73 ha) of ponds, swamps and wetlands, is maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3]

History

The area that makes up the state forest originally belonged to the Mohawk, Huron, and Wowenocks Native Americans. It was later colonized by western settlers before becoming the Pawtucket Falls Indian Reservation.[4] In 1941, Thomas Varnum sold several hundred acres of Hawk Valley Farm to the state for the creation of Lowell-Dracut State Forest.[5]

Activities and amenities

The forest offers fishing and restricted hunting in addition to six miles of trails used for hiking, mountains biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.[3] Motorized vehicles are restricted to seasonal snowmobiles. Park access points are found at Trotting Park Road, Gumpus Road, Totman Road, Fellows Lane, and Althea Avenue.[6]

References

  1. ^ "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Lowell-Dracut State Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ a b "Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  4. ^ Wagner, Patricia (June 5, 1972). "Indians make move to regain part of Lowell-Dracut forest as reservation". Lowell Sun. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Fitzsimons, Gregory Gray (April 1, 2014). "Hawk Valley Farm" (PDF). Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust. p. 47. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest". New England Mountain Bike Association. Retrieved February 7, 2014.