D.A.R. State Forest

Tucked into the hills of Hampshire County in western Massachusetts, D.A.R. State Forest spreads across 1,728 acres of rugged upland terrain that feels worlds away from the populated Connecticut River Valley below. Named for the Daughters of the American Revolution, who helped establish the property, this forest occupies a quiet corner of the Berkshire foothills where mixed hardwoods and conifers blanket rolling ridgelines above 1,500 feet in elevation.

The centerpiece is Upper Highland Lake, a pristine freshwater pond ringed by forest with a small swimming beach that draws families during summer months. Hiking trails wind through the property, including a stretch that climbs to a fire tower offering sweeping views of the surrounding hill country — on clear days, you can see well into Vermont and New Hampshire. Mountain biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing round out the year-round activity options.

Fall is arguably the best time to visit, when the hardwood canopy erupts in color and the trails are blissfully uncrowded compared to more famous foliage destinations. Summer weekends bring swimmers and picnickers to the lake, though even peak season here stays manageable.

Expect unpaved roads, limited signage, and the kind of self-reliant atmosphere common to Massachusetts state forests — this isn’t a manicured state park. Cell service is spotty at best. That’s precisely the appeal for visitors looking to disconnect among some of the highest terrain in the commonwealth without driving all the way to the Berkshires.

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