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List of old-growth forests in Massachusetts facts for kids

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Imagine a forest that's been growing for a very, very long time, maybe 150 years or more, without people cutting down its trees or changing it much. That's an old-growth forest! These forests are like living museums, showing us what nature looks like when it's left alone for centuries.

Even rarer are "virgin forests." These are old-growth forests that have never, ever been logged by humans. They are truly untouched by modern human activity.

In Massachusetts, we've found about 2,742 acres (which is about 1,109 hectares) of these special old-growth forests. Most of these ancient forests are found in a part of Massachusetts called the Northeastern Highlands.

Discovering Massachusetts' Ancient Forests

Many of these amazing old-growth forests are located within state forests and reservations, protecting them for future generations. Here's a list of some of these incredible places:

Name Location Size (ha) Coordinates Elevation (m) Aspect
Burgoyne Pass Beartown State Forest 1.2 42°16′3″N 73°17′8″W / 42.26750°N 73.28556°W / 42.26750; -73.28556 390-470 S–SW
Ice Gulch East Mountain State Forest 3.6 42°9′30″N 73°19′18″W / 42.15833°N 73.32167°W / 42.15833; -73.32167 405–440 SE–SW
Cold River: Route 2 to Black Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest/Cold River Virgin Forest 38.4 42°38′7″N 72°58′48″W / 42.63528°N 72.98000°W / 42.63528; -72.98000 350–420 NW–NE
Cold River: Route 2 to Black Brook Picnic Area Mohawk Trail State Forest/Cold River Virgin Forest 14.2 42°37′48″N 72°58′0″W / 42.63000°N 72.96667°W / 42.63000; -72.96667 320–450 N–NW
Lower Gulf Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest 6.1 42°37′53″N 72°59′52″W / 42.63139°N 72.99778°W / 42.63139; -72.99778 380–415 NW
Manning Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest 6.1 42°38′23″N 72°59′20″W / 42.63972°N 72.98889°W / 42.63972; -72.98889 375–420 NE
Black Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest 10.1 42°37′45″N 72°58′12″W / 42.62917°N 72.97000°W / 42.62917; -72.97000 360–500 N–NW
Tannery Falls Mohawk Trail State Forest 3.6 42°37′39″N 73°0′12″W / 42.62750°N 73.00333°W / 42.62750; -73.00333 390–420 NW
Todd and Clark Mountains Mohawk Trail State Forest 80.9 42°38′50″N 72°56′45″W / 42.64722°N 72.94583°W / 42.64722; -72.94583 330–460 Varied
Trout Brook West Mohawk Trail State Forest 6.1 42°37′57″N 72°56′19″W / 42.63250°N 72.93861°W / 42.63250; -72.93861 410–450 E
Hawks Mountain Mohawk Trail State Forest 2 42°37′45″N 72°55′34″W / 42.62917°N 72.92611°W / 42.62917; -72.92611 360–410 NW
Thumper Mountain Mohawk Trail State Forest 0.8 42°38′23″N 72°56′6″W / 42.63972°N 72.93500°W / 42.63972; -72.93500 250–270 NE
Middle Cold River to Route 2 Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 18.2 42°38′3″N 72°59′29″W / 42.63417°N 72.99139°W / 42.63417; -72.99139 360–415 N
Upper Cold River Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 32.4 42°39′7″N 73°1′0″W / 42.65194°N 73.01667°W / 42.65194; -73.01667 390–450 Varied
Upper Gulf Brook Mohawk Trail State Forest / Savoy Mountain State Forest 8.1 42°37′59″N 73°0′43″W / 42.63306°N 73.01194°W / 42.63306; -73.01194 380–415 NE
Bear Swamp Monroe State Forest 12.1 42°41′50″N 72°57′31″W / 42.69722°N 72.95861°W / 42.69722; -72.95861 360–480 E
Dunbar Brook Monroe State Forest 8.1 42°42′14″N 72°58′8″W / 42.70389°N 72.96889°W / 42.70389; -72.96889 390–490 NE
Parsonage Brook Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°42′44″N 72°58′46″W / 42.71222°N 72.97944°W / 42.71222; -72.97944 470–510 NW
Spruce Mountain Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°42′52″N 72°59′56″W / 42.71444°N 72.99889°W / 42.71444; -72.99889 600–670 SE
Smith Brook-Deerfield River Monroe State Forest 1.6 42°41′58″N 72°58′56″W / 42.69944°N 72.98222°W / 42.69944; -72.98222 360–450 NE
Hunt Hill Monroe State Forest 2.8 42°41′25″N 72°58′53″W / 42.69028°N 72.98139°W / 42.69028; -72.98139 520–600 SE
Mount Everett-Glen Brook Mount Everett State Reservation 14.2 42°6′37″N 73°25′32″W / 42.11028°N 73.42556°W / 42.11028; -73.42556 490–560 NE
Mount Everett-Guilder Pond Mount Everett State Reservation 1.6 42°6′36″N 73°26′22″W / 42.11000°N 73.43944°W / 42.11000; -73.43944 610–630 SW
The Hopper Mount Greylock State Reservation 46.5 42°39′2″N 73°9′58″W / 42.65056°N 73.16611°W / 42.65056; -73.16611 540–720 Varied
Stony Ledge Mount Greylock State Reservation 4 42°38′54″N 73°11′34″W / 42.64833°N 73.19278°W / 42.64833; -73.19278 675–720 NE
Mount Williams Mount Greylock State Reservation 10.1 42°40′32″N 73°9′59″W / 42.67556°N 73.16639°W / 42.67556; -73.16639 510–600 NW–NE
Roaring Brook Mount Greylock State Reservation 10.1 42°37′44″N 73°12′5″W / 42.62889°N 73.20139°W / 42.62889; -73.20139 550–630 N–NW
Mount Wachusett Wachusett Mountain State Reservation 80.9 42°29′0″N 71°53′0″W / 42.48333°N 71.88333°W / 42.48333; -71.88333 425–520 Varied
Bash Bish Falls Mount Washington State Forest 15.4 42°6′47″N 73°29′43″W / 42.11306°N 73.49528°W / 42.11306; -73.49528 415–485 N–NE
Mount Race Mount Washington State Forest 2 42°4′39″N 73°25′47″W / 42.07750°N 73.42972°W / 42.07750; -73.42972 645–710 Varied
Sages Ravine-Bear Rock Falls Mount Washington State Forest 4.9 42°3′18″N 73°26′4″W / 42.05500°N 73.43444°W / 42.05500; -73.43444 350–420 N
Alander Mountain Mount Washington State Forest 2 42°5′7″N 73°28′48″W / 42.08528°N 73.48000°W / 42.08528; -73.48000 585–610 SW
The Rivulet William Cullen Bryant Homestead 80 42°28′16″N 72°56′26″W / 42.47111°N 72.94056°W / 42.47111; -72.94056 373-446
Windsor Jambs Windsor State Forest 1.2 42°31′20″N 72°59′35″W / 42.52222°N 72.99306°W / 42.52222; -72.99306 430–475 SW

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