Notchview facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Notchview |
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| Area | 12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 609 m (1,998 ft) |
| Established | 1965 |
| Operator | The Trustees of Reservations |
| Website | [1] |
Notchview is a huge natural area in Windsor, Massachusetts. It covers about 3,100-acre (13 km2) of land. This special place is managed by an organization called The Trustees of Reservations. It's a great spot for outdoor fun and learning about nature.
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Notchview's History
Long ago, in the early 1800s, farmers tried to grow crops in this area. But the soil was very rocky, and the growing season was too short. This made farming very difficult for them.
By the year 1900, these small farms were bought up. They became parts of much larger private properties. A person named Lt. Col. Arthur D. Budd combined these lands. He created the 3,000-acre (12 km2) Notch View Farm. In 1965, he gave this entire farm to The Trustees of Reservations. Later, in 1993, another 93 acres (380,000 m2) from the Smithers Woodland Preserve was added. This made Notchview even bigger.
Notchview's Landscape
Notchview is part of the Hoosac Range. This range is connected to Vermont's Green Mountains. The highest point in Notchview is called Judge's Hill. It stands tall at 2,297 feet (700 m) high.
Most of Notchview is covered with thick forests. You'll find many red spruce trees here. There are also lots of northern hardwood trees. In areas where the water doesn't drain well, you might see a mix of spruce and fir trees. These parts of the forest look a lot like a Boreal forest.
Fun Activities at Notchview
Notchview is a very popular place for outdoor activities. It's managed by The Trustees of Reservations.
Winter Sports
In the winter, Notchview becomes a top spot for Nordic skiing. This type of skiing is also called cross-country skiing. There are 40 kilometers of trails for skiers to enjoy. About 25 kilometers of these trails are specially groomed. This means they are smoothed out for classic skiing. Another 12 kilometers are ready for skate skiing.
The trails are designed for all skill levels. There are 11 kilometers of easy trails for beginners. Intermediate skiers can use 18 kilometers of trails. For advanced skiers, there are 11.2 kilometers of challenging trails.
You can also go Snowshoeing at Notchview. There are 3.7 kilometers of trails just for snowshoeing. Notchview is also a home for the Bill Koch Youth Ski League. This is a youth division of NENSA. Notchview has hosted big ski festivals for this league in 2001, 2005, and 2009.
Year-Round Fun
Notchview is open all year long. In the summer and fall, it's a great place for hiking. You can also enjoy bird-watching here.
There's a ski lodge and office available for visitors. It's a warm place where skiers can relax. You can get hot drinks and use the restrooms. If you don't have your own skis, you can rent Nordic skis for the day. You'll also find small shelters in some fields. These are great spots for picnics or to get out of the wind while resting.
