Westminster, Massachusetts
Leominster State Forest
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Swim at Crow Hill Pond, see the ledges rock climbers use, and find the Midstate Trail, which runs from Rhode Island to New Hampshire, on the western edge.
Written for ages 4–12.
Researched from this park's own sources. Nobody's walked it yet.
Read this bit out
The Midstate Trail runs all the way across Massachusetts, from Rhode Island to New Hampshire, and it passes through the western edge of this forest. Somebody walking the whole thing might come past you while you are here. They would have started days ago, with days still to go. Most walks here bring you back to where you parked. That one just keeps going.
One of your three free places, or the Explorer Pass. What that costs
Before you go
- Time there
- Plan on about 2 hours at the park.
- Parking
- The beach and contact station is at 1 Fitchburg Road, Westminster. Parking is $8 with Massachusetts plates and $30 without, late May to early September only. Lots open sunrise to sunset; the beach picnic area 9am-6pm in summer.
- Underfoot
- Trails run from wide fire roads to narrow single track, and climbers use Crow Hill Ledges. Swimming is allowed only at Crow Hill Pond. Dogs must stay on leash.
- Bathrooms
- There are bathrooms.
- Food
- A day-use picnic area at the beach, open 9am to 6pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
22 challenges written for this place
A game deals seven to fifteen of them, so no two visits are alike.
4 things to spot, 3 photographs to take and 3 things to work out.
Every game includes this one
Crow Hill Pond
Find the pond and get down to the edge of it.
A few of the others
Rhode Island To New Hampshire
A trail that crosses the whole state runs through the western edge of this forest. Find where it goes through.
At The Water
One photo of everybody at the edge of the pond.
Against The Rock
Find the biggest piece of bare rock you can, and take a photo of everybody standing at the bottom of it.
Their Turn
Hand the phone to the youngest. They take one picture of whatever they want.
End To End
Somebody walking the Midstate Trail end to end takes days. Work out how far you could get in one day.
Wide Or Narrow
The trails here go from wide fire roads to single track barely one person across. Find one of each and work out why they are different.
The rest are a surprise — that's the whole point.
Also around Wachusett
Wachusett Meadow
Princeton
An old farm turned wildlife sanctuary: sheep in the pastures, barns still in use, beaver ponds, an enormous glacial boulder and a nature play area.
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Princeton
Drive or hike to the 2,006-foot summit for a 360-degree view, then explore 17 miles of trails through forest and meadow and past ponds below.
Play this at Leominster State Forest
Free. Works with no signal once you're there.