Erving State Forest

June 18, 2021 Sunny

This state forest is off Route 2 in central Massachusetts, in the town of Erving. It consists mainly of Laurel Lake and a forested area with a few short hikes into the woods.

We visited in a relatively cool June and just past the peak of the blooms.

The trail starts off gently but soon climbs the hillside, cutting through giant stands of mountain laurels.

It was lovely to wander up the hillside but it set our hearts pumping. Much of the trail is narrow like below.

After reaching the peak, there are some open views to the south, and also to the northeast, where you can see Mt. Monadnock in the distance.

The hike returns to the parking lot, where we changed and headed to the lake for a swim. The facilities are well kept and include separate bathrooms and changing rooms.

The beach is spacious and has good sand that extends into the roped swimming area, which has lifeguards on hand.

Although it was June, the water was pretty “refreshing” and took some getting used to, but we all enjoyed it. It’s a lovely lake with a peaceful vibe.

Beautiful hillside walk with mountain laurels. Swimming was refreshing in the clear water.
Going in June to see the mountain laurels. The pond is very beautiful.
The hike was pretty average and the beach was too cold. But compared to some of the others it was heaven on earth.
The hike was pretty. The beach was good but the water was cold.
The mountain laurels were pretty. The beach was pretty good, but there were bugs on the hike.