Granville State Forest

by Stacey Stearns

Granville State Forest is more than 2,300 acres of cascading river and quiet woodlands. It’s located in Granville and Tolland, Massachusetts, on the Connecticut border in the southern Berkshire foothills. It borders the 9,152-

Natalie and Luke Hershberger’s Red Stone Farm in Granville is adjacent to the state forest; Natalie has spent countless hours on the trails. “My favorite thing to do is head out into the state forest,” Natalie says. “There are many options for a acre Tunxis State Forest in West Hartland, Connecticut, creating a large swath of pristine woodlands for outdoor enthusiasts, including equestrians. quiet and peaceful ride. My favorite ride is to follow the river and let the horses grab a drink at the bottom of the pipeline.”

Granville State Forest offers camping, fishing, and limited hunting, and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Hubbard River runs through Granville State Forest, along with about 15 miles of trails. The river drops 450 feet as it runs over and through the rocks in the forest, creating waterfalls, swimming holes, and other areas enjoyed by a variety of trail users and wildlife.

Originally, this area was home to the Tunxis people, a community of the Connecticut River Valley who shared common cultural traits with the Eastern Algonquian-speaking peoples. It became farmland in the 1700s. It became a state forest in the 1920s.

A Leg Up

Use 323 West Hartland Road in Granville in your GPS and that will take you to the park headquarters. Continue past this, coming from the south, on West Hartland Road, and park in the lot up near Hunt Road. It’s circular and gravel so you can pull through. The other options are to park in the paved camping area lot on the right before the park headquarters, when it’s not busy, or in one of the many areas on the side of the road.

Horse flies, deer flies, and other biting insects are prevalent so plan accordingly. Pack water, although there are places to water your horse on the trail, and there’s access to water at the camping area. Hoof protection is advis- able with the rocks, gravel, and roots. Be aware that this is black bear country. Wear proper attire during hunting season.

I was surprised how quiet the forest was. I passed by a few cars, saw one woman walking a dog, and a family at the river; otherwise I had the trails to myself. There are some trail markings, especially on popular trails and around the campground. Make sure you download a copy of the map or print it before you go at mass.gov/doc/ granville-state-forest-trail-map/download. Cell service is spotty in the forest.

Out Riding It

The first thing I noticed as I drove through Hartland and into Granville was the rugged beauty of the area as we climbed up into the southern Berkshire foothills surrounding the forest. There were many pull-offs along the road and trail access points, with the occasional car parked in them. Houses were few and far between, and I appreciated the quiet of the area.

The parking area and trails were shady, and I welcomed the cooler atmosphere on a warm, summer day. I heard the Hubbard River before spotting it, with the gurgling water bouncing over rocks as it wound its way south.

Riding into the woods, I was hit with the scent of mountain laurel, in full bloom in June. Walls of beautiful blooms could be seen as we rode through the woods.

There are several trails you can ride as a loop, making this a nice option, and one where you can get some longer distances in. Most trails are technical, and I was glad to have a trail savvy horse. It’s also hilly with some climbs and descents. Just remember your horse may be working harder than you think and plan your ride accordingly.

From the circular parking lot just past Hunt Road, you can ride out to the right and go past the second forest gate, on the paved road, and head south toward the camping area. This takes you down to the 4.4-mile Hubbard River Trail, which can be followed south to the forest perimeter, where a sharp left takes you back north on the 4.6-mile Ore Hill Trail.

Ore Hill goes north until it meets the pipeline, and at this point, you can either take the Pipeline trail back down to Hubbard River Trail or take a small connector trail over to West Hartland Road and then ride back down to the parking lot. Use caution if you do ride on the road, there aren’t too many vehicles, but they can go fast.

This was the area where I saw the mountain laurel, small waterfalls, and quite a few frogs headed back toward water or something else as they hopped across the trail in front of me. I also rode through the campground; it was empty on this Sunday afternoon, with a couple of the bear-proof food enclosures left open. Camp trail and Halfway Brook Trail offered a couple other trail options to explore and extend my ride further, with another section of the rocky Pipeline trail to explore too.

Another trail loop option is to take the Ordway Trail, across from the campground on the western side of West Hartland Road. This loop travels to the western side of the forest, until you come to the boundary, where the trail turns left, heading south, until you come to the southern boundary. Here, you go left again on the Searles Road Trail, and follow the southern boundary back to Searles Road, where you go left on the Sattler Trail. This short trail goes north and back to the camping area. This loop, Ordway to Searles and then Sattler, is 3.75 miles total, plus the distance to and from your trailer. You can avoid the road by riding down through the campground.

I spent several hours riding and exploring and left countless miles to enjoy another day too. The pandemic made a lot of changes, including increased trail use. It’s a good thing that more people are getting outside, but sometimes it’s nice to have a forest to yourself too. That’s exactly what Granville State Forest provides.

Happy trails!

Stacey Stearns, a lifelong equestrian living in Connecticut, enjoys trail riding and endurance with her Morgan horses.

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