Skip to content

New Salem State Forest

New Salem State Forest from directly overhead

New Salem State Forest is a nature reserve in Massachusetts, at a recorded elevation of 396 m. Dry Hill stands 423 m to the west-northwest, 6.3 miles off. The nearest named place is Poor Farm Hill, a peak 0.7 miles away. Mohawk Trail - MA passes 4.0 miles off.

What the record says

Elevation
396 m

What to expect

Access
Yes

How to reach it

Coordinates42.51393, -72.35016

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Parks
  • Town Common: 3.3 mi
  • Town Common: 3.4 mi
  • Kiwanis Bicentennial Park: 4.6 mi
  • Kiwanis Bicentennial Park: 4.8 mi
  • Muzzey Field: 5.2 mi
Historic sites
  • South Athol WWI Honor Roll: 4.6 mi
  • South Athol WWII Honor Roll: 4.6 mi
  • Hazel's Park: 5.7 mi
  • Grave's Landing: 7.4 mi
  • Indian Trail Marker: 7.9 mi
Museums: 42
Attractions: 41
  • Path Continues: 4.5 mi
  • Path Continues: 4.5 mi
  • Path Continues: 4.6 mi
  • Path Continues: 4.6 mi
  • Old North Dana Depot: 4.8 mi
Gardens: 24
  • Community Garden: 1.3 mi
  • Wendell Community Garden: 3.3 mi
  • North Garden: 11.0 mi
  • South Garden: 11.0 mi
  • Phillipston Community Garden: 11.7 mi
Cliffs: 22
  • Mormon Hollow: 6.6 mi
  • Mormon Hollow: 6.6 mi
  • The Sanctuary: 6.7 mi
  • Pigpen Ledges: 7.3 mi
  • Buoux Buttress: 8.1 mi
Beaches: 18
  • Silver Lake Beach: 8.6 mi
  • Puffers Pond South Beach: 10.9 mi
  • Puffers Pond North Beach: 10.9 mi
  • Lake Dennison Picnic & Swim Area: 16.0 mi
  • North Camping Area Beach: 16.2 mi
Waterfalls: 8
  • Bear's Den Falls: 2.3 mi
  • Hobo Falls: 11.4 mi
  • Doane's Falls: 11.9 mi
  • Doane's Falls: 12.0 mi
  • Spirit Falls: 13.0 mi
Ghost towns: 5
Springs: 1
  • The Ashburnham Spring: 24.2 mi
Covered bridges: 1

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 7.9 miles of New Salem State Forest. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Dry HillWNW 289°423 m6.3 mi
Orcutt HillNW 308°394 m2.0 mi
Bear MountainNW 323°389 m6.3 mi
Packard MountainS 182°386 m3.6 mi
Poor Farm HillSSE 157°384 m0.7 mi
Brushy MountainWSW 246°380 m6.7 mi
Locks HillW 278°372 m2.7 mi
Bear MountainNNW 326°372 m5.3 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:5418:2519:02
June solstice05:1319:4820:31
September equinox06:3718:1118:49
December solstice07:1715:3416:20

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F242635465867727062504030
Precip in2.72.33.43.43.24.13.83.94.34.23.43.4

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Orange Muni AP, 5 mi away.

  • mountain laurel34 obs
  • American chestnut29 obs
  • eastern white pine27 obs
  • Eastern Newt24 obs
  • eastern hemlock24 obs
  • white oak24 obs
  • partridgeberry22 obs
  • trailing arbutus21 obs

Research-grade iNaturalist community observations within 3 km — what people have recorded, not a species inventory.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element way/29673214

More nature reserves in Massachusetts

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to New Salem State Forest.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens