Flat Brook WMA (Cranberry Pond) Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Albany Road Parking Area

Albany Road, West Stockbridge, MA

About Albany Road Parking Area

The Albany Road parking area provides access to Cranberry Pond in the Flat Brook Wildlife Management area. The pond provides sights of wading birds, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians in a serene forested environment. Cranberry Pond is also an excellent home base for exploring multiple other surrounding bodies of water by kayaking, canoeing, or standup paddleboarding. Paddlers enjoy heading toward the southern edge of the pond to ride down a pictureque stream that provides access to Crane Lake and Flat Brook. Flat Brook leads into Shaker Mill Pond, whose northern section is defined by endless marshland that incubates a thriving ecosystem of birds and amphibians. Hunting is common in the wetlands surrounding these bodies of water, as waterfowl and pheasants are abundant. It is recommended that hunters access these areas by boat.

The Wildlife Management Area provides excellent fishing opportunities in each of these bodies of water. Cranberry Pond is shallow and dense with vegetation—it is known for impressive scenery when water lilies are in full bloom. Still, it can be a good spot to catch largemouth bass and sunfish in a quiet environment. Crane Lake is a more popular for fishing, and anglers find success catching bass, pickerel, perch, bullheads, and sunfish. While the lake borders the interstate on its southern edge, which detracts from above-water wildlife, it is an excellent fishing area as it is a quality warmwater fishery.

In the fall, the Flat Brook Wildlife Management Area glows in firey colors as trees thrive in the healthy soils of this natural environment, offering boaters some of the best fall foliage in Western Massachusetts. The slow waters of the area's streams make it easy to relax and take in the surrounding natural beauty. The streams can be shallow sometimes, so be prepared for blockages during dry spells. The Albany Road Parking Area may be hard to catch on the side of Route 41, as it blends in with all the other dirt driveways of the Berkshires, but it is a fantastic starting point for a fun day on the water.