Three Mile Pond WMA Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Brush Hill Road Parking Area West

Home Road, Sheffield, MA

About Brush Hill Road Parking Area West

The Cross Road Parking Area provides access to the southern section of the Three Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area. The fields and forests near this parking area are known for excellent hunting, as mammals such as deer, turkey, bear, and stocked pheasant roam the grounds. Wildlife enthusiasts can also engage with the property's many bird species, including a thriving habitat of great blue herons by Three Mile Pond. Birding opportunities are also abundant in the fields south of the pond. Close to the pond, marshland dominates the landscape, particularly on the western and northern sides. Ironwork Brook flows in and out of the pond and through the low-lying areas of the WMA, providing the property with extensive wetlands.

The Wildlife Management Area is flat near the pond, but it is hilly as it extends west across Brush Hill Road into the East Mountain State Forest up steep ledges and to the Appalachian Trail Corridor. There are no maintained trails within the WMA, so visitors should be prepared to navigate the area independently without directional assistance. In the fall, the hardwood forest's red oaks and sugar maples light up in vibrant fall colors, making this space an excellent stop for adventurous visitors on a Western Massachusetts fall foliage trip. Since the Cross Road parking area is far from the pond, it is typically used for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. Those looking to enter the water can use a parking area on Brush Hill Road that provides access to a boat launch.