City of Pittsfield Cadwell Woods Conservation Area

Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA

About Cadwell Woods Conservation Area

Cadwell Woods Conservation Area, recently acquired by the City of Pittsfield, provides numerous wooded hiking trails to visitors hoping for a relaxing adventure. Just a short drive from the city's downtown, the 50-acre protected area offers vivid greenery and flat, open trails, with its total trail distance equal to nearly 1.5 miles. Visitors can expect to see and hear the Housatonic River rushing beside the property's trailhead and may encounter various bird species and their songs, though they will likely experience less traffic from deer, bears, and other larger animals due to the urban landscape surrounding the Cadwell Woods property. In the wintertime, the Conservation Area's trails are ideal for snowshoeing; easy to follow and with minimal or no incline, depending on the routes chosen by visitors.

The property was initially owned by the Cadwell family for roughly 175 years, functioning as a farm that predated the origination of Pittsfield. Some of the Cadwell's land has since been sold and built upon, though much remained untouched by housing development, providing the City of Pittsfield an opportunity to purchase and protect this land. With its acquisition in 2022, Pittsfield has dedicated its ownership to conservation, and honors the Cadwell family in its name.

A small parking lot for Cadwell Woods Conservation Area is located at the intersection of Barker and Cadwell Road.