Berkshire Community College
Pittsfield, MA
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Cadwell Woods Conservation Area Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA
Managed by
City of Pittsfield
Allowed Uses & Features
Information
- Dogs allowed - Leashed
- Free
- Low Visitation
- Parking
Single track trail running through Cadwell Woods Conservation Area
Single track trail running through the forest
Trail running through the forest of Cadwell Woods Conservation Area
Trail entrance
- Public Land
- Private Land
- Bus Route
- Trail
- Major Trail
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.
City of Pittsfield
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Accessibility Assessment
There are no accessible features at this location.
The parking area for the Cadwell Woods Conservation Area is a small dirt pull-off located on Cadwell Road. To access the conservation area from the parking area, visitors must cross Barker Road. There is no crosswalk, and traffic on Barker Road can be heavy. Once at the entrance to the conservation area, visitors will see a 7 to 8-foot trail leading up the hill into the conservation area. The trail is rocky and rooted, with slopes exceeding 10 to 12% and a cross-slope topping out at 14%. Once at the top of the hill, the trail flattens, and a series of single-track trails begin diverging off the main entrance trail. These single-track trails are approximately 3 feet wide, and the trail conditions can be variable.
Parking area
Clubs, Retail & Rentals
Looking to meet up with others for team sports or group activities? Check out our list of clubs, guides and leagues in the Berkshires on the Resources page. Our list of summer camps will help you plan an overnight or day camp adventure for your young ones.
We also link to an array of outdoor recreation retail shops for gear and rental facilities for equipment on the Gear page.
