East Lee Park
Lee, MA
Playground | Basketball | Baseball/Softball
Golden Hill Forest Laurel Street/Route 20, Lee, MA
Managed by
Town of Lee
Part of
Golden Hill Town Forest- The Pinnacle
Allowed Uses & Features
Information
- Dogs allowed - Leashed
- Free
- Parking
Entrance to Golden Hill Forest.
A section of the Golden Hill Forest loop.
The trail splits at the start, forming a loop.
The trailhead for Golden Hill Forest (right) as seen from Golden Hill Road.
- Public Land
- Private Land
- Bus Route
- Trail
- Major Trail
About Golden Hill Forest
The Golden Hill Forest, once owned by the late 19th-century electrical engineer George Westinghouse, is a beautiful 70-acre plot of land filled with diverse ecosystems for visitors to enjoy. This location in Lee, MA, is old farmland that has become forested since it was donated to the Town of Lee in 1939. The Golden Hill Forest contains many short and easy loop trails. These trails will take hikers through meadows filled with wildflowers, old-growth groves of trees native to Western Massachusetts, such as oaks, maples, hemlocks, and pines, by marshes and swamps, and boulder outcrops that will fascinate hikers and geologists alike. Trails here are open to the public year-round, which means that in any season, visitors can enjoy the scenery and views of October Mountain, Highlawn Farm, and Laurel Lake from The Pinnacle, the highest point in Lee at around 1220 feet.
George Westinghouse was at the forefront of electrical invention at his time, his primary competition being the colloquially known inventor of the light bulb, Thomas Edison. The Golden Hill Forest property was initially purchased as part of his estate, which he called Erskine. Once his son donated the land to the town, it became permanently conserved for visitors. It is a perfect family-friendly destination for outdoor activities in the Berkshires.
Town of Lee
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Accessibility Assessment
There are no accessible features at this location.
While most of the 1.1-mile-long trail is flat and even, a short quarter-mile stretch ascends and descends a hill, with sustained grades of 10-15% and sections with roots. Access to the Golden Hill Forest is through a small lot comprised of compact gravel. This lot holds room for at least five cars. The trailhead can only be reached through a 2-foot-wide gap between a gate and a rock.
Narrow opening to the Golden Hill Forest trail.
Compact, gravel parking area for Golden Hill Forest. A small section in the corner of the lot is uneven.
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.
