Coles Brook Preserve Trailhead
Coles Brook Preserve
Washington, MA
Snowshoeing | Hiking | Cross-Country Skiing
Headwaters Trailhead 441 Cross Place Road, Washington, MA
Managed by
The Nature Conservancy
Part of
Coles Brook Preserve
Allowed Uses & Features
Information
- Dogs allowed - Leashed
- Free
- Low Visitation
- Scenic View
- Water Views
Water views of an adjacent marsh on the road leading up to the trailhead
Views of the forest surrounding the trail
A wooden bench sits halfway through the Headwaters trail, surrounded by hemlock trees
- Public Land
- Private Land
- Bus Route
- Trail
- Major Trail
About Headwaters Trailhead
Headwaters Trailhead, part of Coles Brook Preserve, is located at 441 Cross Place Road in Washington, allowing visitors to observe a Western Massachusetts mixed hardwood forest and wetlands. The 1-mile Headwater Trail begins on a half-mile old driveway situated a few hundred feet from the parking lot. The trail also features a large beaver pond and large hemlock trees. There is also a former house site that is now a meadow with wildflowers. The trail loops around and crosses the headwaters of Coles Brook.
The preserve offers diverse habitats for premier wildlife viewing and trails for exploring the forest. In addition to the outdoor recreation opportunities available on the preserve, its remote location in a rural Western Massachusetts town creates an ideal setting and landscape for a Berkshire hiking experience. Visitors can potentially spot black bears, deer, bobcats, and moose.
Coles Brook Preserve is a 1,481-acre property owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, which seeks to protect the forest and provide connectivity to other Appalachian forested habitats. The preserve abuts the Middlefield State Forest and is part of the Westfield River watershed.
A small roadside parking lot can be used by visitors.
The Nature Conservancy
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Accessibility Assessment
Features- Accessible Parking
The parking lot at the trailhead consists of crushed stone-dust and features one van accessible parking spot. The trail follows the road briefly before it heads into the woods. If the visitor continues along the roads they will reach the old driveway, which they can follow for 0.5 miles and features mixed gravel and dirt, and contains steep sections, with a maximum slope of approximately 24%. The trail also includes a few rocky sections with varying cross-slopes. The trail contains a bench around the .5-mile mark.
Entrance to the Headwaters Trailhead, which features one accessible parking spot
Nearby Locations
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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.
