Thousand Acre Swamp Pond New Marlborough Land Trust Thousand Acre Swamp

Hotchkiss Road, New Marlborough, MA

About Thousand Acre Swamp

The Thousand Acre Swamp trailhead offers the best access to the Cookson State Forest. Multiple ponds, streams, wetlands, and hills can be accessed from this point on a network of hiking trails that scatter the forest. From the trailhead, a flat and easy trail meanders past the scenic Thousand Acre Swamp Reservoir before crossing over an iconic pedestrian suspension bridge. Soon after the bridge, various trails can be explored with access to many fascinating sites such as the East Indies Pond, Whiting River, Mill Pond, or multiple small hills that offer a brief escape from the swampy lowlands. This seemingly endless supply of trails offers over 11 miles of marked hiking paths, while additional unmarked paths provide adventurous visitors with even more opportunities for exploring the Berkshires.

Wildlife viewing and birding are some of the most common recreational activities here, as the Cookson State Forest's mix of northern hardwood forest, evergreen forest, and abundant wetlands create a vibrant ecosystem. In the winter, the mellow terrain provides excellent snowshoeing opportunities, and wildlife enthusiasts enjoy tracking footprints through the snow. In the fall, the dense forestry offers plenty of opportunities for viewing the picturesque fall foliage of Western Massachusetts. As the bug populations fizzle out by this time of year, visitors are encouraged to use the picnic area overlooking Thousand Acre Swamp Reservoir as a family-friendly spot to have a bite to eat and take in the beautiful surrounding nature.

The Thousand Acre Swamp trailhead can be found on Hotchkiss Road, which has a small parking area where informational signage marks the trailhead. Visitors should be advised that most of the forest is out of reach of cellular signal. Since there are no on-site amenities, visitors should come prepared with necessities.