Black Rock Forest

WEATHER

Get a more detailed forecast here.

TRAILHEAD

SUGGESTED TRAIL

This is INTERMEDIATE 4-mile loop (see below for ratings) that covers all of the amazing features and views in this forest.

PRO-TIP

There is a $5 parking fee, which is a donation to the non-profit that manages the park.

HISTORY

The forest began to grow in the area about 14,000 years ago, with the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. Originally, like many post-glacial forests, it consisted of evergreen conifers such as spruce and fir, but as the climate warmed they gave way to the deciduous species of oak and maple that now predominate.

Established by a local physician, Dr. Ernest G. Stillman, in 1928, the forest was the property of Harvard University until 1989. The Consortium has invested heavily in facilities to improve its research and educational missions and promote sustainability, erecting several green buildings in the middle of the forest with guest facilities, classrooms, and laboratories. Its educational facilities are used by groups at every level, from elementary grades to college undergraduates. Over 400 papers have been published from research done in the forest.