| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
DAR State Forest, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Universal Access Nature Trail, Campground Road, Long Trail, Darling-Fisher Trail, Hemlock Trail, Moose Run Trail, Chapel Brook - DAR State Forest Trail, West Road, Moore Hill Road, Twinning Brook Trail, unnamed trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Note that Moore Hill Rd is not drivable, at least in winter, between DAR State Forest Parking to the west and West Rd on the eastern side. I came in from the east and parked at the large state forest parking lot across from what Gaia calls Boat Ramp Rd. Plenty of parking and free this time of year. The road in from 112 was narrow, and I believe it had some snow on it, but it was easily driven on. In season, camping $17 for MA plate, $54 for non-MA plates. I think the day use fee is now more than the book says, but I'm not sure. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I don't recall anything of significance. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trails were all pretty easy to follow except Twinning Brook Trail, which seems to be abandoned (no signs, lots of blowdowns, no discernible trail most of the time, and only caught sight of one or two old markers). Trails were mostly or all signed. I think the trails were mostly or all blazed, but maybe a little inconsistently? Darling-Fisher Trail in yellow, Long Trail maybe in red, Moose Run in blue, I think. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs. Saw at least one out. I'm guessing there were probably signs requiring them to be leashed. |
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 | Bugs: |
No snow fleas on a bitter cold day like this! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
This was a good New Year's Day hike for a bitterly cold day with a strong wind while staying in North Adams. It also got me out of the Berkshires and a new redline in my neglected Pioneer Valley tab. My route: unnamed road from parking area on south shore of lake to -- Universal Access Nature Trail -- Campground Rd (only a hundred or two feet) -- left onto Long Trail -- Darling-Fisher Trail to campground -- Hemlock Trail -- OAB on Long Trail between Hemlock Trail and Darling-Fisher Trail -- OAB on Long Trail to Moore Hill Rd -- Moose Run Trail -- Chapel Brook DAR State Forest Trail -- West Rd (paved) -- Moore Hill Rd (presumably unpaved and not plowed in winter; I'm guessing you can drive it in the summer but I'm not sure) -- abandoned Twinning Brook Trail -- very small portion of Long Trail back to -- Moore Hill Rd -- OAB on Darling-Fisher Trail to Moore Hill -- Darling-Fisher Trail west to campground -- unnamed trail/roadsouth through campground -- Campground Rd and Moore Hill Rd (both undrivable this time of year) back to parking.
I did not use snowshoes or spikes though I carried the latter. I saw one person with basic snowshoes that said she found them helpful, but I didn't think there was enough depth to really be using them. Most trails were broken out anyway. There was hardly any ice showing anywhere. Only place I sank significantly in the snow was in some drifts at the viewpoints near the pond. Trails were easy to follow and signed except for Twinning Brook Trail, which was clearly abandoned. Without Gaia, I would have had no way of following it. Not sure if the snow was the main contributing factor or what, but other than a small bridge I came across and an old marking or two, I really didn't know if I was on it or not. Since it's mentioned in the guidebook published in 2020, I assume it hasn't been abandoned long, so I was surprised I couldn't any corridor, but, again, maybe it was the snow. It also looked like blowdowns had destroyed it in places. The hike was largely flat with a steeper but very short uphill to Moore Hill and a little elevation at the end of Twinning Brook, and a moderate downhill between Moore Hill Rd and the campground along Darling-Fisher. Despite the bitter cold, I saw several others out and there were many cars in the parking lot when I arrived at shortly before 1pm. I closed the place down at 5:15pm. Gaia had me at 8.7mi, 600ftt of gain, 4hr19min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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