Explore Fascinating Rock Formations Along A Hike At Rock House Reservation In Massachusetts
By Melissa Mahoney|Published August 31, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
The Bay State is filled with such a diverse landscape and with that comes numerous trails leading to fascinating spots. Today we will explore a trail Rock House Reservation, a property known for its cave-like structure and both its natural and human history.
Rock House Reservation is a 196-acre preserve located in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. It features a man-made lake and a natural rock shelter that was once used by Native Americans during the winter. It's an area that's steeped in both geological and human history.
Rock House Reservation is named after the enclosure formed by rocks that create a house-like structure. The best way to see the rocks and the pond is by hiking the 2.1-mile Rock House Reservation Trail. This loop trail experiences moderate foot traffic and a 301-foot overall elevation gain.
Among the rock formations that were glacially created, the Rock House Shelter, as it is known, is believed to have been used by Native Americans as a winter camp sometime after the ice age. Measuring 20-30 feet tall, this shelter is quite an imposing feature at this preserve.
In the mid-17th century, colonists cleared the forests for farmland in this area and by 1866, pastures surrounding the rocks were added to a 281-acre farm nearby. The farm's history spanned over the course of 125 years.
It's might be hard to imagine as this is now a nature preserve filled with plenty of flora, fauna, and giant boulders, but this area was once a stop for an electric trolley that ran between West Brookfield and Ware!
The pond itself has a history as well. Sometime between 1920-1930, the 2.5-acre Carter Pond was created and has since become a destination within Rock House Reservation.
Have you hiked the Rock House Reservation Trail? Did you find the giant boulders to be impressive? Let us know in the comment section. For trail information, visit the AllTrails webpage. To learn more about Rock House Reservation, visit the website.
