The majority of land was once farmland. 19th-century cellar holes and stone walls can be found throughout the area.[3] The state forest was established in 1924. Workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps were active here in the 1930s. Their contributions included the construction of the Raycroft Lookout, a stone platform offering dramatic vistas of the Deerfield River.[4]
Natural features
The forest's rugged terrain of steep mountains and deep valleys include Spruce Mountain as well as Dunbar Brook, which drops 700 vertical feet in two miles, cascading over boulders and forming countless waterfalls, rapids and pools.[3]
The forest has trails for hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Fishing and restricted hunting are permitted.[3] Scenic views of the Hoosac Range, Green Mountains and Deerfield River can be found at the Raycroft Lookout, a stone platform reached by ascending a steep path.[4]
↑Davis, Mary Byrd (January 23, 2008). "Massachusetts"(PDF). Old Growth in the East: A Survey. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
