Otter River State Forest reopens to public: why it was closed

Stephen Landry, The Gardner News
Updated ·1 min read

The park is open again.

The day use and campground areas of the Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville have reopened to the public effective immediately, officials with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation announced on Thursday.

The area had been closed to the public for several weeks following an early-April storm that brought high winds and heavy snow to the region, and took down poles and trees, knocked out power, and caused damage to an informational kiosk in the park.

Crews had been working since April 8 cleaning up the damage and replacing power lines, according to DCR officials.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced the reopening of Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville. The area had been closed to the public while crews cleaned up damage from a late-season snowstorm.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced the reopening of Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville. The area had been closed to the public while crews cleaned up damage from a late-season snowstorm.

The park is a popular spot for fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and swimming.

Camping season at the park, which offers 76 campsites, four yurts, and three group sites, officially begins on Thursday, May 16 and continues through Labor Day weekend.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville reopens