Federated Women's Club State Forest

[Toshia McCabe]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone out there has had experience birding in the Federated Women's Club State Forest in Petersham, MA? Id' like to go out there, but my impression is that the area is huge. I don't know where to park or what the best birding spots are in the forest. If anyone has this information, I'd really appreciate it. :)

This is what google maps shows:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/psemMXcGZTHUxHTj9

Thanks!

[Mark Hibberd]

Try John and Becky Edmondson I think they know it well

Mark

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[Neil Foley]

NF

On Mar 21, 2026, at 1:18 PM, Mark Hibberd <markgh...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Toshia McCabe]

Thanks for the mass.gov link Neil, but this doesn't have any info about where to park and what trails are good for birding. I appreciate your intent though! :)

-Toshia

[Neil Foley]

Oh - parking is at the gate. Each gate at Quabbin has a number. Parking size varies. The map below may help with the way things are set up at Quabbin. There’s a bunch of map resources out there so I bet a search could generate bird info too. Quabbin was where the state reintroduced bald eagles. I remember seeing them and being hopeful. Federated Women’s Club is my favorite place there. The dirt roads are evocative of the rural towns that used to be there.

NF

On Mar 21, 2026, at 3:41 PM, Toshia McCabe <toshia....@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the mass.gov link Neil, but this doesn't have any info about where to park and what trails are good for birding. I appreciate your intent though! :)

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[John Edmondson]

It's a nice spring location. I'm leading a walk there on May 19 (BBC, open to all, cosponsored with Menotomy, but email me before to coordinate if interested). I drive slowly down the road (from 122) with windows open and listen for birds. It can be good to stay in the car and use it as a blind. There are a few pull outs (not many) and a place to park near the end of the paved road (near west st which is not drivable and is probably gated off too. But there is generally so little traffic that you can park temporarily anywhere along the road and then get out and walk. around. I'd keep the car in sight though. There are not many trails (as far as I know) off of State Forest Rd (the paved road). I bird from the road which is shaded well once the trees leaf out. 

About half a mile down there is a larger pull out on the right, almost a parking area, not quite.There is a clear cut area in there that I assume is for habitat creation. That's a good place to look for some warblers that like edge and clearing. Chestnut-sided is a good bet. Other birds too. Park there, off the road, and walk in for a while.

Keep driving slowly and with windows open. Maybe pull over in a few places and walk around a bit. 

On the road in the right time frame (hopefully when I go but I may be too late), Swainson's thrushes, Hermit & Wood Thrushes and Veery calling and singing are likely throughout May. Warblers from the road by ear and by eye include Northern Waterthrush, Blackburnian, BTgreen, BTBlue, Redstarts, and quite a few more. Some of these are further down near the wet areas. 

I have heard Broad-winged Hawks from the road. Hearing is more likely than seeing. 

I would park at the pull out on the left near the swamp and walk the road in both directions and walk out to the swamp edge. There is a pretty wide brook on the left after the swamp and that's where we saw Blackburnian but they could be in other places too.

Then drive to the parking at the end, park there and walk out to the right on unpaved West st to the power line cut out. There you can hear and see field sparrows and prairie warblers. On the way you pass through more wetland and good birding. This is not far from the parking.

Then from the cutout, you can hike up soapstone hill. Pass through an area with campers (I'm sure with reservations), maybe a dozen camping spots, or fewer. On the other end there are trails.  Using most trail map apps you will see the trail up soapstone hill (it's in OSM so most trail apps have it). It's kind of straight ahead then sharp left from the camping area.. As you go up the hill, the birding is good. It's decent passing through the camping areas too if there aren't too many people around. Chestnut-sided probably breed in the area. The woods are not as dense and there are some cleared areas off trail. If you like, continue past the top of soapstone hill to a lookout area over the quabbin. That's a bit further than I plan to go on my walk, but I do plan to go up soapstone hill. That's a great place to eat a lunch you pack in.

Also we saw a black bear there last spring. A ways off the road across the big brook on the left. It moved on. Use common sense.

If you like walking more, go to the various parking spots I've mentioned and walk more. That is, you can do less of the slow driving and listening I mentioned. But no matter what, drive slowly with windows open and listen carefully. When parking and planning to leave it a while, don't block gates and pull off the road. 

On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 1:04 PM Toshia McCabe <toshia....@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Mark Hibberd]

👍👍👍

Will you plan a visit earlier to check it out before the guided walk?

M

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[John Edmondson]

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[John Edmondson]

Well, there must be other access points, but from state forest road off 122, you can  drive a paved road for at least a mile to a fine pretty big parking area.

[John Edmondson]

yes probably I will have a top secret visit beforehand  :🙂. Maybe a week earlier in hopes of not missing the  Swainson's Thrushes. Top secret you understand. 🙂

[Toshia McCabe]

This is amazing. Thank you John! I am interested in the May 19th walk. It sounds like you have someone interested in scouting with you! ;)

-Toshia