Franklin County abounds in natural beauty and there are various interesting attractions throughout this region of the state. The “More…” link below each attraction takes you to a third party website for more information.
Conway – State Forest 1,946 acre forest with hiking, horseback trails, 4 miles of streams for trout fishing (413) 268-7098
Conway – South River State Forest with over 500 acres. Picnic tables, several tent sites, fishing etc. (413) 339-5504
Conway Historical Society on Main Street wih collection of items from Conway’s cutlery and tool factories
Deerfield – Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens with a butterfly garden inside a 4,000 square foot glass conservatory (413) 665-2805
Deerfield – Memorial Hall Museum with 3 floors and 19 exhibition room of 17th,18th,and 19th century (413) 774-7476
Deerfield – Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation with picnic tables, hiking trails, and a viewing shelter. (413) 586-8706 x12
Erving – State Forest featuring Laurel Lake which is open for swimming, fishing, and boating (978) 544-3939
Erving – French King Bridge 750 feet long and 140 feet above the Connecticut River, connecting Erving with Gill
Erving – Castle on Hermit Mountain, was the cave – homesite of a well-liked hermit named John Smith
Gill – Stacy Mountain Preserve – 169 mile preserve of rich forest, cliffs, and vernal pools in the Connecticut River’s French King Gorge
Greenfield – Energy Park at 50 Miles Street with sustainiable energy exhibits (413) 774-6051 x14
Greenfield Griswold/GTD Conservation Area on Lampblack Road with room for all nature lovers
Hawley – Sons & Daughters annual garden and artisans tour in early summer and Hawley Day in August (413) 339-4231
Heath – Burnt Hill is a scenic vista hosting two wild blueberry farms where you can pick your own every summer
Leverett – Old Charcoal Kilns – where charcoal was produced in abundance 200 years ago
Leverett – New England Peace Pagoda on Cave Hill Road is a temple of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddist order (413) 367-2202
Leyden – Pearl Rhodes Elementary School and surrounding 8 acres of fishing, hiking, and horseback riding
Montague – Unity Park between First and Third Streets in Turners Falls with playing fields and a playground
Montague – Fish Ladder: watch anadromous fish make journey up Connecticut River each spring (413) 659-3714
Montague – Great Falls Discovery Center, natural history museum exploring the Connecticut River (413) 863-3221
Montague – Canalside Rail Trail for cyclists, runners and others witha 4 mile path along the power canal to the Deerfield rail yard
Montague – Bitzer Fish Hatchery operated by the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, raising trout for stocking throughout the state.
(413) 367-2477
Montague – Bridge of Names, wooden foot bridge offering a view of the lake in the village of Lake Pleasant with pickets inscribed with names of both locals and famous people.
New Salem – Quabbin Reservoir with 39 square miles of reservoir , protected drinking supply for nearly half of MA (413) 323-7221
New Salem – Home Days annual summer festival with crafts, games, food, and music, held on the 4th Saturday of July
Northfield – Pauchaug Brook boat ramp and wildlife management area located on Route 10
Orange – Historical Society located at 41 North Main Street, housed in a Victorian home and is furnished in that period (978) 544-2861
Rowe – Pelham Lake: recreation area located in the center of town with trails for hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, ice fishing, and skating with a beach for residents
Shelburne – Glacial Potholes in the river below Salmon Falls off Deerfield Avenue, more than 50 potholes since the last ice age 14,000 years ago
Shelburne- Memorial Hall, a 425 seat theater originally built and an opera house in the 1800s and now featuring film, concert, opera, and theater productions
Shutesbury – State Forest 845 acre forest with fishing, hunting, and hiking and swimming along Lake Wyola (413) 367-0317
Sunderland – Fish Hatchery operated by the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (413) 665-4680
Sunderland – Mount Toby Reservation with a 1269 ft. summit offering an observation tower. About a 1 hr. hike
Sunderland – Cranberry Pond located near Mount Toby with a boat ramp for non-gasoline powered boats and annually stocked with trout
Warwick – Mount Grace State Forest: 1,689 acre forest with picnic area and fireplaces
and Warwick State Forest featuring a 31 acre trout stocked Lake Sheomet (978) 544-3939
Warwick – Wawbeek Rock – huge glacial boulder, dedicated in 1916 as a monument to God’s work on earth.
Warwick – Old Home Days in late August
Whately Historical Museum in the former Center School (413) 665-3837
Wendell – Old Home days usually held the second weekend in August in the center of town (978) 544-7352