Trail Mix and Sass: Are There Bears in Beartown?

By Patricia Racine
July 2026

To answer the question in the title, yes, there are reports of bears in Beartown State Forest—but those sightings are a rare occurrence.

Have I seen a bear there, or on any of the trails I have hiked in Berkshire County? No, but I have seen plenty hanging out by dumpsters.

Do I carry bear spray on my hikes? Also, no; to be honest, I am already carrying 10 lbs of survival gear in my pack, and I don’t need to add anything to that weight.

Do I suggest you carry bear spray when you are in the woods? My answer is “You do, you Boo.” Personally, I am more afraid of running into a snake; there are anacondas out there, and I see those pretty often. The other feeling I have about bear spray is that if someone is scared enough to carry the stuff, chances are that they will most likely be too petrified to use it correctly if they cross paths with one. But, hey, like I said, do what makes you feel comfortable; just make sure you point the nozzle in the right direction before you squeeze.

The beautiful Beartown State Forest sits right off Route 23 in Monterey and covers about 12,000 acres of forested ridges and hidden ponds. There is a nine-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail that starts on Route 23 and drops you off on Jerusalem Road in Tyringham that is not overly difficult to traverse. There are quite a few trails to choose from in the park, but most of them are multi-use, and a few are forest roads that a higher-sitting car can drive down.

Photo courtesy of the author

The Benedict Pond Loop is listed on state forest maps as a “Heart Healthy Trail” and at just under two miles, it is the perfect amount of daily cardio. This trail hugs the shore of the pond with a few dips in and out of the woods for a change of scenery and is a pretty flat and wide path that is suitable for hikers with slight mobility issues. This trail crosses the AT, and if you are feeling spry, you can tack on a short climb up its section that leads to the ledges overlook. This section is pretty technical, especially going back down, so be careful.

While the view from the ledges looking south is nice, if you follow the Lookout Trail on the north side of the pond, you will be rewarded with a view that is stunning. Just be aware that this trail is going to give both your legs and lungs a workout. Just when you are about to give up, you will catch a glimpse of a beautiful sight. A picnic table that some poor soul had to drag up there for people to relax on while taking in the view.

The park has a nice 12-site traditional campground geared towards a quiet, peaceful visit of hiking and kayaking while close to the charm of downtown Lee. In addition, there are three primitive campsites located in the park, two on the Appalachian Trail, and a CCC camp located below the picnic table-lookout spot I mentioned. Now, these are not easy to get to, as you will have to hike several miles to find them, but they all have shelters and privies for those adventurous enough to give this type of camping a whirl.

Beartown was used as farmland starting in the 1700s and you can still find cellar holes hidden out there today. But by the late 1800s, land use changed from agrarian to industrial to support the local mills and factories; this left the land in bad shape due to clear-cutting and strip mining. In 1921, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stepped in and bought 5,000 acres to preserve it. During the Depression, the CCC transformed Beartown into a premier recreational destination.

So, whether you come for the snow-covered forest roads with your snowshoes or to photograph the vibrant mountain laurel blooms in June, Beartown has enough diversity to enchant you in all seasons. From the peace of Benedict Pond to the windy ledge at the top of the Lookout Trail, the park invites you to step out of the rat race and into a place where nature has reclaimed her land from “progress”—because as we know, what some think is progress will only destroy the natural beauty of the fields and forests that make western Massachusetts beautiful. (Say “no” to Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS!) And if you actually see a bear out there, I want to know about it!