Hiking

A pleasing mixture of hills and flatlands characterizes what geologists call the Central Massachusetts Uplands. Tens of thousands of acres are open to the public for hiking. The marked Metacomet-Monadnock trail passes through Wendell, Erving, Warwick and Royalston – it includes the summit of Mount Grace (1,617 ft.) in Warwick. Inside Quabbin gate 35, at the end of South Athol Road off Route 122 in New Salem, an old railroad bed is a favorite trail for an easy hike to the edge of the expansive Quabbin reservoir. There are well-maintained trails in the Bearsden Woods Conservation Area in Athol, including a steep trail to the crest of Roundtop (elev. 1,278 ft.), where there’s a great view of Mt. Monadnock.

Bicycling & Jogging

Meandering over a mixture of valley flatlands and hills, the region’s paved back roads are ideal for bicycling. Gravel roads can be appreciated by “fat tire” bicyclists, too. As you pedal or run by, take in the subtle beauty in the trees, gardens, houses, lakes, rivers and mountains of our villages and countryside.

Picnicking

Bring along a basket from home, or stop at one of the region’s well-stocked country stores for provisions, and you’ve got the makings for a perfect mealtime interlude. Stop at one of the area waterfalls or lakes to spread out your blanket, or visit a well-maintained picnic area, complete with tables and grilles, at Mt. Grace State Park in Warwick (two miles north of the center on Route 78), Laurel Lake Recreation Area in Erving, or Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston (on Route 32 just north of the Athol line).

Swimming

Fresh, clean lake and river water, at a comfortable temperature for the swimmer, is abundant in the North Quabbin region. There are several public beaches, and with luck you’ll chance upon an out-of-the-way swimming hole. Laurel Lake Recreation Area in Erving State Forest is reached on country roads (follow signs) off Route 2 from Erving Center or off Route 2A from Wendell Depot – the beach has a lifeguard and snack bar. In Wendell State Forest, supervised swimming is available at Ruggles Pond Recreation Area, reached from Wendell Center or from Route 63 in Millers Falls (follow signs).

Canoeing

Millers River between Athol and Orange offers a comfortable flat-water trip, ending just above a power dam in Orange. Canoes can be launched in Athol on North Orange Road just above the South Main Street Bridge or in Orange off East River Street. There is whitewater canoeing in the river where it forms the border between Erving and Wendell, a section known as the Farley Flats. Canoes can be launched on Route 2 about a mile west of Erving Center. There’s a rustic campground off Doane’s Hill Road at the Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston that welcomes canoeists. Placid Tully Lake has a boat launch area adjacent to the picnic grounds off Route 32. The Outdoor Center of New England, on Pleasant Street in the Millers Falls section of Erving, rent canoes by reservation (413-659-3926) and offers instruction.

Fishing

The Quabbin Reservoir, open for fishing from April to October, tops the list for fishermen in the North Quabbin Region. With access from Gate 31 off Route 122, in New Salem, lake trout, bass, pickerel, landlocked salmon and hornpout are abundant. Motorboat and rowboat rentals are available to licensed fishermen, or you can launch your own craft. (Information is available from the Quabbin Visitor’s Center, 413-323-7221.) Ponds listed in a Boston Globe survey of “best bets” for fishing include Lake Mattawa in Orange, Wickett Pond in Wendell and Riceville Pond in Petersham. More than three dozen brooks and ponds in the area, including Millers River, are stocked with trout.