Buffam Brook Community Forest

Pelham, MA

Forest with Hiking Trails

Easy to moderate

Free

Bounded by Buffam, Boyden, and North Valley Roads, this 289-acre Town of Pelham conservation land consists of the Clifford E. Lippincott Conservation Area enhanced by five parcels that were added between 2017-2019 with funding from the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program, which supports local acquisition of land to create a publicly owned forest that is managed for the educational, recreational and economic benefit of the community.

A parking area off North Valley Road provides access to a network of formal and informal footpaths that wind through both young and mature woodland. Several paths are well suited to cross-country skiing, and a short hike from the parking area brings visitors to a historic quarry site sheltering a lovely vernal pool. It’s all situated within a vast, relatively undisturbed forested landscape, spanning Quabbin Reservation and Amherst Watershed land, that filters drinking water, absorbs carbon, and provides a home to wildlife.

Download a Trail Map

“Good Dog” Guide for Pets & Their People

What You Can Do There

What to Look For

Large, old trees
Historic quarry (“Pelham gneiss”) with a large vernal pool
Wetlands and two stony brooks (Buffam & Gates)
Wildlife tracks & signs

This is a Great Place For

Hikers
Birders
Families with children
Cross-country skiers

You Should Know

Open to the public from dawn to dusk
Parking available off North Valley Road (5 cars)
Respect adjacent private property by staying on public trails
Exercise caution and mind young children at the quarry site
For the comfort and safety of wildlife and other visitors, keep your dog on leash or under eﬀective voice and sight control. This means your dog is always in your sight, and comes immediately when called.