Tolland State Forest
410 Tolland Road
East Otis, Massachusetts
(413) 269-6002
Campground Reservations: 877 I-CAMP-MA

Guest Review submitted by: Geoff Coelho, geoffc@prodigy.net
Submitted: 12/25/03

Rating: Four Gold Leaves. Very good.

Massachusetts is home to 28 State Forests and Parks, which are overseen by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Of that total, 10 facilities are located in scenic Berkshire County, the westernmost county in the state. Tolland State Forest is located in the southern Berkshires, straddling the towns of Otis and Tolland.

Tolland State Forest's 90 campsites are located on a peninsula on the western shore of the Otis Reservoir. There are sites for trailer campers as well as tenters, and many sites are located on the water's edge. The State Forest occupies nearly 4,900 acres in total and features numerous trails that offer both summer and winter recreational opportunities. There is a trailer station at the entrance to the State Forest where potable water can be taken on and greywater can be offloaded. The camping area offers four restroom stations with showers and hot water, which offers great comfort especially to families with children but also to anyone staying more than a couple of days. There is a shaded picnic area and a small sandy beach that are available for day use as well as for the campers.

Undoubtedly, the foremost attraction of Tolland State Forest is the Otis Reservoir. At 1,100 acres, and with 30 miles of shoreline, Otis Reservoir is considered the largest recreational water body in the state. Powerboating is permitted, and there is good access from the DEM boat ramp near the Forest entrance.

For those who are planning anything more than a short stay, Tolland State Forest is conveniently located. The village of Otis boasts three general stores, a hardware store, a pizza joint, two restaurant/tavern establishments and at least two very good breakfast venues. Boats, canoes and kayaks can be rented at nearby Camp Overflow and also at J&D Marina, both of which also offer boat ramps and dockside fuel. Otis itself is a very friendly town, if somewhat understated, and your stay in the area can be as active or as sedate as your own inclinations dictate. The year-round population of 1,300 is increased to 10,000 with the arrival of the summer people, who include a large number of second home owners, so the local establishments can be busy at times.

For those who enjoy a busy vacation agenda, there is convenient access to the social and cultural amenities of Berkshire County, which is billed by the Visitor's Bureau as "America's Premier Cultural Resort." Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is nearby, as are the popular vacation destinations of Stockbridge and the eclectic town of Great Barrington. Many small museums dot the area, there are theater performances to be had and there is an ample supply of boutiques, gift shops, antique shops and restaurants within a short drive.

For those who choose a quieter pace, one need never, or only rarely, leave the campground. There are trails for hiking and backpacking, some of which are shared with off-road vehicles, and the fishing can be quite good either from shore or from a boat. Among the species that can be found in the Reservoir are large and smallmouth bass, white perch, yellow perch, black crappie, pickerel and rainbow trout. The state record brook trout was caught there in 1968, and some good-sized brookies can still be found. Otis Reservoir is included in the state's annual trout stocking program as well as the broodstock salmon program. The nearby Farmington River, West Branch, is also trout stocked and provides adequate shoreline access for anglers even during the busiest times of the season.

The campground is naturally a busy place in the summer, but the evenings tend to quiet down, allowing a contemplative fireside environment. The lower third of Otis Reservoir lies in the town of Tolland and is largely undeveloped. A short ride along the dirt roads that track the southern shoreline opens up a number of opportunities for relative solitude and exploration. A mountain bike would provide an excellent vehicle for taking advantage of the trails and unpaved roads.

This State Forest is not open to off-season camping. However, in the fall and winter, its woods and trails are available to hunters, cross-county skiers and snowmobilers.

As with most of our public recreational facilities, Tolland State Forest occasionally suffers from what I've come to call the "tragedy of the commons" syndrome (with apologies to Malthus and Hardin). As a growing population puts increasing pressure on a decreasing supply of open space, overuse and its attendant consequences inevitably ensue.

My last visit to Tolland State Forest was in the summer of 2003, and it was the only negative experience I've had there. I happened to stop in on some family members who were camping there on a particularly busy weekend. The campground was awash with families associated with gangs of small children, some of whom appear to have brought their urban flatlander ethics along on vacation. The bathroom facilities were trashed, and there was a general air of incivility among the children and their adult supervisors. This seems to be an aberration, however, and not at all typical of my experience at Tolland over the past 15 years. Generally, DEM staff are as diligent in their monitoring and discipline of the unruly as they are pleasant and accommodating to the civilized camper. Nevertheless, be aware that the facility is not intended to provide a wilderness experience and, although the typically hectic summer weekends generally give way to a much calmer weekday, you will sometimes encounter huddled masses yearning to breath free.

Overall, I recommend Tolland State Forest highly. My greatest pleasure there is fishing from a waterfront tent site at the end of Sargent Road, with a fire building for the evening and my 12-foot rowboat at hand and ready for a midnight excursion onto a lake as flat as glass. Others enjoy the camaraderie of closely grouped trailer sites or the group camping sites nearer the beach. I seek the more solitary experience. I also enjoy exploring the wilder regions of the southern end of the lake, below Land's End and around Dismal Bay, with my children, one of whom actually visited Tolland State Forest a few months before he was born. In fact we like the small town character and abundant outdoor resources of the area so much that our family moved to Otis in 2002. 

The camping facilities are open from mid-May to mid-October. Be advised that the water level may be low in the earliest part of the season, as the Reservoir is drawn down eight feet in the fall and is sometimes slow to reach full level. 

Reserve a site early by calling toll free, 877 I-CAMP-MA (877 422-6762) or make online reservations at www.reserveamerica.com.

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