15 Best Things to Do in Athol (MA)

Nestled in the wooded hills of north-central Massachusetts, Athol is a small town of 12,000 located on the banks of the Millers River, a tributary of the Connecticut River.

The river is a unifying feature of the city and its sister city of Orange, and is the scene of the annual canoe race between the two cities each spring.

With hundreds of participants each year, the Athol/Orange River Rat Race attracts crowds of several thousand to the banks.

Downtown Athol has been rejuvenated over the past few years, and comes alive in the summer with events like Fourth Friday.

There are many places around the center where you can enjoy the beauty of the Millers River, while the city-owned Bearsden Forest Conservation Area protects a stunning stretch right from the riverbanks.

1. Downtown Athol

What will catch your eye on Main Street in Athol is how beautiful the view is. The city's main artery is formed by the steep forested flanks of the Millers River Valley, which lies in the background to the east and west.

There is plenty of stunning architecture to admire, especially the bold design of the Pequoig Hotel, which was built in 1894 and served its original purpose until just after World War II.

Downton Atholl has been undergoing restoration efforts since 2010, and features a selection of home goods, gifts, flowers, video games, collectibles and food, as well as a small selection of locally owned businesses. It has a growing rating and is one of the best in the audience. Libraries for miles.

If you're in town on the fourth Friday of the month, Athol's retail essence is captured by a family festival, featuring live entertainment, kids' activities and extended hours for local businesses.

2. Bearsden Forest Conservation Area

Many towns around Massachusetts have conservation areas, but few have the size or beauty of Bearsden Forest, which sits on a loop in the Millers River with some of the city's highest peaks.

The parcel covers over 1,500 acres, with ten miles of trails that provide a wealth of different experiences in nature.

You can survey thousands of acres of marsh, hike to Round Top for sweeping views of the rivers and distant mountain ranges, or follow the river itself, stopping at the mouth of Buckman Brook and Thousand Acre Brook.

If you know where to look, there are interesting signs of human habitation everywhere, in the ancient stone walls and the amazing cut bank system.

3. Millers River Park

In early 2010, library trustees purchased additional land near the Millers River behind the Athol Public Library.

After a landscaping project, it has been transformed into a beautiful and fully accessible little oasis in the heart of the city.

Millers River Park has been developed sustainably, using native plants that require minimal water and maintenance.

You can visit The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a butterfly garden containing a pair of giant boulders that were discovered while excavating the earth.

Meanwhile, the park's amphitheater is made of granite blocks that were originally part of the old South Main Street Bridge.

4. The Athol/Orange River Rat Race

A unique event is held each April on the Millers River in Athol and Orange, bringing thousands of spectators to the riverfront.

This is the Athol/Orange River Rat Race, where more than 200 boats compete in a grueling 5.2-mile race.

Sponsored by the Athol and Orange Lions Clubs, the race begins at Allen E. Rich Ecological Park in Athol, Massachusetts and ends at Riverfront Park in Orange.

There is a festive atmosphere among spectators, and side events are scheduled throughout race day, including a 5K run, a walk along Main Street in Athol, and an awards ceremony at the finish line in Orange.

5. Alan E. Rich Environmental Park

Any other time of year, the starting line is a beautiful setting for the Athol/Orange River Rat Race.

This is especially true in the spring, summer and fall, when Alan E. Rich Environmental Park is a great place to launch a canoe.

Here you are at the start of the Millers River Bluetrail, a six-mile paddling trail along a quiet stretch of this waterway.

The park itself is conservation land, with a short walking loop, plantings of native species, and picnic tables where you can enjoy the peace and natural beauty for a while. Look for dam flies sitting on rocks in the shallow waters of the river in late summer.

6. Silver Lake Park

Silver Lake Park is located a short walk north of Athol Center, surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Despite being less than a ten-minute walk from the city hall, the place does not receive a large number of visitors.

In the center is the spring-fed lake, which is regularly stocked with trout. Come summer you can make the most of the large beach and swimming area, where lifeguards patrol and the water quality is tested every week.

Other amenities include a playground, picnic area, boat launch, skating area, and three regulation ball fields.

7. Fisher Museum Harvard Forest

The Athol Center is located ten minutes from Harvard's Ecological Research Forest, which was established in 1907 and covers 3,000 acres dedicated to the study of forest ecosystems.

You can learn about this important work at the Fisher Museum, which has been open to the public for free since 1941.

The main exhibit here is a collection of 23 world-famous dioramas produced in the 1930s. The first seven of these show changes in the landscape of central New England over a 230-year period from 1700 to the early 1900s.

The rest reflects 20th-century forest management techniques, as well as the challenges faced by conservationists from fire to erosion.

8. Newton Reservoir

Dating back to 1904 and located south of the Bearsden Forest Conservation Area in natural pine and oak forests, Newton Reservoir was Athol's main water source until 2000, when it is now decommissioned.

Starting from the car park on S Royalston Road, this is a great place for a stroll. The view is breathtaking any time of year, but is even more stunning in the spring when wildflowers bloom like lady's slippers on the forest floor.

Near the dam you can also find the remains of the original mud huts that were inhabited by the migrant workers who built the reservoir in the late 1900s.

9. Millers River Environmental Center

Founded in 1963 by Athol Middle School science teacher Robert Coyle, the Athol Birding and Nature Club has grown into a thriving non-profit organization dedicated to helping people appreciate the rich natural resources of north-central Massachusetts.

For more than 60 years, the club has amassed ornithological collections, and since 1999 they have been displayed in a four-room former school building on Main Street, dating from 1889.

You can visit Athol's Doorstep to learn more about nature's bounty, and the building serves as a focal point for the club's programs, which include field trips, nature walks and more.

Many of these educational experiences are led by David H. Small, an alumnus of the founder and a recognized leader in conservation throughout the region.

10. Red Apple Farm

Founded in 1912, Red Apple Farm has been in the same family since it was purchased by Carolyn and A. Spaulding Rose in 1929.

In summer and autumn, the farm becomes a lively center for agritourism, where all kinds of rural experiences await.

From July to October you can pick your own produce with raspberries, raspberries, potatoes, popcorn, apples, pumpkins and pumpkins being some of the varieties available.

The farm shop is open all year with a wonderful selection of homemade and locally sourced products, from cider cakes to seasonal decorations.

The new addition is the Brew Barn & Cidery, which is open year-round, pouring craft beer and hard cider from Red Apple Farm, paired with live music and the farm's own BBQ, just like at home.

11. Rabbit Run Trail

Athol is located just a few miles north of Massachusetts' largest inland body of water, Quabben Reservoir. Until it was built in the 1930s, there was a railroad line that ran through the right-of-way where the depot now stands.

The Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad opened in 1873, connecting Springfield to the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad at Athol.

Today you can walk or ride along two miles of the railway, with a half-mile section of the trail taking you through the South Athol Conservation Area where similar trails take you along historic wagon roads and rice fields. hill.

12. Athol History Trail

To celebrate the bicentenary in 1976, the Athol Historical Society put together a fascinating history trail through the town, leading to 24 sites that tell the story of the 18th century settlement and subsequent development.

The original buildings have been lost over time, but if you want to learn more about Athol's early days, you can download a PDF booklet of the trail from the Society's website.

You'll visit interesting sites such as the early meetinghouses of Athol, and the tollgate at 5th Mass. Many more interesting places to see. .

13. Flat Rock Disc Golf Course

The 18-hole golf course was established in 1999 in the quiet southern part of Athol.

With all its tree-lined holes, Flat Rock Disc Golf Course is a test of technique and accuracy.

To remind you that you are in the countryside, some holes have barnyard animals. While playing, check out the unique signs and statues designed by the owners.

14. Athol Cinemas 8

This cozy local multiplex opened in 2017 in the North Cobain Commons Shopping Center. One of the main attractions of Athol Cinemas 8 is the comfortable, leather-upholstered seating in all the auditoriums.

They're all relatively small, and watching a movie is like relaxing in your living room.

Wednesday is discounted ticket day, although prices are usually much lower than at major theaters. Athol Cinemas is part of the eight-member "Your Neighborhood Theater" chain, with locations in small New England towns.

15. Ellinwood Country Club

Located in Athol, Route 202 is open to the public and features a popular golf course in stunning countryside.

The interesting thing about Ellinwood Country Club is that the course was designed by two different course architects, Donald Ross and Geoffrey Cornish.

This gives the track a lot of variety, not least because the 9s for Cornish and Ross are interspersed. You'll know you're playing at the Cornish hole by its large, flat green, while some of the challenges include dogs running through the dense woods and numerous water hazards.

The signature hole is the 11th hole, where a lovely little stream winds its way along the fairway before cutting across the front of the green.