Beartown State Forest hiking the Mt. Wilcox Road and trail for a 7 mile loop traveling partially on the the “Great Road” aka the Knox Trail thru hardwoods to the Mt. Wilcox Summit and passing the hidden Perry Cemetery.  Parking at the old CCC Camp.

Beartown State Forest was established in 1921 when the state purchased 5,000 acres of land. Additional land acquisition brought state holdings at Beartown ?? 7,713 acres by 1933. CCC Camp S-66 (Company 108) and Camp SA-66 (Company 112) were established at Beartown in 1933. The first task assigned to Camp S-66 was to build a road running north/south through the center of the forest to provide access to the area. Camp SA-66 also worked on road construction for access and recreational use as well as building water holes, clearing road edges and eradicating white pine blister rust. Both camps cut cordwood, salvaged chestnut, constructed trails, planted trees (mostly spruce and pine) and carried out forest stand improvements. Road improvements included several bridges with wood stringers and stone abutments. The use of stone culverts rather than concrete was encouraged when possible as these used local materials, were less expensive and taught new skills.

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