York Lake and CCC Camp Tour and Ceremony with the DCR

York Lake Hike in Sandisfield 11:30 am December 16th, 2023

Parking at Sandisfield State Forest in the parking lot by York Lake at the intersection Route 183/New Marlborough-Sandisfield Road, and East Hill Road in Sandisfield, MA  01230  GOOGLE York Lake, Sandisfield, MA big York Lake sign right on Route 57 just over the Sandisfield Town Line.

Directions from Northampton take Route 66 to Route 112 Huntington, take a left on Route 20 East to Russell take a right on Route 23 to Blandford after Otis Reservoir take a left on Route 8  and take Route 57 to Sandisfield

Hike Rating: Easy to Moderate, 2.2 mile loop around York Lake.  We will then hike less than a quarter of a mile to the CCC Camp to take part in the DCR CCC Ceremony at 2:00.   Come for the hike at 11:30 or come for the ceremony at 2:00, or stay for both.

Join us for a two part day at the Sandisfield State Forest, with 9,500 total acres of forest including York Lake a shallow 35 acre man-made lake. Elevation of the lake is 1,544 feet and is named after Samuel A. York, a farmer from Cummington who was DCR Commissioner in 1933. The trail is 2.2 miles long around the lake with bridges, wildlife, Norway Spruce and Scotch Pine plantations. Once flat farmland of Township Number three, Sandisfield was incorporated in 1762.

On December 16, 1934 five young men from 196 Company, Civilian Conservation Corps (this state forest) were killed in a truck accident on their way to church in Great Barrington. At 2:00 pm, DCR staff dressed in era uniforms, will hold a ceremony here including a wreath laying and taps as a 48 star flag is retired. CCC artifacts will be available for viewing. We will also visit the site of the old camp S-71 and its relics and learn about the Sandisfield “Beavers” who built York Lake.

Please register per car at www.hilltownhikers.com Suggested donation is $10. Maps and bottled water provided. We hike rain or shine. Hike rating is easy to moderate with some uneven footing 2.2 miles. Participate in either the hike or the ceremony or both. Heavy snow will cancel. Dress for winter conditions, ice and snow.

Please Register per car load on https://westernmasshilltownhikers.ticketleap.com Maps and bottled water provided. Be prepared for rocks, roots, and mud.  We will hike rain or shine. Suggestion donation is $10, hike is volunteer lead.  More details are on www.hilltownhikers.com .  Please email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312 if you have any questions.  We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249

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See all our events, maps, blog and photos at www.hilltownhikers.com For more hike information email: westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312.   Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Meetup, YouTube, TikTok Pinterest and Twitter.  Search our hashtags #westernmasshilltownhikers #hilltownhikers and #hikethehilltowns Please keep our beautiful places clean and carry in and carry out. We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249.

Tees, hoodies, hats, window stickers, patches and photos will be for sale at the hike, the complete free catalog of printed hiking maps will be there too.  See all our events, maps, blog and photos at www.hilltownhikers.com 

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Mission Statement: Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to engage in all legal activities relating to the development, maintenance and operation of recreational hiking and outdoor adventure in Western Massachusetts.  We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249