Jean M. Booker Conservation Area
The Jean M. Booker Conservation Area is made up of three separate parcels along Hovey Road in northern Monson. Booker parcel A was conserved in 2021, and Booker B and C were conserved in 2024. Booker A and B are across the street from one another. Booker C is located further north along Hovey Rd. Booker A & B have trails for passive recreation such as walking, hiking, mountain biking, nature viewing, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, hunting and fishing. There is no official blazed trail on Booker C, although it does have a parking lot/kiosk. There are remnants of old logging roads onto a connected Norcross property.
The conservation area features beautiful forests, vernal pools, a stream, and pond as well as interesting native plants including serviceberry, highbush blueberry, bunchberry, marsh marigold, dwarf ginseng, and more.
About The Property
Trail Information
Trails:
Booker Parcel A: The Yellow trail on Booker A starts at the back of the parking lot on either side. Taking a counterclockwise route, look for the trail entering the woods to the east. The trail soon turns northerly and follows one of the many stone walls that outline where old farm fields were abandoned generations ago. Note: To preserve these remnants of farming in the 19th century PLEASE Do Not disturb the stone walls. Do not make well intentioned repairs to the walls or stone piles. DO NOT STACK STONES OR MAKE CAIRNS! LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS, TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES! Turning easterly the trail parallels a well-made wall then turns north to cross a very wide wall. Use caution! After crossing the wall, the trail begins to turn to the west and follows the property line of the adjacent MassWildlife’s Wildlife Management Area. Soon the trail leaves the north property line and begins a steady climb to the south, passing some interesting glacial boulders and returning to the parking lot.
Booker B: The White trail on Booker B starts across the street from the parking lot and generally follows the property line of this 22.5-acre parcel. This trail is generally flat and easy to follow. As with Booker A, this parcel was logged about 2015. Note the profusion of American Chestnuts growing on this parcel responding to the new sunlight provided by the timber harvest a decade ago. Halfway around the loop of the White trail the Red trail enters on the left. This short trail will take you back to Hovey Road. Continuing on the White trail you will soon come to the small pond at the east end of the property. Follow the edge of the pond back to the road and turn left to parallel the road and connect with the Red trail at Hovey Road. The parking area is 150-yards to the west (left) on Hovey Road.
The Red trail on Booker B is a short connector from Hovey Road to the middle of the White trail, providing a shorter hike option. It is about 250-yards long.
Booker C: Booker C has no marked trails. However, there is an old woods road at the back of the parking lot that travels through the parcel and exits onto Norcross Sanctuary property. It is a lovely .2-mile walk through oak/pine forest which changes to a Hemlock forest as the land drops steeply to a beautiful little stream and wetlands at the western end of the parcel.
Parking: There are two parking areas with kiosks on Hovey Rd, Monson, MA
Booker A & B: Parking and kiosk located 700-feet west of 97 Hovey Road, GPS coordinates: 42.140310, -72.345580. Parking for 8 cars.
Booker C: Parking and kiosk located 100-feet south of 220 Hovey Road, GPS Coordinates 42.147660, -72.354480. Parking for 2 cars. This parking area is across from Miller Memorial Park
Phone: (413) 668-0022
Address: 110 Main Street Monson, MA 01057 United States
