About Old Baldy

Trees on summit overlook at Old Baldy Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the lower Berkshire Highlands ecoregion, Mass Audubon's 154-acre Old Baldy Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled within a larger area of approximately 2,000 acres of conserved land.

A short—but steep—trail to the summit provides hikers with a spectacular 360° vista of the surrounding sugar maple, white ash, and basswood forests. Along the way, look for signs of resident wildlife including moose and black bear.

The trail is now open, though parking is limited for the time being.

Location

Norton Road, Otis, MA
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Hours

Trails: Open daily, dawn to dusk

→ For your safety and to avoid conflicts with wildlife, please follow our sanctuary guidelines during your visit and leave dogs and other pets at home.

Admission

Free, donations appreciated

Facilities

Parking (very limited)

Acres

154

Trail Mileage

0.3 miles
Details & map >

Sanctuary Highlights

  • Migratory songbird species—like Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Eastern Towhee—prefer Old Baldy for its early successional young forest and shrubland habitats.
  • Constructed piles of woody debris called "bunny huts" provide habitat for the rare New England Cottontail rabbit (not to be confused with the Eastern Cottontail, which is native to Florida but ubiquitous in Massachusetts).