Two kids running in the snow. We all need nature—and nature needs you. Together, we can protect the wildlife and wild lands of Massachusetts for generations to come. Make a tax-deductible donation today.
Two kids running in the snow. We all need nature—and nature needs you. Together, we can protect the wildlife and wild lands of Massachusetts for generations to come. Make a tax-deductible donation today.
Pond reflects the blue cloudy sky and pine trees surrounding the banks.
© Linda MacMillan

Rutland Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Plan Your Visit

Adjoining neighboring conservation lands, Rutland Brook is part of one the most extensive parcels of uninterrupted protected land in central Massachusetts. Here, moderate-to-strenuous interlinking trails wind though cathedral-like stands of hemlocks and white pine and along boulder-strewn Rutland Brook.

Property Regulations

  • Foot travel only; please stay on trails (day passes are available for powered mobility devices)
  • Dog walking and horseback riding are prohibited; please leave all animals and pets at home (service animals welcome)
  • Camping, collecting, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing of animals, and feeding wildlife is prohibited.
  • Commercial photography needs prior approval; please see all photography guidelines.

Facilities

  • Parking
    Parking

Explore Rutland Brook

  • Black butterfly with white bands and orange dots on the wings.
    White Admiral, Rutland Brook, Petersham
  • Large rocks on a hill, mixed with green trees.
    Rutland Brook, Petersham
  • A fallen log in a pond with plants and moss growing from it. Tall pine trees and green vegetation surround the pond.
    Rutland Brook, Petersham
  • A bare forest floor with tall tree trunks. Green canopy is visible.
    Rutland Brook, Petersham
  • Person in a hat looking out over the pond, a dead, fallen tree in front of them.
    Rutland Brook, Petersham
  • Rushing, rocky brook in a forest. Mossy trees and tree stumps on the banks.
    Rutland Brook, Petersham © Lucy Allen