There will be no more ATVing at Savory Mountain State Forest, due to public safety concerns and the increasing impact on the environment. All ORV's, including ATV's, have damaged this place to the extent of having to close it off this year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
This was a hard decision to make due to the monetary loss, but saving the forest and the ATV trails are more important. The DCR feels this has harmed the forest so much that it might not be a fixable situation.
The ATV's were not only harming the trails, but damaging the wetlands, eroding slopes, changing the soil conditions, and all of this, in turn, harms the wildlife. This puts the general public at risk as the animals leave their natural habitats and they wind up in areas populated by people..
The DCR inspects these forests on a regular basis, and their top priority is on public safety and the protection of the natural resources, thus the decision to close the ATV trails.
Savoy Mountain has previously been one of eight state forests where ORV use was allowed by DCR since 1996 and ATVer's have enjoyed all that this forest offered. Until the DCR feels that this particular forest is ready for ATVing, there are many other places that offers ATVer's the thrill they are seeking. They are just not sure if they can offer a opening date at this time, due to weather conditions and damage control from previous ATV riding that still needs to be done.
In the future, these ATV trails will be reopened, but will be more closely watched and it is up to ATV riders to respect the trails and vegetation by riding all ATV trails responsibly and helping keep your favorite riding areas open.
