• Facilities
  • None
  • Fees
  • No fee
  • Land Owner
  • Department of Conservation and Recreation
  • Pets
  • Pets OK
  • Recreation Activities
  • Hiking
  • x-country Skiing
  • Season
  • All Seasons
  • Signage
  • Off-site sign
  • Trailhead sign
  • Trails marked
Photo: Erving Castle/Hermit's Cave

Photo: Erving Castle/Hermit's Cave

Erving Castle/Hermit's Cave

Mountain Road, Erving, MA
(978) 544-3939

Vigorous hike (3-4 hrs. round-trip) to natural "castle" formed by a small cave under overhanging cliff. Inhabited 1867-1899 by hermit, John Smith, native of Scotland.

Description:

How can a simple cave under an overhang in a massive cliff be a castle? If the hermit who lives there calls it that. In a nutshell, that is the story of Erving Castle, the home from 1867-1899 of one John Smith, a native of Scotland who by an interesting path found himself here. Today, the site is a fascinating, if strenuous, destination on the slope of Hermit’s Mountain in Erving State Forest. From a sign on Mountain Rd., follow the white-blazed Metacomet-Monadnock Trail for 1.6 miles to a blue-blazed spur trail that descends a steep grade to the cave site and its remnant stonework and gardens, and then reconnects with the M&M.

Directions:

From Orange center, go west on Main St. (Rte 2A) 3.3 mi. Take left on Rte 2, go 2.1 mi. Turn right on Mountain Rd., and go 1.5 miles to parking on left.

Image of globeClick for a Map

Contact:


Phone: (978) 544-3939
Email: mass.parks@state.ma.us
Web: www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/ervf.htm

 

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