For those that might not know, June is designated as our National Great Outdoors month, which dedicates an entire month of encouraging everyone to go outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty that’s all around us – both here in New England and around this great nation of ours. Yes, you can certainly travel far into the west, spending quality time in the great National Parks, seeing large, beautiful vistas, interesting wildlife, beautiful rivers, and much more. But you can also find natural beauty right here in New England, with all the sights, sounds, beauty, and amazement that will take your breath away every time you see it, with even an occasional surprise or two thrown in that will simply leave you astounded. So, in honor of the month of June, here’s few ideas that might really get you thinking about how you might get outdoors with the family and friends, or just on your own, and spend some extra time really appreciating all the wild places around us, sometimes, even as close as our own back yards!

Take a Hike! The beauty of nature is everywhere in Franklin County, the Berkshires, and beyond – just think about the views from Mount Greylock to the west, and even Mount Sugarloaf directly to our south. Every time I think of those views it gets my heart racing, especially during the month of June. Another great place is Bear Swamp in Ashfield, offering some great trails leading to gorgeous beaver ponds and distant views of Vermont’s Green Mountains. And of course, to the east, lies the Quabbin, where you could spend the entire day hiking while finding new beauty every time you visit. But remember, when we’re hiking, let’s take the pledge that commits us to “leaving our state’s trails better than we found them,” every time we go!

Take the family fishing! Man, I love to fish! Been doing it since I was a boy and I still love it today. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not like turkey or deer hunting, but I do love fishing in the summer. Whether it’s in a brook, on the river, or deep-sea fishing off the coast of Newburyport, I always love to go when I can. And it’s a great way to get into the outdoors and enjoy another part of nature that’s nothing less than fabulous. And when the family can come as well, that just makes the day even more special.

In Franklin County we have opportunities to get onto beautiful ponds in pristine areas, or larger bodies of water like the Connecticut River or, again, traveling over to the Quabbin. All are perfect for your favorite type of freshwater fishing, whether it be casting with a rod and reel, or settling in for a quiet day on a small river, like the Deerfield, while enjoying some fly casting into a legendary body of water. Just remember, in Massachusetts you need a fishing license before you can cast a line if you’re over the age of 15. That said, kids under the age of 15 don’t need a license, and licenses for teenagers 15-17 are free, as are licenses for anyone over the age of 70 or who may be physically or intellectually challenged. And make sure you check the abstracts for costs of different types of fishing licenses. Once that’s secured, get out there and enjoy a day with the family, or just with a friend, and let nature and the fish simply come to you!

Take a paddling trip! There are so many great places to take paddling trips in Western Massachusetts that I would need much more space to get them all down on paper. But my two favorites are – No. 1, the Swift River, starting at the boat launch in Belchertown and then heading left upriver. This is a perfect place for trout fishing (excellent for fly-fishing) as the waters are usually crystal clear, which means it’s not unusual to look down and see trout swimming right beneath you! Plus, nature just surrounds you here and is always unbelievable to experience. And, when you’re slowly moving through a body of water like this, a sense of serenity sometimes overtakes you, which is hard to imagine unless you’re there and a part of it all. And No. 2, Barton Cove, with an easy-to-access boat ramp right of Route 2 in Gill. And what a great place that is for a paddling trip for the entire family, with the usually calm waters, and magical areas where you can view large rock formations that hold the history of this special place, also an old quarry where some say that dinosaur tracks have be found!

But the number one attraction at Barton Cove are “the eagles” who have been making this place their home since the early 1990s and currently have active nesting grounds on Barton Island. And here’s a tip – make sure you bring a good pair of binoculars along for the ride, so you can really enjoy the majesty of these glorious birds once they come into view.

This is but a small assortment in a long list of outdoor adventures to be had in Western Massachusetts. But most importantly, no matter what you do, have some great outdoor adventures during this phenomenal month of June!

​​​​​​Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net