When most people think about Gardner, they think about the big busy downtown area. Little do they know, just 3 miles from downtown, there is a beautiful landscape of massive fields and miles of trails on the former land of the Gardner State Prison. High Ridge offers many things to do with your family, friends, or even just by yourself.

In a poll of Oakmont students, only 15% said they had been to this beautiful area, but all who had, talked about it positively. Oakmont senior, Izaiah Dejesus said, “The first time I was there I was in shock. The landscape, nature, and the overall vibe were just beautiful!” 

These trails offer incredible views of the mountains in the south and the beautiful foliage of Central Mass. The vast fields in High Ridge are great places to go if you are interested in photography or want to enjoy the scenic vistas of New England. The double wind turbines of the prison are also visible and provide a landmark that helps with navigation. 

Butterflies and other beautiful insects are attracted to the milkweed that blooms in the summer. The diverse plant and animal ecosystem is another reason to bring your camera along. If you’re lucky, you might even come across a family of deer.

Along with the scenic views, come many small ponds and rivers fit for fishing. Although many of these small bodies of water have no name, they are full of fish. A great place for anyone wanting to spend the afternoon away from their busy lives.

We took a trip there in the fall and caught various species such as largemouth bass, black bullheads, bluegills, and fallfish.

Hunting at High Ridge is another popular reason to come here. MassWildlife stocks ring-necked pheasants throughout the fall season. The mix of field and forest also attracts white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. 

The wetlands support wood ducks and mallards, while snowshoe hares frequent their swampy borders. Canada geese are often found in the fields and other birds like wrens and sparrows can be seen flying overhead.

As you take your scenic walk through the woods, you might notice ruins of buildings along the trails. Some research into the area shows that it was once the site of many large asylum buildings, hence the large fields, and smaller buildings like the pump house for infrastructure.

In the months when the leaves are off the trees, you might see the roof of a large building across the pond by the train tracks. This was an old storage building. Unfortunately, this area is off-limits due to its proximity to the prison, but it’s eerie nonetheless.

Despite the beauty of the untouched forest nestled between our towns, it is still widely unknown. High Ridge is one of the best places in Central Mass when you’re looking for a place to hike, fish, hunt, or anything else you can think of. We greatly enjoyed our trip there and highly recommend that anyone wanting to enjoy time outside should visit.

Here is a link to the official website of High Ridge. For any further questions feel free to email us.