Gifford Family Memorial Forest

The Gifford Family Memorial Forest is a 33-acre riverside landscape where trails and old cart roads trace nearly half a mile along the West Branch of Tully Brook, offering scenic walking and fishing access. Shaped by a legacy of conservation, the property protects a beloved stretch of river now home to the Senator Robert D. Wetmore Memorial Fishing Hole and a place for quiet recreation.

Highlights & Activities

Trail Guide

  • 0.9 Miles
  • 65 ft Elevation Gain
  • Natural Earth Trail Surface

Trail Map

Activities

Directions & Parking

Public Access

Gifford Family Memorial Forest is open to the public for hiking, nature viewing, hunting and fishing.

Directions

101 Tully Rd, Orange, MA 01364

From Main Street in Athol, drive north on Exchange Street for 1/3 mile, then take a left onto Pinedale Avenue. Pinedale Ave turns into Tully Rd. Continue on Tully Rd for 2 miles just past Noel’s Nursery. The Gifford property sign is on the left (west).

Parking is available at the opening south of the gate.

Views from the Trail

Trail Description

Whether you’re a hiker, birder, angler, hunter or perhaps just a morning walker, Gifford Family Memorial Forest has something for you.

Gifford Family Memorial Forest Trail

Located less than five minutes from downtown Athol, this protected property features a short and relatively flat trail that leads you along the babbling West Branch of the Tully River and past a 200-foot-long historic stone dam.

  • 0.9 Miles
  • 65 ft Elevation Gain
  • Loop

View on AllTrails

Ownership

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust

 

Gift From

The Gifford family (2012)

Year Protected

2002

The trail at Gifford Family Memorial Forest

The Gifford Family Memorial Forest is 33 acres of land that encompasses both sides of the West Branch of Tully Brook for nearly half a mile. Existing cart roads and a trail along the riverbank provide a scenic walking loop and excellent fishing access. In 2016, the area along the brook was dedicated as the Senator Robert D. Wetmore Memorial Fishing Hole to honor the legacy of a true environmental hero from the region.

Property History

Laura and George Gifford had brought their children, George, Laura, and Lissa, to a cabin by the river for summers since the 1960s. After her husband, George, passed away, Laura wanted to make sure the land remained unspoiled. In 2002, the Gifford family placed a conservation restriction held by the Department of Fish and Game on their 33-acre property during the 9,000-acre Tully Initiative. In 2012, as a tribute to George and Laura, the Gifford family chose to donate the land in full to Mount Grace.

“Tully Brook gave our family peace and delight; may it continue to do so for the community.” Lissa Gifford