Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area has sloping hills, rock cliffs, and flatlands lying alongside the cold, clear waters of the Swift River just south of its origin at the Quabbin Reservoir’s Winsor Dam. Sandy soils and gravel deposits give rise to areas of pine barrens, which are globally rare and support a diverse array of plants and animals. Restoration projects conducted by MassWildlife increase the vigor of this unique habitat type. Since these habitats need some form of disturbance to thrive, visitors should expect to see operations like mowing and prescribed fires conducted periodically. Explore the forests, meadows, and beaver ponds on foot or float the river in a canoe or kayak. Stop by the McLaughlin Trout Hatchery or visit MassWildlife’s Connecticut Valley Wildlife District office; both are open to the public.

The property can be accessed from Ware Road (MA-9), East Street, Cold Spring Road, River Road, and Bondsville Road. Multiple parking areas off East Street provide approximately 10 parking spaces. Boating access for the Swift River off Cold Spring Road has parking spaces for 20 trailers. Parking areas are not maintained in the winter.

The unique barrens habitat found here is characterized by pitch pine and oaks along with lowbush blueberry, scrub oak, and native grasses. Barrens are home to eastern whip-poor-wills, a wide variety of native bees, and an impressive suite of state-listed moths and butterflies. Birds like American woodcock, ruffed grouse, prairie warblers, eastern towhees, and field sparrows can be found in the grassland and regenerating young forests. Waterfowl, wading birds, and grassland birds, including wood ducks, great blue herons, bobolinks, and beavers can be seen in the open fields and wetlands. White-tailed deer feed in the meadows in spring and travel to stands of red oak in the fall in search of acorns.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area.