FAQs

Harvard Forest and the Fisher Museum are dedicated to ensuring an accessible and welcoming environment for all visitors. Please visit our Accessibility page for more information.

Sledding is allowed on the Harvard Farm December – April.  Snowmobiling is prohibited at all times.

Camping is not permitted at Harvard Forest, but local accommodations can be found within a 20-mile radius.

Horseback riding is permitted on some dirt roads at Harvard Forest. Signs on trails designate where horseback riding is allowed. Please be aware that research vehicles, hikers and mountain bikers may also be using these roads at any time. For more information, view our trail maps.

Except for a few intensive research areas, hunting is allowed at Harvard Forest in the seasons and according to the regulations of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The few intensive research areas where hunting is restricted are clearly posted. There is also no hunting allowed in the vicinity of Harvard Pond, which is a wildlife preserve, or at the Matthews Plantation in Hamilton, MA.

See our Petersham map (2017) of the areas where hunting is restricted.

Voice: (978)724-3302

Fax: (978)724-3595

Please visit our Directions page.

324 North Main Street

Petersham, MA 01366

The Fisher Museum’s Summer Hours (start of May through Veteran’s Day Weekend in November) are 9:00am -5:00pm on weekdays, and 12:00pm – 4:00pm on weekends.
Winter Hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm on weekdays.
The Museum is closed on University holidays.
Visit the Museum page for Special Events and Closings.

Harvard Forest Offices are open weekdays 9:00AM – 4:00PM

Grazing on the Harvard Farm typically begins May 1st and ends November 30th.

The Harvard Forest Archives maintains a map and photo collection which covers our present and historical research interests. Anyone interested should contact the Archivist at (978) 756-6164 or email hflib@fas.harvard.edu to determine whether we have material which fits your needs prior to making a visit.

We welcome offers of donations of archival items related to the study of ecology. Please contact the Archivist at (978) 756-6164 or email hflib@fas.harvard.edu to discuss whether the Archives are an appropriate repository for your items. If possible, provide a specific list.

Harvard Forest maintains a collection of books and other publications related to the study of forest ecology, most of which are cataloged in HOLLIS (Harvard University’s library catalog), however the library is not open to the general public and materials do not circulate. Harvard Forest researchers may access the collection. If you have questions, please contact the Archivist at (978) 756-6164 or email hflib@fas.harvard.edu.

Tours are available. Please visit our Tours & Conferences page for more information.

The diorama images are freely available to download and use, with credit given to Harvard Forest. The best way to get diorama images is to go to the Diorama Gallery in PhotoShelter.
To download images from this repository:

• Select the image you’d like to download and click the Download icon.
• In the Download image pop-up, select the Gallery password tab, enter Forest as the password, then click the Authenticate button.
• Choose the image format you would like from the dropdown menu, then click the Download button.

Usage rights: All works are licensed for use under the Creative Commons attribution CC BY-ND. The license allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to Harvard Forest.

For information about trees, tree pests and tree diseases, visit the Massachusetts arborists web site or Certified Tree and Lawn Specialists or the UMASS Extension Landscape Nursery and Urban Forestry School.

For more information, visit the MassWoods Forest Conservation Program’s web site: http://masswoods.net/

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Harvard Forest! Please see the Give to the Harvard Forest page.