Bear Swamp is a forested park in Ashfield, Massachusetts owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations. Bear Swamp was originally a sheep pasture and then a source of firewood and lumber, but in early 1960s Rev. Philip and Esther Steinmetz started buying the land concerned that Ashfield was on the way to losing its wild places. They gave the area to the public in 1968. Once it was left alone, it quickly turned into untouched wilderness. The land is well-drained and fertile and once it was protected started growing hardwood trees such as ash, hickory, basswood, maple and cherry. Three miles of trails run through the park. The Beaver Brook Trail follows the southern edge of a small pond and wet meadow with an old beaver dam. The Fern Glade Trail is surrounded by lush ferns and wildflowers. The Lookout Trail offers a beautiful view from the Apple Valley Overlook.
Ashfield, MA