To get a look at the northern boundary of the Paul C. Jones Working Forest in Leverett and Shutesbury, walk the non-motorized section of Rattlesnake Gutter Road.

At the northeast end of Rattlesnake Gutter Road, an old logging road runs south into the main body of the 3,486-acre tract. There are signs at the start about the route, a discontinued 3.1-mile section of the Metacomet and Monadnock Trail. It leads down into the heart of the parcel.

Another route in, says Kristin DeBoer of the Kestrel Land Trust, is to start on Number Six Road off Shutesbury Road, at a gravel pit that is not part of the conservation restriction, and head north.

"The best way to explore Brushy Mountain is on foot," she said. "Plan a long day hike to traverse the mountain and to experience the vastness of the roadless area that has been conserved."

Jeff Lacy of Shutesbury, who hikes the area, suggests parking at a trailhead off Montague Road in Shutesbury a few hundred yards south of the intersection with Carver Road.

He suggests taking the main trail in for a mile or more, bearing right at several intersections. The trail is uphill and can be strenuous.

The precise route is up to each hiker, but this access does enable hikers to get to the top of Brushy Mountain, which stands at about 1,200 feet of elevation.

Everyone going in should be mindful of weather conditions and the amount of daylight, and carry maps, a compass, water and other provisions to ensure their safety if they have to spend more time in the woods than they anticipated.

The terms of the conservation restriction allow public access to the land from one hour before daylight to one hour after sunset.

- LARRY PARNASS