Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest offers access to the East Branch of the Westfield River via the scenic 9-mile East Branch Trail, which runs along the river's west bank through the 2,486-acre forest.

The trail connects the Chesterfield Gorge to the Knightville Dam Wildlife Management Area and is suitable for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, with excellent catch-and-release trout fishing opportunities along the river corridor.