List of Massachusetts state parks

This list of Massachusetts State Parks contains the state parks and recreation areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as of 2015.[1]

Massachusetts State Parks (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link)

The Bureau of State Parks and Recreation division of Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts) (DCR) is responsible for the maintenance and management of over 450,000 acres (1,820 sq km) of privately and state-owned forests and parks, nearly 10% of the Commonwealth's total land mass. Within the lands managed by the Bureau of State Parks and Recreation are some 29 campgrounds, over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of trails, 87 beaches, 37 swimming, wading, and spray pools, 62 playgrounds, 55 ballfields, and 145 miles (233 km) of paved bike and rail trails.

DCR's Bureau of Urban Parks and Recreation manages the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, the components of which are included in this list.

State parks

Name   County   Area[2] Estab-
lished
  
River / lake / other   Image Remarks  
acres ha
Alewife Brook ReservationMiddlesex
42°23′48″N 71°8′38″W
136 acres55 ha1900Little Pond, Little River, Alewife BrookA major portion of the Alewife Reservation is designated wetland. The Reservation is located at the end of the Minuteman Bike Path in Arlington
Ames Nowell State ParkPlymouth
42°7′12.8994″N 70°59′13.632″W
612 acres248 ha1959Cleveland PondThe park is primarily used for boating and fishing.
Ashland State ParkMiddlesex
42°14′30″N 71°27′58″W
472 acres191 ha1947Ashland Reservoir
Bash Bish Falls State ParkBerkshire
42°06′53″N 73°29′34″W
424 acres172 ha1924Bash Bish FallsMassachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall lies within the park borders.
Beartown State ForestBerkshire
42°14′00″N 73°16′28″W
120 acres49 ha1921Benedict PondApproximately 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of the Appalachian Trail travels through the forest.
Beaver Brook ReservationMiddlesex
42°23′26″N 71°11′52″W
303 acres123 ha1893The park includes a cascading waterfall and a wading pool.
Belle Isle Marsh ReservationSuffolk
42°23′21″N 70°59′21″W
188 acres76 ha1978Belle Isle MarshThe reservation includes landscaped pathways, benches, and an observation tower. A portion of the Boston Harborwalk runs through the reservation.
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State ParkWorcester
42°05′40″N 71°37′23″W
1,066 acres431 ha1981Blackstone RiverThe park is the midpoint of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor of the National Park System.
Blue Hills ReservationNorfolk
42°12′40″N 71°7′40″W
6,165 acres2,495 ha1893Houghton's Pond, Ponkapoag PondThe reservation has the distinction of being the largest conservation land within a major metropolitan area.
Borderland State ParkBristol, Norfolk
42°4′3″N 71°9′13″W
1,843 acres746 ha1971On National Register of Historic Places
Boston Harbor Islands State ParkNorfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk
42°19′11.6″N 70°55′45.6″W
404 acres163 ha1996Boston Harbor
Bradley Palmer State ParkEssex
42°38′0″N 70°53′43″W
736 acres298 ha1944Ipswich RiverThe park that features rolling meadows, lush evergreens and old carriage roads lined with rhododendrons.
Breakheart ReservationEssex, Middlesex
42°29′21″N 71°2′23″W
652 acres264 ha1934Silver Lake, Pearce Lake, Saugus RiverThe reservation is hardwood forest principally used for birding, fishing and hiking.
Brimfield State ForestHampden
42°6′0″N 72°14′56″W
3,523 acres1,426 ha1924Dean Pond
Bristol Blake State Reservation Norfolk
42°6′28.6″N 71°19′5″W
140 acres57 ha1959[3]Kingfisher Pond, Stony Brook Pond, Teal MarshAdjacent to Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Brook Farm Historic SiteSuffolk
42°17′29″N 71°10′26.7″W
141 acres57 ha1988
C. M. Gardner State ParkHampden
42°16′31″N 72°52′14.5″W
85 acres34 ha1959Westfield River
Callahan State ParkMiddlesex
42°20′35″N 71°26′55″W
958 acres388 ha1970
Camp Nihan Environmental Education CampEssex
42°29′32.6″N 71°1′11.4″W
65 acres26 ha1929Saugus RiverPart of Breakheart Reservation
Castle IslandSuffolk
42°20′15″N 71°0′38″W
22 acres8.9 haBoston HarborThe present fort, built between 1834 and 1851, is the eighth generation of forts and it is one of the oldest fortified sites in British North America.
Charles River ReservationSuffolk, Middlesex
42°21′20″N 71°6′56″W
863 acres349 ha1910Charles RiverIncludes Charles River Dam, Charles River Basin and Esplanade, John F. Kennedy Park, and Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields. Covers Charles River below Watertown Dam; see also Upper Charles River Reservation
Chester-Blandford State ForestHampden
42°14′58″N 72°56′58″W
2,776 acres1,123 ha1924
Chestnut Hill ReservationSuffolk
42°20′7″N 71°9′29″W
1 acre0.40 ha1870Chestnut Hill ReservoirThe Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic District is considered a nineteenth-century masterpiece of engineering, urban planning and landscape design.
Chicopee Memorial State ParkHampden
42°10′45″N 72°32′13″W
562 acres227 ha1893Cooley Brook ReservoirThe park includes two 25-acre (10 ha) ponds.
Clarksburg State ParkBerkshire
42°44′5″N 73°4′35″W
3,629 acres1,469 haMauserts PondAdjoins 3,011 acre Clarksburg State Forest
Cochituate State ParkMiddlesex
42°18′45″N 71°22′27″W
872 acres353 haLake Cochituate
Connecticut River Greenway State ParkFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire
42°36′27″N 72°32′30″W
1,048 acres424 ha1986Connecticut RiverMultiple state land holdings in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts
Constitution BeachSuffolk
42°23′5.5″N 71°0′36.2″W
82 acres33 ha1952Boston Harbor
Cutler Park ReservationNorfolk
42°16′16″N 71°11′45″W
739 acres299 ha1962Charles RiverIt contains the largest remaining fresh water marsh on the middle Charles, and includes a boardwalk through a cattail marsh out onto an island.
D.A.R. State ForestHampshire
42°27′25″N 72°47′50″W
1,728 acres699 ha1929Upper and Lower Highland Lake
Demarest Lloyd State ParkBristol
41°31′44″N 70°59′0″W
200 acres81 ha1953Buzzards Bay
Dighton Rock State ParkBristol
41°48′46″N 71°6′23″W
98 acres40 ha1955Taunton RiverDighton Rock is an 11-foot (3.4 m) high glacial erratic covered with petroglyphs and has since been moved to a museum at the park.
Dorchester Shores ReservationSuffolk
42°17′50″N 71°2′44″W
44 acres18 ha1962Neponset RiverThe reservation comprises two beaches and a park.
Douglas State ForestWorcester
42°3′30″N 71°47′13″W
5,525 acres2,236 ha1934Wallum LakeFeatures include a rare Atlantic White Cedar swamp and 7.8 miles (12.6 km) of the Midstate Trail
Dunn State ParkWorcester
42°34′48″N 71°58′12″W
132 acres53 ha1915Dunn Pond
Ellisville Harbor State ParkPlymouth
41°50′34″N 70°32′13″W
97 acres39 ha1991Cape Cod BayWalking trails overlooking a tidal marsh, sandy/rocky beach at trail end
Elm Bank ReservationNorfolk
42°16′34″N 71°18′9″W
175 acres71 ha1996Charles RiverBenjamin Pierce Cheney's property, now run by Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Erving State ForestFranklin
42°37′21″N 72°22′41″W
2,422 acres980 ha1920Millers RiverThe 110-mile (180 km) Metacomet-Monadnock Trail passes through a western parcel of the state forest.
F. Gilbert Hills State ForestNorfolk
42°3′28″N 71°17′0″W
1,030 acres420 ha
Fall River Heritage State ParkBristol
41°42′20″N 71°9′38″W
14 acres5.7 ha1985Taunton River
Federated Women's Club State ForestWorcester
42°29′27″N 72°15′15″W
970 acres390 ha1933Fever Brook
Fort Phoenix State ReservationBristol
41°37′27″N 70°53′56″W
1 acre0.40 haAtlantic OceanRevolutionary War fort; 1/2 mile of Buzzards Bay beachfront
Fort Revere ParkPlymouth
42°18′17″N 70°54′21″W
6 acres2.4 ha1976Atlantic OceanOn Telegraph Hill in Hull, Massachusetts. Remnants of two seacoast fortifications, water tower with observation deck, military history museum and picnic facilities
Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park and Moynihan Recreation AreaSuffolk
42°14′36″N 71°7′37″W
5.6 acres2.3 haNeponset RiverOutdoor theatre and play fields
Freetown-Fall River State ForestBristol
41°45′28″N 71°3′48″W
5,217 acres2,111 ha1930The park includes Profile Rock, a granite outcropping which local Native Americans believe to be the image of Chief Massasoit. Also in the forest is a 227-acre (92 ha) Wampanoag reservation
Gardner Heritage State ParkWorcester
42°34′38″N 71°59′39″W
0 acres0 ha1985Restored 19th century fire station with exhibits; closed since 2002
Georgetown-Rowley State ForestEssex
42°42′5″N 70°58′26″W
1,041 acres421 ha
Granville State ForestHampden
42°3′35″N 72°58′17″W
2,432 acres984 ha1921Hubbard River
Great Brook Farm State ParkMiddlesex
42°33′21″N 71°21′12″W
909 acres368 ha1967Meadow Pond
Greycourt State ParkEssex
42°43′46″N 71°10′51″W
24 acres9.7 ha2001The park is built atop the restored ruins of the Charles H. Tenney estate.
Halibut Point State ParkEssex
42°41′22″N 70°37′59″W
55 acres22 ha1981Features a former granite quarry and 60-foot (18 m) tower with coastal views
Hammond Pond ReservationMiddlesex
42°19′30″N 71°10′36″W
59 acres24 ha1968
Hampton Ponds State ParkHampden
42°10′45″N 72°41′22″W
47 acres19 haPequot Pond
Harold Parker State ForestEssex
42°37′33″N 71°4′54″W
3,320 acres1,340 ha1916Stearns Pond
Hemlock Gorge ReservationMiddlesex
42°18′52″N 71°13′35″W
16 acres6.5 ha1895Charles River
Holyoke Heritage State ParkHampden
42°12′18″N 72°36′26″W
7 acres2.8 ha1986The park features include a visitor center with exhibits about paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial and cultural history.
Hopkinton State ParkMiddlesex
42°14′57″N 71°31′32″W
1,245 acres504 ha1947Hopkinton ReservoirThe park features a bathing pond for swimming that is physically separated from the reservoir, where nonmotorized boating is permitted
Horseneck Beach State ReservationBristol
41°30′28″N 71°2′55″W
815 acres330 ha1956Popular for its two-mile (3 km) long sandy beach on the shore of Buzzards Bay. Also camping, fishing and a salt marsh.
Jug End State Reservation and Wildlife Management AreaBerkshire1,191 acres482 ha1994
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State ForestFranklin7,405 acres2,997 ha1997Hallockville Pond, Crooked Pond
Lake Dennison Recreation AreaWorcester121 acres49 haLake DennisonThe park is an extension of Otter River State Forest
Lake Lorraine State ParkHampden3 acres1.2 haclosed to the public
Lake Wyola State ParkFranklin42 acres17 ha1997Lake Wyola
Lawrence Heritage State ParkEssex50 acres20 ha1980
Leominster State ForestWorcester4,246 acres1,718 ha1922The Midstate Trail runs through the western edge of the forest.
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State ForestMiddlesex1,109 acres449 ha1941
Lowell Heritage State ParkMiddlesex60 acres24 ha1975Merrimack RiverPrecursor to Lowell National Historical Park; preserves the city's seminal role in the American Industrial Revolution
Lynn Heritage State ParkEssex4 acres1.6 ha1986
Lynn Shore ReservationEssex22 acres8.9 ha
Manuel F. Correllus State ForestDukes5,215 acres2,110 ha1908Little PondIn the interior of Martha's Vineyard, the park is the focus of one of the largest environmental restoration projects in the country.
Massasoit State ParkBristol1,207 acres488 haLake Rico, Furnace Pond, King's Pond, Middle Pond, Little Bearhole Pond, and Big Bearhole Pond
Maudslay State ParkEssex483 acres195 ha1985Merrimack River
Middlesex Fells ReservationMiddlesex2,283 acres924 ha1893Bellevue and Spot Ponds
Mohawk Trail State ForestFranklin7,758 acres3,140 ha1921Includes Cold River Virgin Forest, National Natural Landmark
Monroe State ForestFranklin3,750 acres1,520 ha1924Dunbar Brook
Moore State ParkWorcester737 acres298 haEames Pond
Mount Everett State ReservationBerkshire2,492 acres1,008 ha1908Guilder Pond
Mount Grace State ForestFranklin1,578 acres639 ha1920Mount Grace
Mount Greylock State ReservationBerkshire12,455 acres5,040 ha1898
Mount Holyoke Range State ParkHampshire3,000 acres1,200 ha1940
Mount Sugarloaf State ReservationFranklin533 acres216 ha1907
Mount Tom State ReservationHampden1,967 acres796 ha1902
Mount Washington State ForestBerkshire4,619 acres1,869 ha1958
Myles Standish Monument State ReservationPlymouth30 acres12 ha1920A 120-foot (37 m) tower with 125 steps that overlooks Plymouth Harbor and Duxbury Beach.
Myles Standish State ForestPlymouth12,029 acres4,868 ha1916Pitch pine and scrub oak forest with sixteen ponds for fishing, canoeing, swimming. Camping on four of the ponds, bicycle trails, equestrian trails, and horse camping.
Mystic River ReservationMiddlesex359 acres145 ha1893Mystic Lakes; Mystic River
Nahant Beach ReservationEssex67 acres27 haAtlantic Ocean
Nantasket Beach ReservationPlymouth39 acres16 ha
Nasketucket Bay State ReservationPlymouth210 acres85 ha1999
Natural Bridge State ParkBerkshire44 acres18 ha1985Hudson BrookIt contains the only natural white marble arch/bridge in North America. The natural bridge spanning Hudson Brook, was formed by glacial melt about 11,000 BC, from 550 million year old bedrock.
Neponset River ReservationSuffolk1,880 acres760 ha
Nickerson State ParkBarnstable1,967 acres796 ha1934Cliff Pond
October Mountain State ForestBerkshire16,460 acres6,660 ha1915
Otter River State ForestWorcester1,022 acres414 ha1915Otter River, Millers River
Pearl Hill State ParkMiddlesex1,000 acres400 haPark Hill Brook
Pilgrim Memorial State ParkPlymouth6 acres2.4 ha1920Site of Plymouth Rock
Pittsfield State ForestBerkshire10,601 acres4,290 ha
Pope John Paul II Park ReservationSuffolk66 acres27 ha2001Neponset River EstuaryReclaimed former landfill and commercial area
Purgatory Chasm State ReservationWorcester100 acres40 ha1919The Chasm was created when glacial meltwater from a burst ice dam ripped out blocks of bedrock at the end of the last Ice Age (14,000 years ago).
Quabbin ReservoirHampshire39 sq mi100 km21938
Quincy Quarries ReservationNorfolk22 acres8.9 ha1985
Quincy Shores ReservationNorfolk87 acres35 ha1899
Quinsigamond State ParkWorcester38 acres15 ha
Revere Beach ReservationSuffolk84 acres34 ha1896
Robinson State ParkHampden1,025 acres415 ha1934Westfield River
Roxbury Heritage State ParkSuffolk3 acres1.2 ha1992The 1750 Dillaway-Thomas House and a small park
Rumney Marsh ReservationEssex, Suffolk815 acres330 ha1992Saugus River; Pines River
Rutland State ParkWorcester284 acres115 haWhitehall PondSwimming, picnicking and boating.
Salisbury Beach State ReservationEssex355 acres144 ha1931The park's main feature is its 3.8-mile (6.1 km)-long beach, one of the most popular in the Commonwealth.
Sandisfield State ForestBerkshire4,190 acres1,700 haYork Lake
Sandy Point State ReservationEssex134 acres54 ha
Savoy Mountain State ForestBerkshire10,457 acres4,232 ha1918
Scusset Beach State ReservationBarnstable459 acres186 ha1957On Cape Cod Bay at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, a popular swimming and camping area.
Shawme-Crowell State ForestBarnstable624 acres253 haForested 285 site campground
J.A. Skinner State ParkHampshire843 acres341 ha1940Connecticut River
South Cape Beach State ParkBarnstable460 acres190 haA component of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve with a one-mile (1.6 km) stretch of beach.
Southwest Corridor ParkSuffolk221 acres89 ha1987Greenway of 4.7 miles (7.6 km) that runs South End, Back Bay, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods
Spencer State ForestWorcester903 acres365 ha1922Howe Pond
Squantum Point ParkNorfolk46 acres19 ha2001
Stony Brook ReservationSuffolk616 acres249 ha1894Turtle Pond
Streeter Point Recreation AreaWorcester1 acre0.40 haEast Brimfield ReservoirFishing, swimming, picnicking
Sudbury ReservoirMiddlesex; Worcester4,943 acres2,000 ha1898Sudbury Reservoir
Tolland State ForestBerkshire4,415 acres1,787 ha1925Otis Reservoir
Upper Charles River ReservationMiddlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk863 acres349 haCharles RiverCovers Charles River between Watertown Dam and Riverdale Park, West Roxbury; see also Charles River Reservation
Upton State ForestWorcester2,790 acres1,130 ha1915Has Civilian Conservation Corps structures
Wachusett Mountain State ReservationWorcester2,288 acres926 ha1899
Wachusett ReservoirWorcester4,135 acres1,673 ha1908Nashua River; Quinapoxet River
Wahconah Falls State ParkBerkshire48 acres19 haWahconah Falls Brook
Walden Pond State ReservationMiddlesex335 acres136 ha1922Walden Pond
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveBarnstable110 acres45 ha1987Waquoit Bay; Quashnet River; Childs River; ponds
Ware River Watershed AreaWorcester23,000 acres9,300 ha
Watson Pond State ParkBristol163 acres66 ha
Webb Memorial State ParkNorfolk59 acres24 ha1980Hingham Bay
Wells State ParkWorcester1,445 acres585 ha1968Walker Pond
Wendell State ForestFranklin7,566 acres3,062 ha1921Millers River, Quabbin Reservoir
Western Gateway Heritage State ParkBerkshire8 acres3.2 ha1986
Weymouth Back River ReservationNorfolk35 acres14 haSite of Stodder's Neck and Abigail Adams Park
Whitehall State ParkMiddlesex837 acres339 ha1947Whitehall Reservoir
Willard Brook State ForestMiddlesex2,929 acres1,185 ha1930
Willowdale State ForestEssex2,491 acres1,008 haHood Pond
Wilson Mountain ReservationNorfolk215 acres87 ha1995
Windsor State ForestBerkshire1,824 acres738 ha1925Westfield River
Winthrop Shore ReservationSuffolk18 acres7.3 ha1900Atlantic Ocean
Wompatuck State ParkPlymouth3,579 acres1,448 ha1967Aaron River Reservoir

State trails

Name Towns County Length Estab-
lished
Image Remarks
mi km
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Cheshire, Lanesborough, Adams Berkshire 11 mi18 km 2001 Conversion of rail corridor dating from 1845
Canalside Rail Trail Deerfield, Montague Franklin 3.7 mi6.0 km 2008 Trail along the Connecticut River
Cape Cod Rail Trail Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet Barnstable 25.5 mi41.0 km 1976 22-mile trail on Cape Cod
Lower Neponset River Trail City of Boston Suffolk 2.4 mi3.9 km 2010[4] Runs along the Neponset River in Dorchester
Mahican-Mohawk Trail Berkshire, Franklin 30 mi48 km In development
Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside City of Waltham, towns of Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, Marlborough, Stow, Hudson, Bolton, and Berlin Middlesex, Worcester 23 mi 37 km 2010 In development, sections in Waltham, Wayland, Weston, and Hudson are complete.
Nashua River Rail Trail Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, Dunstable Middlesex 12.5 mi20.1 km 2002 Trail along the Nashua River
Norwottuck Rail Trail City of Northampton, towns of Hadley, Amherst, and Belchertown Hampshire 11 mi18 km 1992 Part of the Mass Central Rail Trail
Southern New England Trunkline Trail Douglas, Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Bellingham, Franklin Norfolk, Worcester 22 mi35 km 1984 22-mile trail from Franklin State Forest to Douglas State Forest


Other trails

Name Towns County Length Estab-
lished
Image Remarks
mi km
Appalachian Trail Great Barrington, Dalton, Cheshire, North Adams, Williamstown Berkshire 90 mi140 km 1923 Part of 2200-mile East Coast foot trail; maintained by the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club

See also

References

  1. "Massachusetts State Parks". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  2. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  3. "Section 7. Bristol Blake State Reservation". Mass.gov. Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  4. Mink, Jessica. "The Neponset River: A History". NeponsetGreenway.org. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
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