Quabbin Reservoir

What is the Quabbin reservoir? The Quabbin reservoir is one of the largest man-made water supplies in the US. It provides water to two-million Boston and north shore residents. The Quabbin was built between 1930 and 1939. The Quabbin is fed by the Swift and the Ware rivers. It has an average depth of 51 feet. It submerged 60 hills and mountains and four towns. The four towns are Greenwich, Dana, Prescott, and Enfield. The Quabbin has 181 miles of shoreline and is 18 miles long.

The Quabbin reservoir is surrounded by wooded watershed. There are gates leading into the the watershed all around. A few gates are open occasionally for fishing or hunting purposes only. Massachusetts has a lottery where the winner is allowed to hunt certain critters in certain seasons with certain types of weapons. There are two gates I can think of that have marinas for fishing, gates 15 and 31. Gate 31 actually sells the fishing license and rents the fishing boat. Gate 15 is between New Salem and Shutesbury, on the west side of the water, off of MA-202. Gate 31 is on the north side of the water, off of MA-122.

There are strict rules on what and who can enter these gates. Anyone can enter, but there are no pets allowed and no skis. Walking and snowshoes are allowed at gates only. No entry is allowed to anyone, other than hunters, where no gate is present.

If you aren't into walking, there are two places where you can view the water from your car. One is on MA-202 near Amherst Road, in Pelham. There are excellent views of the water and the mountains beyond. We saw a bald eagle here last year. The second place is in Belchertown, at the south end of the water, off of MA-9. This is the dam and spillway and visitor's center. Hike the dam if you have the energy. There is also a park here for hiking and an excellent drive through the park and several overlooks along that drive.

I often walk gate 29. It is down hill for 45 minutes, to the water or up to Rattlesnake Hill and then another 45 minutes back to the car. There is plenty of parking and wildlife can be seen in the morning and evenings.

Bicycling is allowed at only a few gates, gate 29 is one of them. There is also another gate on the east side, but I can't remember the number. You can get a map and rules from the visitor's center on the south end of the water. That is quite a long walk, so riding is more enjoyable at that gate.

During some seasons there are outhouses available at some gates and there are two real restrooms at the visitors center, one outside, built into the retaining wall and one inside the visitor's center. During the season when the 1794 Meeting house, in New Salem is hosting musical performances, there is an outhouse next to that on the town common. And the New Salem town hall is available to those in need on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm and on Wednesday mornings between 9am and 11 am.

The New Salem library is brand new, so check it out. The town has wifi so you can log on here if you have a need to connect.

And while you are in New Salem, check out the lookout where you can see the water with only a short walk from your vehicle. Motorcycles often check out this view when they need a break from riding. From MA-202 just turn toward the town center, then left from South Main Street, at the volunteer fire station and drive to the end parking lot, where the rough dirt road ends. The trail continues until you see the water while sitting at the picnic table.

The closest walk to the water's edge is on the north end. Can't remember the gate number, but it might be the one with the women's forest sign on MA-122. If you park and go right at the fort and pass under the power wires and keep left at the second fork, the water will be visible shortly. Just be careful of poison ivy, it is everywhere. Tip: You can easily get rid of poison ivy quickly. Just buy the $40 a tiny tube from any drug store and use it according to the directions, and the rash will be all but gone the next day. It provides instant relief. A friend told me about this and I tried it, it works!

The ride around the Quabbin is lengthy. It goes from MA-202 to MA-122 to MA-32 to MA32A to MA-9 and back to MA-202 again. Stop in at the Quabbin Woods Restaurant in Petersham for something to eat or drink. The New Salem General Store has everything except restrooms, even a full-service deli and video rentals. There is a terrific farm stand in Granby. But Granby isn't on the loop. From MA-202 you'd normally turn onto or from MA-9 to stay on the loop. But if detouring to Granby's farmstand, you stay south on MA-202. At the intersection of MA-202 and MA-2 (also just outside of the loop, just continue north on MA-202 instead of turning onto MA-122) there is a Dunkin Donuts (with a bathroom), fast food, ice cream at the 202 Grill (also with a bathroom) and mini golf, batting cages, driving range, go-carts and indoor and outdoor hockey rinks. Lots of things to keep kids of all ages entertained in a safe, small-town environment.

The Quabbin loop is very popular with tourists looking to enjoy the fall color. Peak season is usually in late September or early October. At that time and all summer long, the roads in the area are busier than usual with motorcycles, sometimes enmasse, so look twice!

I have seen wildlife everywhere, but few deer. I've heard we have moose here but have yet to see one. I often see wild turkeys, blue jays, little brown and gray birds, a porcupine, snakes, red efts, spring peeper frogs, snapping turtles, slider turtles, toads, wasps, lady bugs (en masse, even in my home), newts, fish, and other bugs.

Kayaking is not allowed on the Quabbin, but there are plenty of other places to kayak and swim. Lake Mattawa in Orange is free and has an outhouse in the summer and Lake Wyola in Locks Village has life guards and bathrooms but charges an entrance fee. The best place to kayak is above Athol, near Royalston, at Lake Tully (there are bathrooms here). There is also a camp ground here and a waterfall and hiking. The campground rents kayaks you can then launch right into the water without lugging them in your vehicle. But if lugging isn't a problem, there are lots of area businesses who will rent you a kayak.