Visiting the Quabbin Reservoir

Ranked #927 in Travel & Places, #39,485 overall

The best kept secret in Massachusetts...

This is by far and away my favorite part of the state. Cape Cod has its sandy dunes, Cape Ann the quaintness of the Maine seashore, and the Berkshires the backroads charm of Vermont. However, if you are looking for a place to experience Massachusetts as a wilderness area, I highly suggest that you spend some time in and around the Quabbin Reservoir. If you look at a map of the state, and see an enormous fingerlike lake in the middle of it, that is the Quabbin. Bordered today by intriguing small towns such as Ware, New Salem, and Hardwick, there are plenty of woods, meadows, and hillscapes to explore.

See the beauty for yourself...

Words cannot describe what you may find here, but perhaps these pictures will. These are photos taken by Quabbin visitors. The amazing part is that Quabbin beauty can be found every day. Visit and try to find your inner photographer!

Quabbin road by pjmorse
Quabbin road by pjmorse
curated content from Flickr

About the reservoir

The Quabbin was created some 60-70 years ago as a water source for the city of Boston. In one of the more unusual and significant cases of eminent domain, the state seized land from residents of four central Massachusetts towns, and the towns were obliterated to create the reservoir. This took years to accomplish, and involved relocation of thousands of people, razing town buildings, relocating cemeteries (where possible), and constructing alternate roads and railways. There were court battles to try and stop the project, but the greater need for the city of Boston won out. By the mid 1940s, the Quabbin was doing its job to feed Boston with water. To this day, there are many nooks of the Quabbin that betray its former existence as thriving communities.

Today, the water is protected on all sides by thick woods, and is managed by the Mass Dept. of Conservation. Access is provided through gates on all sides of the reservoir to low impact recreation activities.

Spending time at the reservoir...

Here are just a few of the ways you can enjoy the Quabbin area:

-Rent a low horsepower motorboat from the DCR and spend a day fishing for lake salmon or bass, and exploring along the many islands.
-Hike along the network of trails in the fall, and try to find landmarks of the lost towns. Or a ruffed grouse!
-Cross-country ski or snowshoe along the perimeter in the winter, watching the snow gently settle on the lake.
-Take your canoe or touring kayak [note there are restrictions, please read them at the DCR site] to the Pottapaug, a long thin arm of the Quabbin where you may spot eagles overhead.
-Visit the nearby towns which feature town greens, country stores, antiquing, and local crafts and goods!
-Better yet, do the annual spring King's Tour of the Quabbin Century, with the Seven Hills Wheelmen. This century is not for the inexperienced distance cyclist though!

Do you want to go there yet? I can't wait to go back!

Quabbin Links and story

Here are just a few great links that tell of Quabbin past and present.
Photos thru the years
From site: The photos at left were taken from the same location on Great Quabbin Mountain about sixty years apart. The photos are all looking north. The top photo was taken in 1927, the middle in 1939 and the bottom (photographer Les Campbell) in 1989.
North Quabbin Woods visitors
The North Quabbin Woods is part of the New England Forestry Foundation, which promotes sustainable forestry practices and conservation. North Quabbin Woods Area Guide has plenty of information to help you plan a visit to the region.

Books about the Quabbin Reservoir

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The ruffed grouse

Now if you were paying attention, you may have noticed I referenced a ruffed grouse earlier in this page. The Quabbin happens to be a wonderful wildlife viewing area, with the forest being home to moose, deer, coyotes, fox, fisher cats, beaver, even black bear. Overhead, eagles and hawks may circle, and on the lake itself there are several loon pairs - one of the few water bodies in Massachusetts to provide adequate privacy for loon chick rearing. But, there is a perhaps less storied feathered resident of the area, the ruffed grouse.

You see, for some time I had been talking to my then boyfriend to go hiking with me here. I had picked out a trail for us, and read the description aloud to him. The book authors noted that it was very common to flush ruffed grouse from the tall grasses bordering this particular trail.

Off we were, enjoying the quiet solitude and scenery, exploring the shoreline, now meandering back through the woods road, having well forgotten about the book's "warning" of several hours ago, when off to my husband's left there was a great commotion as a large grouse flew up toward us. My husband must have jumped out of his skin, and admittedly it startled me too, but I grew up with pheasants doing the same thing so I was a bit more used to the noise. Anyway, we both had a very good laugh over that and ever since, we've joked with each other about looking out for those ruffed grouse.

Hmm, in recalling, this reminds me of the time we saw a moose next to the "Moose next X miles" road sign... but that's another story for another day...

Quabbin goods...

Proof you can find it on ebay....

From memorabilia from the four towns that predated the reservoir, to present day goods, ebay has Quabbin keepsakes for you.
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Quabbin news and articles

The Quabbin gets featured fairly often as a tourist area in magazines and newspapers - although not touristy in the way we usually think of the word. You won't find much here except the lake and animals (ok, maybe a few antique stores).
Innovation school grants announced
The following local applicants received $7000 each: Quabbin: International Baccalaureate School of Quabbin; Quaboag: Warren Community and West Brookfield elementary schools. ?It is encouraging to see so many local communities collaboratively finding ...
Worcester graduation rate improves
In Central Massachusetts, that money, called MassGrad grants, went to Athol-Royalston, Quabbin and Quaboag Regional and three schools and a program in Worcester: North High, South High Community, Burncoat High and the Gerald Creamer Center, ...
Guardians tip Panthers in marathon
Members of the Quabbin student section found it difficult to watch the fourth ? and final ? overtime of their school's loss to St. Peter-Marian. (T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA) By Jay Gearan CORRESPONDENT BARRE ? This was no ordinary Friday night high ...

Important note!

The Quabbin is temporarily closed to all private boats due to a threat of Zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are an invasive species, and they have been found in nearby lakes. Boats can still be rented on-site.

Other ways to enjoy the area

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Questions, comments, or just saying hello?

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PatriotAlpacas

When I moved to Massachusetts several years ago, I went on a fishing trip with coworkers to the Quabbin. From Boston, it seemed like a mysterious journey... more »

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