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List of Massachusetts state parks

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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]

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.

Current parks

Park name   County or counties   Size[2] Date
founded   		Stream(s) and / or lake(s)    Remarks  
Alewife Brook Reservation Middlesex 136 acres 55 ha Little Pond, the Little River, and the Alewife Brook A 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 Park Plymouth 612 acres 248 ha Cleveland Pond The park is primarily used for boating and fishing.
Appalachian Trail Berkshire 90 mi 140 km 90 miles (145 km) of this trail are in Massachusetts.
Ashland State Park Middlesex 472 acres 191 ha Ashland Reservoir
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Berkshire 11 mi 18 km Cheshire Reservoir, the Hoosic River
Bash Bish Falls State Park Berkshire 424 acres 172 ha Bash Bish Falls Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall lies within the park borders.
Beartown State Forest Berkshire 120 acres 49 ha Benedict Pond Approximately 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of the Appalachian Trail travels through the forest.
Beaver Brook Reservation Middlesex 303 acres 123 ha The park includes a cascading waterfall and a wading pool.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Suffolk 188 acres 76 ha Belle Isle Marsh The 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 Park Worcester 1,066 acres 431 ha Blackstone River The park is the midpoint of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor of the National Park System.
Blue Hills Reservation Norfolk 6,165 acres 2,495 ha Houghton's Pond, Ponkapoag Pond The reservation has the distinction of being the largest conservation land within a major metropolitan area.
Borderland State Park Bristol, Norfolk 1,843 acres 746 ha 1971 On National Register of Historic Places
Boston Harbor Islands State Park Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk 404 acres 163 ha 1996 Boston Harbor
Bradley Palmer State Park Essex 736 acres 298 ha Ipswich River The park that features rolling meadows, lush evergreens and old carriage roads lined with rhododendrons.
Breakheart Reservation Essex, Middlesex 652 acres 264 ha Silver Lake, Pearce Lake, Saugus River The reservation is hardwood forest principally used for birding, fishing and hiking.
Brimfield State Forest Hampden 3,523 acres 1,426 ha Dean Pond
Bristol Blake State Reservation Norfolk 140 acres 57 ha Adjacent to Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Brook Farm Historic Site Suffolk 141 acres 57 ha
C. M. Gardner State Park Hampden 85 acres 34 ha Westfield River
Callahan State Park Middlesex 958 acres 388 ha
Camp Nihan Environmental Education Camp Essex 65 acres 26 ha 1929 Saugus River Part of Breakheart Reservation
Canalside Rail Trail Franklin 3.7 mi 6.0 km 2008 Trail across the Connecticut River
Cape Cod Rail Trail Barnstable 188 acres 76 ha 22-mile trail on Cape Cod
Castle Island Suffolk 22 acres 8.9 ha Boston Harbor The 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 Reservation Suffolk, Middlesex 863 acres 349 ha Charles River Includes 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 Forest Hampden 2,776 acres 1,123 ha
Chestnut Hill Reservation Suffolk 1 acre 0.40 ha 1870 Chestnut Hill Reservoir The Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic District is considered a nineteenth-century masterpiece of engineering, urban planning and landscape design.
Chicopee Memorial State Park Hampden 562 acres 227 ha Cooley Brook Reservoir The park includes two 25-acre (100,000 m2) ponds.
Clarksburg State Park Berkshire 3,629 acres 1,469 ha Mauserts Pond adjoins the 3,011 acre Clarksburg State Forest
Cochituate State Park Middlesex 872 acres 353 ha Lake Cochituate
Connecticut River Greenway State Park Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire 1,048 acres 424 ha Connecticut River Multiple state land holdings in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts
Constitution Beach Suffolk 82 acres 33 ha Atlantic Ocean
Cutler Park Reservation Norfolk 739 acres 299 ha Charles River It 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 Forest Hampshire 1,728 acres 699 ha 1929 Upper and Lower Highland Lake
Demarest Lloyd State Park Bristol 200 acres 81 ha
Dighton Rock State Park Bristol 98 acres 40 ha Dighton 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 Reservation Suffolk 44 acres 18 ha Neponset River The reservation comprises two beaches and a park.
Douglas State Forest Worcester 5,525 acres 2,236 ha Wallum Lake features include a rare Atlantic White Cedar swamp and 7.8 miles (12.6 km) of the Midstate Trail
Dunn State Park Worcester 132 acres 53 ha Dunn Pond
Ellisville Harbor State Park Plymouth 97 acres 39 ha Ellisville Harbor Walking trails overlooking a tidal marsh, sandy/rocky beach at trail end
Elm Bank Reservation Norfolk 175 acres 71 ha c. 1996 Charles River Benjamin Pierce Cheney's property, now run by Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Erving State Forest Franklin 2,422 acres 980 ha Millers River The 110-mile (180 km) Metacomet-Monadnock Trail passes through a western parcel of the state forest.
F. Gilbert Hills State Forest Norfolk 1,030 acres 420 ha
Fall River Heritage State Park Bristol 14 acres 5.7 ha Taunton River
Federated Women's Club State Forest Worcester 970 acres 390 ha Fever Brook
Fort Phoenix State Reservation Bristol 1 acre 0.40 ha Revolutionary War fort; 1/2 mile of Buzzards Bay beachfront
Fort Revere Park Plymouth 6 acres 2.4 ha On 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 Area Suffolk 5.6 acres 2.3 ha Neponset River Outdoor theatre and play fields
Freetown-Fall River State Forest Bristol 5,217 acres 2,111 ha 1930 The 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 (0.92 km2) Wampanoag reservation
Gardner Heritage State Park Worcester 0 acres 0 ha Restored 19th century fire station with exhibits
Georgetown-Rowley State Forest Essex 1,041 acres 421 ha
Granville State Forest Hampden 2,432 acres 984 ha Hubbard River
Great Brook Farm State Park Middlesex 909 acres 368 ha Meadow Pond
Greycourt State Park Essex 24 acres 9.7 ha 2001 The park is built atop the restored ruins of the Charles H. Tenney estate.
Halibut Point State Park Essex 55 acres 22 ha Features a former granite quarry and 60 ft (18 m) tower with coastal views
Hammond Pond Reservation Middlesex 59 acres 24 ha
Hampton Ponds State Park Hampden 47 acres 19 ha Pequot Pond
Harold Parker State Forest Essex 3,320 acres 1,340 ha
Hemlock Gorge Reservation Middlesex 16 acres 6.5 ha Charles River
Holyoke Heritage State Park Hampden 7 acres 2.8 ha The park features include a visitor center with exhibits about paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial and cultural history.
Hopkinton State Park Middlesex 1,245 acres 504 ha Hopkinton Reservoir The park features a bathing pond for swimming that is physically separated from the reservoir, where nonmotorized boating is permitted
Horseneck Beach State Reservation Bristol 815 acres 330 ha Popular 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 Area Berkshire 1,191 acres 482 ha
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest Franklin 7,405 acres 2,997 ha 1997 Hallockville Pond, Crooked Pond
Lake Dennison Recreation Area Worcester 121 acres 49 ha Lake Dennison The park is an extension of Otter River State Forest
Lake Lorraine State Park Hampden 3 acres 1.2 ha
Lake Wyola State Park Franklin 42 acres 17 ha Lake Wyola
Lawrence Heritage State Park Essex 0 acres 0 ha
Leominster State Forest Worcester 4,246 acres 1,718 ha The Midstate Trail runs through the western edge of the forest.
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest Middlesex 1,109 acres 449 ha
Lowell Heritage State Park Middlesex 60 acres 24 ha 1975 Merrimack River a precursor to the Lowell National Historical Park the park preserves the city's seminal role in the American Industrial Revolution
Lower Neponset River Trail Suffolk 2.4 mi 3.9 km
Lynn Heritage State Park Essex 4 acres 1.6 ha
Lynn Shore Reservation Essex 22 acres 8.9 ha
Mahican-Mohawk Trail Berkshire, Franklin 30 mi 48 km Deerfield River In development
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest Dukes 5,215 acres 2,110 ha 1908 Little Pond In the interior of Martha's Vineyard, the park is the focus of one of the largest environmental restoration projects in the country.
Massasoit State Park Bristol 1,207 acres 488 ha Lake Rico, Furnace Pond, King's Pond, Middle Pond, Little Bearhole Pond, and Big Bearhole Pond
Maudslay State Park Essex 483 acres 195 ha Merrimack River
Middlesex Fells Reservation Middlesex 2,283 acres 924 ha Bellevue and Spot Ponds
Mohawk Trail State Forest Franklin 7,758 acres 3,140 ha includes Cold River Virgin Forest, National Natural Landmark, Apr 1980.
Monroe State Forest Franklin 3,750 acres 1,520 ha Dunbar Brook
Moore State Park Worcester 737 acres 298 ha Eames Pond
Mount Everett State Reservation Berkshire 2,492 acres 1,008 ha Guilder Pond
Mount Grace State Forest Franklin 1,578 acres 639 ha
Mount Greylock State Reservation Berkshire 12,455 acres 5,040 ha 1898
Mount Holyoke Range State Park Hampshire 3,000 acres 1,200 ha
Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation Franklin 533 acres 216 ha
Mount Tom State Reservation Hampden 1,967 acres 796 ha
Mount Washington State Forest Berkshire 4,619 acres 1,869 ha
Myles Standish Monument State Reservation Plymouth 30 acres 12 ha A 120 ft (37 m) tower with 125 steps that overlooks Plymouth Harbor and Duxbury Beach.
Myles Standish State Forest Plymouth 12,029 acres 4,868 ha Pitch 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 Reservation Middlesex 359 acres 145 ha 1893 Mystic Lakes; Mystic River
Nahant Beach Reservation Essex 67 acres 27 ha
Nantasket Beach Reservation Plymouth 39 acres 16 ha
Nashua River Rail Trail Middlesex 57 acres 23 ha
Nasketucket Bay State Reservation Plymouth 210 acres 85 ha 1999
Natural Bridge State Park Berkshire 44 acres 18 ha Hudson Brook It 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 Reservation Suffolk 1,880 acres 760 ha
Nickerson State Park Barnstable 1,967 acres 796 ha Cliff Pond
Norwottuck Rail Trail Hampshire 61 acres 25 ha 1992 Connecticut River
October Mountain State Forest Berkshire 16,460 acres 6,660 ha
Otter River State Forest Worcester 1,022 acres 414 ha 1915 Otter River, Millers River
Pearl Hill State Park Middlesex 1,000 acres 400 ha Park Hill Brook
Pilgrim Memorial State Park Plymouth 6 acres 2.4 ha site of Plymouth Rock
Pittsfield State Forest Berkshire 10,601 acres 4,290 ha
Pope John Paul II Park Reservation Suffolk 66 acres 27 ha 2001 Reclaimed former landfill and commercial area bordering Neponset River estuary.
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation Worcester 100 acres 40 ha 1919 The 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 Reservoir Hampshire 39 sq mi 100 km2
Quincy Quarries Reservation Norfolk 22 acres 8.9 ha 1985
Quincy Shores Reservation Norfolk 87 acres 35 ha
Quinsigamond State Park Worcester 38 acres 15 ha
Revere Beach Reservation Suffolk 84 acres 34 ha 1896
Robinson State Park Hampden 1,025 acres 415 ha Westfield River
Roxbury Heritage State Park Suffolk 3 acres 1.2 ha The 1750 Dillaway-Thomas House and a small park
Rumney Marsh Reservation Essex, Suffolk 815 acres 330 ha Saugus River; Pines River
Rutland State Park Worcester 284 acres 115 ha Whitehall Pond Swimming, picknicking and boating.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation Essex 355 acres 144 ha The park's main feature is its 3.8-mile (6.1 km)-long beach, one of the most popular in the Commonwealth.
Sandisfield State Forest Berkshire 4,190 acres 1,700 ha York Lake
Sandy Point State Reservation Essex 134 acres 54 ha
Savoy Mountain State Forest Berkshire 10,457 acres 4,232 ha
Scusset Beach State Reservation Barnstable 459 acres 186 ha On Cape Cod Bay at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, a popular swimming and camping area.
Shawme-Crowell State Forest Barnstable 624 acres 253 ha Forested 285 site campground
J.A. Skinner State Park Hampshire 843 acres 341 ha Connecticut River
South Cape Beach State Park Barnstable 460 acres 190 ha A component of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve with a one mile (1.6 km) stretch of beach.
Southern New England Trunkline Trail Norfolk, Worcester 33 acres 13 ha 22-mile trail from Franklin State Forest to Douglas State Forest
Southwest Corridor Park Suffolk 221 acres 89 ha Greenway of 4.7 mi (7.6 km) that runs South End, Back Bay, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods
Spencer State Forest Worcester 903 acres 365 ha Howe Pond
Squantum Point Park Norfolk 46 acres 19 ha 2001
Stony Brook Reservation Suffolk 616 acres 249 ha Turtle Pond
Streeter Point Recreation Area Worcester 1 acre 0.40 ha East Brimfield Reservoir Fishing, swimming, picnicking
Sudbury Reservoir Middlesex; Worcester 4,943 acres 2,000 ha Sudbury Reservoir
Tolland State Forest Berkshire 4,415 acres 1,787 ha Otis Reservoir
Upper Charles River Reservation Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk 863 acres 349 ha Charles River Covers Charles River between Watertown Dam and Riverdale Park, West Roxbury; see also Charles River Reservation
Upton State Forest Worcester 2,790 acres 1,130 ha Has Civilian Conservation Corps structures
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation Worcester 2,288 acres 926 ha
Wachusett Reservoir Worcester 4,135 acres 1,673 ha Nashua River; Quinapoxet River
Wahconah Falls State Park Berkshire 48 acres 19 ha Wahconah Falls Brook
Walden Pond State Reservation Middlesex 335 acres 136 ha 1922 Walden Pond
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Barnstable 110 acres 45 ha Waquoit Bay; Quashnet River; Childs River; several ponds
Ware River Watershed Area Worcester 23,000 acres 9,300 ha
Watson Pond State Park Bristol 163 acres 66 ha
Webb Memorial State Park Norfolk 59 acres 24 ha 1980 Hingham Bay
Wells State Park Worcester 1,445 acres 585 ha Walker Pond
Wendell State Forest Franklin 8,000 acres 3,200 ha Millers River, Quabbin Reservoir
Western Gateway Heritage State Park Berkshire 8 acres 3.2 ha
Weymouth Back River Reservation Norfolk 35 acres 14 ha Site of Stodder's Neck and Abigail Adams Park
Whitehall State Park Middlesex 837 acres 339 ha Whitehall Reservoir
Willard Brook State Forest Middlesex 2,929 acres 1,185 ha
Willowdale State Forest Essex 2,491 acres 1,008 ha Hood Pond
Wilson Mountain Reservation Norfolk 215 acres 87 ha 1995
Windsor State Forest Berkshire 1,824 acres 738 ha Westfield River
Winthrop Shore Reservation Suffolk 18 acres 7.3 ha Atlantic Ocean
Wompatuck State Park Plymouth 3,579 acres 1,448 ha 1967 Aaron River Reservoir

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.

See also

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