Quabbin Reservoir

Parking in Quabbin Park and at gates around the Quabbin Reservoir is free. 

The Gate 30 parking area off Route 122 in New Salem, and all access to the Quabbin Reservation from this location, is closed as of July 10, 2021.  The road just inside Gate 30 crosses the Swift River over a keystone bridge; DCR engineers have determined that damage to both the bridge and road make them no longer safe for public use until repairs can be completed.  DCR recommends using Gate 29 on Route 202 to access this section of the Quabbin Reservation.

There is limited parking available at the main entrance to Quabbin Park.  To avoid overcrowding, consider entering Quabbin Park through the Middle or Eastern entrances and parking at Goodnough Dike, Hank's Meadow, or Quabbin Tower.  Click here for the DCR Quabbin Park Access Map.

A reminder to not bring your dog to Quabbin Reservoir, which is the source drinking water supply for 3 million people.  Dogs are not allowed in Quabbin Park or on any other part of DCR's Quabbin Reservoir lands; dogs are also not allowed in parked cars.  Click here for more information about where dogs are allowed on DCR properties.

• Running and walking
• Fishing
• Boating (motorized)
• Boating (non-motorized)
• Biking
• Cross-country skiing
• Hunting
• Snowshoeing

• Visitor Center - Open Thursday to Tuesday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Wednesday. 
• Education programs 
• Picnic areas
• Restrooms
• Observation tower - CLOSED due to renovations
• Fishing
• Boat rentals

All activities have restrictions to protect the water supply.  State regulations prohibit anything that could pollute the water.

• No dogs
  Use the following links for more information on why dogs are not allowed at Quabbin Reservoir
  Quabbin Reservoir Dog Brochure (brochure)
  Wachusett Reservoir Dog Waste Public Service Announcment (video)
  Cleaning Up After Your Dog in a State Park (video)
• No swimming
• No grills/stoves/fires of any kind
• No alcoholic beverages
• No camping
• No drones
• No horses
• Entry and exit through designated gates or areas only
• Hunting is limited to the annual Quabbin Controlled Deer Hunt
• Cross-country skiing and biking only in designated routes 
• Groups of 25 people or more require a permit.

Boating

• Boats used only for fishing; there must be fishing tackle in the boat
• Boats can only be launched from designated boat launch areas
• All private motorized boats must have a Quabbin Boat Seal
• No private non-motorized boats; rentals are available from DCR at Boat Launch Areas 2 and 3

Learn about the Quabbin Park Cemetery

Learn about fishing and boating on Quabbin Reservoir

• Quabbin Reservoir Boater ID Card FAQ Sheet

Quabbin Brochures

• Quabbin Park Brochure
• Quabbin Park Visitor Center Loop Trail Brochure
• Quabbin Park Middle Gate to Observation Tower Trail Brochure

• Be a History Detective at Quabbin Reservoir! This is a DCR Trip-Tip Itinerary. Discover three unique areas in the Quabbin Reservation that spotlight what life was like before four towns were removed to build the reservoir.  

• Quabbin Reservoir Dog Brochure

• Quabbin Reservoir Bicycle Brochure

Interactive Map

The Division of Water Supply Protection has developed an interactive map with detailed information about public access roads and trails around the Quabbin Reservoir.  There are two ways to access this map: one is an online program that is accessible from your desktop computer or mobile device’s web browser; the other is through an App you can download directly to your mobile device and use in the field.  The mobile device App is recommended for use in the field.

Click here to directly access the on-line Quabbin Reservoir Public Access Road and Trail Interactive Map. 

Please see the Instructions for Using the Quabbin Reservoir Public Access Road and Trail Interactive Map for information about the mobile app.

Kiosk Posters

Posters with information about various sites, facilities, and history are posted on kiosks around the Quabbin Reservoir watershed and in the Quabbin Visitors Center.

• Drinking Water System History
• Watershed Protection
• Reservoir Elevation
• Drought
• The Lost Valley
• Women of the Valley
• Rabbit Run Railroad
• Quabbin Park Cemetery
• Bald Eagles
• Three Views of Enfield

Additional Resources

• Quabbin Reservoir Watershed System Public Access Summary
• DCR Watershed Management programs
• Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
• History of the DCR/MWRA Water Supply (MWRA website)
• Communities served by DCR/MWRA Water Supply System
• Quabbin Reservoir Historic Photograph Collection Digital Access Project (video presentation)

Water Quality and Quantity Information

• DCR Annual Water Quality Reports
• MWRA Monthly Water Quality Reports
• Reservoir Elevation and Water Quantity Demand

Any questions please call the Quabbin Visitors Center at (413) 323-7221 or email to QuabbinVisitor.Center@mass.gov.