MA
Pond
Walden Pond
Concord, Massachusetts
DCR state reservation on Thoreau's Concord kettle pond. Paid parking, seasonal lifeguards, daily attendance cap — go early on hot weekends.
Walk: longerTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3
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Showing 72 of 155 guides.
MAPondPuffers Pond
Amherst, Massachusetts
Puffers Pond is an unofficial Amherst swim pond with North and South Beach access, no lifeguards, and seasonal town water-quality testing.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Aldrich Lake Loop Trail
Granby, Massachusetts
Small Granby pond with a public boat launch and a 2.5-mile loop trail. No developed beach; informal water access at the launch only.
Walk: longerTrail: easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 2Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary Loop Trail
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Mass Audubon sanctuary on the CT River Oxbow in Easthampton / Northampton. Trails, boardwalks, birding; no swimming.
Walk: longerTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialDist: mediumArlington Reservoir Beach
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington Reservoir Beach is a seasonal town-run swim beach with lifeguards, sand, a perimeter walking loop, and a summer gate fee.
Walk: mediumTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Ashland State Park Beach
Ashland, Massachusetts
DCR lifeguarded swim beach on Ashland Reservoir in MetroWest. Bathhouse, picnic area, seasonal parking fee.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Ashland State Park Lake Day-Use
Ashland, Massachusetts
Day-use shoreline and boat launch at DCR Ashland State Park on Ashland Reservoir. Swimming is only at the designated beach.
Walk: longerTrail: easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Ashmere Lake Beach
Hinsdale, Massachusetts
Hinsdale town beach on Ashmere Lake, Route 143. Small sandy beach with a roped swim area; residents-preferred access.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Ashumet Pond
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Cape Cod kettle pond between Mashpee and Falmouth. Limited public access; cyanobacteria advisories have closed it to swimming in recent summers.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Bear Hole Reservoir Trail
West Springfield, Massachusetts
Wooded trail loop around Bear Hole Reservoir in West Springfield. Former municipal watershed; no swimming in the reservoir.
Walk: longerTrail: easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 2Beartown State Forest - Benedict Pond
Monterey, Massachusetts
DCR swim pond in Beartown State Forest, Monterey. Small sandy beach, 1.7-mile loop, Appalachian Trail at the Ledges.
Walk: longerTrail: easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Becket Quarry Hike (Becket Historic Quarry & Forest)
Becket, Massachusetts
Becket Land Trust's historic granite quarry and 7-mile trail network in Becket. Hiking and history only — no swimming.
Walk: mediumTrail: easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3Becket Town Beach / Center Pond
Becket, Massachusetts
Residents-only town beach on Center Pond in Becket. $10 permit card for Becket / Washington property owners.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: unconfirmedCrowd: 3Bell Pond Beach
Worcester, Massachusetts
City of Worcester pond beach at Bell Hill Park. Free parking, summer lifeguards (when staffed), restrooms.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Big Pond Beach (Otis)
Otis, Massachusetts
Otis town beach on Big Pond. Residents and guests only, sandy area, float, no lifeguards.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: unconfirmedCrowd: 3Breakheart Reservation - Pearce Lake
Saugus, Massachusetts
DCR Breakheart Reservation swim beach on Pearce Lake. Summer lifeguards when staffed.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Brimfield State Forest
Brimfield, Massachusetts
DCR Dean Pond Recreation Area inside Brimfield State Forest. Small sandy beach, mucky bottom, tannic water.
Walk: mediumTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Buck River Swimming Hole
Sandisfield, Massachusetts
Natural-rock water slide on the Buck River in Sandisfield, right off Route 57. 12-ft slide into a ~7-ft pool.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Card Pond
West Stockbridge, Massachusetts
West Stockbridge town pond near the village. Small public beach, pavilion, play area.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Chester Pool
Chester, Massachusetts
Lightly-documented river swim reference in Chester, MA (Westfield River area). No lifeguards, no developed access.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Chicopee Memorial State Park
Chicopee, Massachusetts
DCR state park in Chicopee with a lifeguarded beach on Cooley Brook Reservoir. Parking fee in season; check advisories.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Clarksburg State Park - Mauserts Pond
Clarksburg, Massachusetts
Small sandy beach at Mauserts Pond in far-north Berkshires. Lifeguarded in season, loop trail, campground nearby.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Cochituate State Park
Natick, Massachusetts
DCR beach on Lake Cochituate in Natick. Lifeguarded in season, boat ramp, pine-shaded picnic area.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Coes Pond Beach
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester's city swim beach on Coes Reservoir. Small sandy area, lifeguards in season, urban setting.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Crystal Lake Beach
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton's small municipal beach on Crystal Lake. Seasonal, resident-favored, tight neighborhood parking.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Crystal Lake (Orleans)
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans town-beach kettle pond off Monument Road. Beach sticker required in season; lifeguards work the pond in summer.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Cummington
Cummington, Massachusetts
Roadside Westfield River swim pull-off in Cummington. No lifeguard, no developed beach; flow is rain-sensitive.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Dean Pond
Brimfield, Massachusetts
DCR pond beach inside Brimfield State Forest. Small sand beach off Route 20; lifeguard staffing varies.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Deerfield River at Sunburn Beach
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Informal Deerfield River swim bend. No lifeguard; watch for dam-release flow surges.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Deerfield River near Deerfield Academy
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Informal Deerfield River access near Old Deerfield / the Academy. No lifeguard; dam-release flow.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3DOC Trail (Mount Tom)
Holyoke, Massachusetts
DOC Trail inside Mount Tom State Reservation in Holyoke. Hiking corridor, not a swim spot.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3Douglas State Forest - Wallum Lake
Douglas, Massachusetts
DCR state-forest beach on the Massachusetts side of Wallum Lake in Douglas. Sand entry, seasonal lifeguards.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Duck Pond
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Cape Cod National Seashore kettle pond in Wellfleet. Sand path from Gross Hill Road; no lifeguard, CCNS rules apply.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3Dunn Pond
Gardner, Massachusetts
Kettle pond at Dunn State Park in Gardner. DCR swim beach with sand shelf, seasonal lifeguards, ADA path.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Dunn State Park
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner's DCR day-use park on Dunn Pond. Lifeguarded sand beach, paved ADA path, picnic areas, flat pond trail.
Walk: mediumTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Dyer Pond
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Outer Cape kettle pond in Wellfleet inside Cape Cod National Seashore. Short path from Dyer Pond Road; no lifeguard.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3East Brimfield Lake Beach
Holland, Massachusetts
USACE reservoir swim beach on East Brimfield Lake, Holland side. Sand shelf, seasonal lifeguards, free parking.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Erving State Forest
Erving, Massachusetts
DCR state-forest swim beach on Laurel Lake in Erving. Sand entry, seasonal lifeguards, campground.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Flax Pond (Yarmouth)
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Town of Yarmouth freshwater beach in South Yarmouth. Roped swim area, lifeguards, bathhouse — beach sticker required.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Fresh Pond Park
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth town park in Manomet with a public freshwater beach, lifeguards, and non-motor boat launch.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3C.M. Gardner State Park
Huntington, Massachusetts
DCR picnic and paddle park on the Wild & Scenic East Branch Westfield River in Huntington. Swimming not permitted.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Goldmine Brook Potholes
Chester, Massachusetts
Rock-sculpted potholes on Goldmine Brook in Chester-Blandford State Forest. Not a designated swim; viewing and wading.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Goose Pond (Chatham)
Chatham, Massachusetts
Small Chatham kettle pond with a neighborhood landing. Walk-in or resident-sticker parking in summer; no lifeguards on site.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Great Herring Pond
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Large freshwater pond on the Plymouth / Bourne line. Boat ramp, no designated swim beach — mostly private frontage.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Great Pond (Eastham)
Eastham, Massachusetts
Eastham's biggest Outer Cape kettle pond with a town landing off Great Pond Road. Summer beach sticker required; no lifeguards.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Great Pond (Wellfleet)
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet kettle pond within the Seashore boundary. Town-sticker landing access; clear water, no lifeguards.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Green River Hole One
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Unofficial Green River swim pool in Great Barrington, reached from roadside pull-offs. Locals' favorite — no lifeguards.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Green River Hole Two
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Upstream counterpart to Hole One on the Green River in Great Barrington. Unofficial swim from a roadside pull-off.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Green River swimming hole (Colrain)
Colrain, Massachusetts
Classic Pioneer Valley swim corridor on the Green River in Colrain. Roadside pull-off pools, no lifeguards, mixed private frontage.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offDist: shortGreen River Swimming & Recreation Area
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield's town swim park on the Green River. Dam-pooled beach, lifeguards in season, gate fee at the entrance.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Grew's Pond
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Kettle-pond beach inside Falmouth's Goodwill Park. Lifeguards in summer, non-resident parking fee in season.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Gull Pond Landing Beach
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet's biggest kettle pond with a town landing beach. Sticker parking in summer, no lifeguards; channel to Higgins Pond.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hadley Reservoir (Bay Road Reservoir)
Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley's municipal water-supply reservoir off Bay Road. Swimming prohibited; scenic reference only, not a swim spot.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: roadside / pull-offCrowd: 3Hamblin's Pond
Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
Marstons Mills kettle pond with a Barnstable town landing. Sticker parking in summer; no lifeguards on small landings.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hampton Ponds State Park
Westfield, Massachusetts
DCR state park with lifeguarded lake swim beach in Westfield. Picnic area, boat ramp, in-season parking fee.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Harold Parker State Forest
North Andover, Massachusetts
DCR forest straddling North Andover and Andover. Stearns Pond is the seasonal lifeguarded beach; other ponds are paddle and fish.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hathaway's Pond
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable conservation kettle pond off Phinney's Lane. Seasonal lifeguards, small lot, short pond-loop trail.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hawksnest Pond
Harwich, Massachusetts
Undeveloped DCR kettle pond in Hawksnest State Park, East Harwich. No lifeguards or facilities; informal shoreline swim.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hedges Pond Recreation Area
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth town beach on a Cedarville kettle pond. Seasonal lifeguards, small lot, beach sticker in season.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Herring Pond Beach
Eastham, Massachusetts
Eastham town kettle pond with seasonal lifeguards. Sticker-only parking; daily passes sold at Town Hall.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Hopkinton State Park
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
DCR park on Whitehall Reservoir. Beach 2 off Cedar Street is the main family swim; paddle and picnic year-round.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
Milton, Massachusetts
Main swim beach of DCR's Blue Hills Reservation in Milton. Lifeguards, bathhouse, picnic grove; large paved lot fills fast.
Walk: mediumTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Indian Lake Beach
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester city beach at Morgan Park on Indian Lake's west shore. Seasonal lifeguards, playground, small lot.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Ipswich River
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Downtown Ipswich River stretch — paddled and fished, not swum. Mass Audubon upstream does not allow swimming.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: confirmed / officialWading / shallowJohns Pond Beach
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee town beach on a large kettle pond. Seasonal lifeguards, Mashpee sticker required in summer.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Joshua's Pond
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Resident-only Osterville-village kettle pond beach in the town of Barnstable. No daily visitor parking in season.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Keystone Trail (Mount Tom State Reservation)
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Hiking spur in Mount Tom State Reservation, Holyoke. No swimming in the reservation — this is a trail reference, not a swim stop.
Walk: mediumTrail: easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3Knox Extension Trail (Mount Tom)
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Short connector hiking trail inside Mount Tom State Reservation, Holyoke. Not a swim spot — no sanctioned swim in the reservation.
Walk: shortTrail: easyParking: trailheadCrowd: 3Lake Buel Beach
Monterey, Massachusetts
Lake Buel has no public beach — only a Mass Wildlife boat launch in Monterey. Shoreline is private; use Lake Garfield for a town beach.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Lake Dennison Recreation Area
Winchendon, Massachusetts
DCR lifeguarded beach on 85-acre Lake Dennison in Winchendon. Day-use parking $8 MA / $30 non-MA; 10 HP motor limit.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Lake Garfield Town Beach
Monterey, Massachusetts
Monterey town beach on Lake Garfield. Front lot is resident-only; non-residents park in the grass overflow area to the north.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3Lake Mansfield Beach
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington town rec area on Lake Mansfield. Electric motors only, no dogs on the beach, limited lifeguard coverage.
Walk: shortTrail: very easyParking: confirmed / officialCrowd: 3