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Sheffield, Massachusetts
Lower tier of Race Brook Falls, ~0.5 mi from the Route 41 trailhead in Mount Everett State Reservation, Sheffield. Viewing and photos, not a swim.
Chester, Massachusetts
~80-foot tiered falls in Chester-Blandford State Forest. ~1-mile walk in on the gated Sanderson Brook Road off Route 20.
New Marlborough, Massachusetts
Town-owned falls park in New Marlborough with a river-pool swim above the tiered cascade. Day-use hours; non-resident fee in summer.
Concord, Massachusetts
DCR state reservation on Thoreau's Concord kettle pond. Paid parking, seasonal lifeguards, daily attendance cap — go early on hot weekends.
Great Barrington area, Massachusetts
State's signature twin waterfall on the MA / NY line in Mount Washington. DCR Bash Bish Falls State Park; no swimming, no cliff jumping.
Royalston, Massachusetts
Trustees' Doane's Falls in Royalston: dramatic drops on Lawrence Brook. Swimming prohibited — viewing only.
Sheffield, Massachusetts
Multi-tiered Race Brook cascade in Mount Everett Reservation, Sheffield. Route 41 trailhead; ~0.5 mi to lower falls, ~2 mi to the AT junction.
Ashfield, Massachusetts
Short Trustees trail in Ashfield to a tiered hemlock-shaded cascade. Half-mile round trip; no swim.
Middlefield, Massachusetts
~160-ft multi-tier cascade on Glendale Brook in Middlefield. Trustees reservation, ~7-car lot on Clark Wright Road.
Dalton, Massachusetts
DCR day-use park in Dalton with a strong single-drop cascade. Short walk from the lot to the overlook and base pool — viewing first.
Savoy, Massachusetts
~50-foot ribbon drop on Ross Brook in Savoy Mountain State Forest. Short steep trail from Tannery Road; paired with Parker Brook Falls.
Royalston, Massachusetts
45-ft plunge on Falls Brook in Trustees' Royalston Falls Reservation. Reached via the Tully Trail / New England Trail.
Amherst, Massachusetts
Puffers Pond is an unofficial Amherst swim pond with North and South Beach access, no lifeguards, and seasonal town water-quality testing.
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.
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Mass Audubon sanctuary on the CT River Oxbow in Easthampton / Northampton. Trails, boardwalks, birding; no swimming.
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington Reservoir Beach is a seasonal town-run swim beach with lifeguards, sand, a perimeter walking loop, and a summer gate fee.
Ashland, Massachusetts
DCR lifeguarded swim beach on Ashland Reservoir in MetroWest. Bathhouse, picnic area, seasonal parking fee.
Ashland, Massachusetts
Day-use shoreline and boat launch at DCR Ashland State Park on Ashland Reservoir. Swimming is only at the designated beach.
Hinsdale, Massachusetts
Hinsdale town beach on Ashmere Lake, Route 143. Small sandy beach with a roped swim area; residents-preferred access.
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Cape Cod kettle pond between Mashpee and Falmouth. Limited public access; cyanobacteria advisories have closed it to swimming in recent summers.
West Springfield, Massachusetts
Wooded trail loop around Bear Hole Reservoir in West Springfield. Former municipal watershed; no swimming in the reservoir.
Monterey, Massachusetts
DCR swim pond in Beartown State Forest, Monterey. Small sandy beach, 1.7-mile loop, Appalachian Trail at the Ledges.
Becket, Massachusetts
Becket Land Trust's historic granite quarry and 7-mile trail network in Becket. Hiking and history only — no swimming.
Becket, Massachusetts
Residents-only town beach on Center Pond in Becket. $10 permit card for Becket / Washington property owners.
Worcester, Massachusetts
City of Worcester pond beach at Bell Hill Park. Free parking, summer lifeguards (when staffed), restrooms.
Otis, Massachusetts
Otis town beach on Big Pond. Residents and guests only, sandy area, float, no lifeguards.
Saugus, Massachusetts
DCR Breakheart Reservation swim beach on Pearce Lake. Summer lifeguards when staffed.
Brimfield, Massachusetts
DCR Dean Pond Recreation Area inside Brimfield State Forest. Small sandy beach, mucky bottom, tannic water.
Sandisfield, Massachusetts
Natural-rock water slide on the Buck River in Sandisfield, right off Route 57. 12-ft slide into a ~7-ft pool.
West Stockbridge, Massachusetts
West Stockbridge town pond near the village. Small public beach, pavilion, play area.
Chester, Massachusetts
Lightly-documented river swim reference in Chester, MA (Westfield River area). No lifeguards, no developed access.
Chicopee, Massachusetts
DCR state park in Chicopee with a lifeguarded beach on Cooley Brook Reservoir. Parking fee in season; check advisories.
Clarksburg, Massachusetts
Small sandy beach at Mauserts Pond in far-north Berkshires. Lifeguarded in season, loop trail, campground nearby.
Natick, Massachusetts
DCR beach on Lake Cochituate in Natick. Lifeguarded in season, boat ramp, pine-shaded picnic area.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester's city swim beach on Coes Reservoir. Small sandy area, lifeguards in season, urban setting.
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton's small municipal beach on Crystal Lake. Seasonal, resident-favored, tight neighborhood parking.
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans town-beach kettle pond off Monument Road. Beach sticker required in season; lifeguards work the pond in summer.
Cummington, Massachusetts
Roadside Westfield River swim pull-off in Cummington. No lifeguard, no developed beach; flow is rain-sensitive.
Brimfield, Massachusetts
DCR pond beach inside Brimfield State Forest. Small sand beach off Route 20; lifeguard staffing varies.
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Informal Deerfield River swim bend. No lifeguard; watch for dam-release flow surges.
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Informal Deerfield River access near Old Deerfield / the Academy. No lifeguard; dam-release flow.
Holyoke, Massachusetts
DOC Trail inside Mount Tom State Reservation in Holyoke. Hiking corridor, not a swim spot.
Douglas, Massachusetts
DCR state-forest beach on the Massachusetts side of Wallum Lake in Douglas. Sand entry, seasonal lifeguards.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Cape Cod National Seashore kettle pond in Wellfleet. Sand path from Gross Hill Road; no lifeguard, CCNS rules apply.
Gardner, Massachusetts
Kettle pond at Dunn State Park in Gardner. DCR swim beach with sand shelf, seasonal lifeguards, ADA path.
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner's DCR day-use park on Dunn Pond. Lifeguarded sand beach, paved ADA path, picnic areas, flat pond trail.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Outer Cape kettle pond in Wellfleet inside Cape Cod National Seashore. Short path from Dyer Pond Road; no lifeguard.
Holland, Massachusetts
USACE reservoir swim beach on East Brimfield Lake, Holland side. Sand shelf, seasonal lifeguards, free parking.
Erving, Massachusetts
DCR state-forest swim beach on Laurel Lake in Erving. Sand entry, seasonal lifeguards, campground.
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Town of Yarmouth freshwater beach in South Yarmouth. Roped swim area, lifeguards, bathhouse — beach sticker required.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth town park in Manomet with a public freshwater beach, lifeguards, and non-motor boat launch.
Huntington, Massachusetts
DCR picnic and paddle park on the Wild & Scenic East Branch Westfield River in Huntington. Swimming not permitted.
Chester, Massachusetts
Rock-sculpted potholes on Goldmine Brook in Chester-Blandford State Forest. Not a designated swim; viewing and wading.
Chatham, Massachusetts
Small Chatham kettle pond with a neighborhood landing. Walk-in or resident-sticker parking in summer; no lifeguards on site.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Large freshwater pond on the Plymouth / Bourne line. Boat ramp, no designated swim beach — mostly private frontage.
Eastham, Massachusetts
Eastham's biggest Outer Cape kettle pond with a town landing off Great Pond Road. Summer beach sticker required; no lifeguards.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet kettle pond within the Seashore boundary. Town-sticker landing access; clear water, no lifeguards.
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Unofficial Green River swim pool in Great Barrington, reached from roadside pull-offs. Locals' favorite — no lifeguards.
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Upstream counterpart to Hole One on the Green River in Great Barrington. Unofficial swim from a roadside pull-off.
Colrain, Massachusetts
Classic Pioneer Valley swim corridor on the Green River in Colrain. Roadside pull-off pools, no lifeguards, mixed private frontage.
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield's town swim park on the Green River. Dam-pooled beach, lifeguards in season, gate fee at the entrance.
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Kettle-pond beach inside Falmouth's Goodwill Park. Lifeguards in summer, non-resident parking fee in season.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet's biggest kettle pond with a town landing beach. Sticker parking in summer, no lifeguards; channel to Higgins Pond.
Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley's municipal water-supply reservoir off Bay Road. Swimming prohibited; scenic reference only, not a swim spot.
Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
Marstons Mills kettle pond with a Barnstable town landing. Sticker parking in summer; no lifeguards on small landings.
Westfield, Massachusetts
DCR state park with lifeguarded lake swim beach in Westfield. Picnic area, boat ramp, in-season parking fee.
North Andover, Massachusetts
DCR forest straddling North Andover and Andover. Stearns Pond is the seasonal lifeguarded beach; other ponds are paddle and fish.
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable conservation kettle pond off Phinney's Lane. Seasonal lifeguards, small lot, short pond-loop trail.
Harwich, Massachusetts
Undeveloped DCR kettle pond in Hawksnest State Park, East Harwich. No lifeguards or facilities; informal shoreline swim.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth town beach on a Cedarville kettle pond. Seasonal lifeguards, small lot, beach sticker in season.
Eastham, Massachusetts
Eastham town kettle pond with seasonal lifeguards. Sticker-only parking; daily passes sold at Town Hall.
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
DCR park on Whitehall Reservoir. Beach 2 off Cedar Street is the main family swim; paddle and picnic year-round.
Milton, Massachusetts
Main swim beach of DCR's Blue Hills Reservation in Milton. Lifeguards, bathhouse, picnic grove; large paved lot fills fast.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester city beach at Morgan Park on Indian Lake's west shore. Seasonal lifeguards, playground, small lot.
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Downtown Ipswich River stretch — paddled and fished, not swum. Mass Audubon upstream does not allow swimming.
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee town beach on a large kettle pond. Seasonal lifeguards, Mashpee sticker required in summer.
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Resident-only Osterville-village kettle pond beach in the town of Barnstable. No daily visitor parking in season.
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Hiking spur in Mount Tom State Reservation, Holyoke. No swimming in the reservation — this is a trail reference, not a swim stop.
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Short connector hiking trail inside Mount Tom State Reservation, Holyoke. Not a swim spot — no sanctioned swim in the reservation.
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.
Winchendon, Massachusetts
DCR lifeguarded beach on 85-acre Lake Dennison in Winchendon. Day-use parking $8 MA / $30 non-MA; 10 HP motor limit.
Monterey, Massachusetts
Monterey town beach on Lake Garfield. Front lot is resident-only; non-residents park in the grass overflow area to the north.
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington town rec area on Lake Mansfield. Electric motors only, no dogs on the beach, limited lifeguard coverage.
Orange, Massachusetts
Orange town beach and boat ramp on spring-fed Lake Mattawa, off Holtshire Road. Small-scale family swim and paddle lake.
Lanesborough, Massachusetts
Small sand town beach on the north end of Pontoosuc Lake in Lanesborough. Check cyanobacteria advisories before swimming.
Warwick, Massachusetts
DCR accessible swim beach and campground on Laurel Lake in Warwick, inside Erving State Forest. $8 MA / $30 non-MA day-use.
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham municipal swim beach on Learned Pond. Seasonal Parks & Rec beach pass / resident sticker required in season.
Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox / Lee town beach on Laurel Lake, off US-20. Resident-maintained; non-residents buy a pass at the Lenox Community Center.
Westminster, Massachusetts
The DCR swim beach in Leominster State Forest. Lifeguarded seasonally; entered off Route 31 in Westminster.
South Hadley, Massachusetts
South Hadley drinking-water reservoir on the Mt. Holyoke Range.
Pembroke, Massachusetts
Pembroke town beach on Little Sandy Bottom Pond, off Woodbine Avenue. Open to residents and non-residents; no lifeguards.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Forested kettle pond in Plymouth Town Forest. Cartop boat launch off Drew Road (2-car limit); no designated beach.
Brewster, Massachusetts
Brewster's town beach on Long Pond, off Crowells Bog Road. Sand, seasonal lifeguards, sticker-only parking in summer.
Harwich, Massachusetts
Harwich's town beach on Long Pond, off Long Pond Drive. Seasonal lifeguards and sticker-only parking in summer.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet's town-run kettle pond swim on Long Pond Road. Sand beach, floating dock, seasonal Wellfleet sticker.
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Yarmouth's Wings Grove park on Long Pond. Small sand swim, playground, free parking — no lifeguards.
Cotuit, Massachusetts
Cotuit kettle pond with a resident-sticker beach on Santuit–Newtown Road. Quiet, pebbly, no lifeguard, cyano-watched.
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown's brook-fed swim pond on Route 7. Free, ranger-staffed Memorial Day – Labor Day.
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Big Mashpee/Sandwich kettle pond. Main swim is Attaquin Park in Mashpee; recurring cyanobacteria advisories.
Mashpee, Massachusetts
A small, lightly-documented Mashpee kettle pond. Largely neighborhood-fronted; not a developed swim beach.
Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton / Kestrel forest preserve off Turkey Hill Road. Hike and mountain-bike trails, quarry pools, brooks — no sanctioned swim.
Charlemont, Massachusetts
Walk-in Cold River pool at Mohawk Trail State Forest campground in Charlemont. No lifeguard — flow depends on upstream conditions.
Charlemont, Massachusetts
DCR campground in Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont. Cold River shoreline for registered campers and day-users; seasonal gate fee.
Charlemont, Massachusetts
DCR swim area on the Deerfield River inside Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont. Watch for dam-release flow and variable depth.
Huntington, Massachusetts
Unofficial West Branch Westfield River swim by Moltenbrey's Market in Huntington. Old mill-site debris under the water — scout first.
Monterey, Massachusetts
Lifeguarded Lake Garfield town beach in Monterey. Noon–6 p.m.
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Pass-only Wellesley town beach on Morses Pond. Residents daily or season; non-residents season pass only.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth town park between Little Pond and Billington Sea. Main swim is Little Pond; day-use fee in summer, resident sticker for free parking.
South Hadley, Massachusetts
~1-mile campus walking loop around Mount Holyoke's Upper Pond in South Hadley. Trail and wetland viewing, not a swim.
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Small Williamstown park at the Green River / Roaring Brook confluence. Shallow unofficial swim under a cascade; fishing and picnic.
Carver, Massachusetts
DCR day-use swim pond in Myles Standish State Forest, Carver. Sandy beach and lifeguards in season; $8 MA / $30 non-MA parking.
Winchester, Massachusetts
DCR swim beach on Upper Mystic Lake in Winchester. Lifeguarded in season; check MyRWA / DCR after heavy rain for advisories.
Brewster, Massachusetts
Kettle-pond beach inside Nickerson State Park, Brewster. Lifeguards in season, paddle rentals on-pond, no dogs on the beach.
Colrain, Massachusetts
Unofficial North River swim upstream of the old Sunburn Beach parcel in Colrain. 2019 acid-leak history upstream; use conservatively.
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington town park on the Housatonic River. Picnic and walk — no swim due to the Housatonic PCB advisory.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield's public beach on Onota Lake at Burbank Park, Valentine Road. Lifeguards in summer; check cyano advisories.
Winchendon, Massachusetts
DCR state-forest day-use swim at Beaman Pond in Winchendon. Sand beach, seasonal lifeguards, campground shares the entrance.
West Townsend, Massachusetts
DCR state-park pond beach at Pearl Hill Pond in West Townsend. Family swim, shared campground with Willard Brook SF.
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich kettle-pond beaches on Peters Pond. Peters Pond Park and Oakcrest Cove; town-sticker parking in season.
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans town kettle-lake beach off Monument Road. Sticker parking in season; shallow family swim.