This famous reservoir affords some of the best spectacular inland scenery in New England. Few people know, however, that it is man-made, took nine years to create (between 1930 and 1939) and spans 39 square miles and 181 miles of shoreline. Walks are especially pleasant on a warm summer day or during autumn when the foliage shines its magical colors. It is also a popular spot for fishing, boating, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

The peaceful scenes experienced here, however, once came at the expense of flooding four towns in the 1930s — Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott — as a means to create the reservoir given the increasing water shortage spanning to Boston. Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott no longer exist with the exception of a town common area in Dana, cellar holes, granite steps and roads that meander to the water.

Have you guessed this location yet?

If not, it is the Quabbin Reservoir located in Belchertown, Hardwick, New Salem, Pelham, Petersham, Shutesbury and Ware, Mass.

You can access the Quabbin Reservoir in many places but I recommend starting at the at 485 Ware Rd (Route 9) in Belchertown where there is a Visitor Center and fabulous places to walk. To get the latest updates on Quabbin events and accessibility — especially with the limitations created by the Cornonavirus — please call (413) 323-7221 or log onto the Massachusetts Government’s Quabbin web page.

Additional reading:
Where is this beautiful coastal city?
Enjoying a fantastic breakfast at Jake’s at the Mill in North Amherst, Mass.
Visit this quirky, wonderful market and cafe in Amherst owned by a former dentist
Getting in a traditional New England dining state of mind at the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield