Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Massachusetts – Quabbin


We have much to discover in our new area especially now with warmer weather. So we started with the Quabbin Reservoir - since we live in one of the bordering towns. About 40% of Massachusetts gets its water from “the Quabbin.” Massachusetts claims that the Quabbin is “the largest man-made reservoir in the world devoted solely to water supply.”* (There’s always a way to claim a superlative.)
 
Quabbin Park
Most of the 118 miles of shoreline are inaccessible. The most popular section and only access by car is Quabbin Park (a park on the southeast shore of the reservoir), which, lucky for us, straddles our town.

Here’s a map of the park.

Quabbin Park has a visitor center, trails and an observation tower, as well as, much of the major infrastructure of the reservoir: Winsor Dam, Goodnough Dike, and the Quabbin Spillway.

Winsor Dam
One day when Carrie visited we saw the dam and observation tower and hiked around the area.
Carrie & Bill at the Quabbin
Observation Tower
It was a nice clear day to go to the tower.
Bill & Carrie near the Observation Tower

The Goodnough Dike
The park opens daily, but one icy day we found the gates closed. So we walked about a mile in on the park road to the dike and walked the dike loop (the purple route in the map above). A salt truck passed us, so we weren’t surprised when we returned to find the gates opened.
Barbara and an icy Quabbin.

the dike
Bill looking across the dike

Bill sometimes takes this route for his daily walk – 3.6 miles.
Bill walking along the dike

We’ll tell you more about the Quabbin in future posts.

* mwra.state.ma.us