• Activities Prohibited
• ATV's/ORV's
• Camping
• Horseback-riding
• Skating
• Snowmobiling
• Swimming
• x-country Skiing
• Available Information
• Paper map
• Facilities
• None
• Fees
• No fee
• Land Owner
• Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Parking
• 8 cars
• Pets
• No Pets
• Recreation Activities
• Hiking
• Rock climbing
• Road biking
• Season
• All Seasons
• Signage
• Trailhead sign

Quabbin Gate 40

Hardwick Road, Petersham, MA
413-323-7221

Walk or bike through history at Dana Commons. Stone walls, cellar holes. No pets please.

Description:

Considered by some the best historical hike in the Quabbin Reservoir lands - and certainly one of the most moving - is the 1½-mile road to Dana Common that begins at Gate 40. Woodland and open fields lead to the common, dotted with stone walls, cellar holes, and brooks. The commons itself is beautiful and eerily peaceful, with schoolhouse and homesite cellar holes and cemetery fence posts conjuring images of long ago.

The two main roads heading west out of the center continue about 2 miles to the shores of the Quabbin and a view of Mount Zion; a 1-mile dirt road heading south from the center goes to the Pottapaug Pond section of the reservoir, a stopover for migrating birds.

Directions:

From Petersham center, go south on Rte 32 0.3 mi. Turn right on Rte. 122, go 0.5 mi., and turn left onto Hardwick Rd., Rte. 32A. Proceed approx. 3 mi. to gate, on right.

Click for a Map

Contact:

Quabbin Administration Bldg.
485 Ware Rd.
Belchertown, MA 01007

Phone: 413-323-7221
Email: clif.read@state.ma.us
Web: www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/quabbin.htm

 

back to Area Guide