Had been wanting to check this out all summer, but being a bit of a cheapo, I didn't want to pay the $20 non-resident parking fee. Now that its off-season and parking is free I checked it out. Wasn't disappointed. Some nice views, and a challenging, but not overwhelming hike. Will definitely have to come back sometime. read more

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Amazing place to take kids . Rock slide and hiking is amazing. The facilities are clean . The park and picnic areas for families.

I'm a sucker for a scramble, so naturally I loved the hike through the chasm. We walked over to little purgatory loop and found the tree that must have grown its roots out sideways over the flat rock before it tipped over. We thought the roots looked like they belonged in a scene of Stranger Things. Before we left we let our kids slide down the fairly smooth giant rock by the parking lot and then stopped by the playground. Great fun for all ages (tough climbing through the middle with small kids/babies) and highly recommended! read more

Super fun , lots of rocks so make sure you wear the right sneakers. This place is pretty beautiful and majestical ngllll

It was such an amazing trail and scenery! Definitely wear good shoes that can handle the rocks you walk over and around. Paths are clearly marked and easy to follow read more

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Awesome hike dog friendly go to the red room crawl threw on your back great spot for family friends kids picnic area

Purgatory Chasm is a classic, offering short hikes with unique views and of course the Chasm itself is great for rock scrambling without any serious challenges. Unfortunately the state has made some choices that make this no longer a location I can easily recommend for those wanting to experience the outdoors. The park charges parking fees-ranging from $5 (Mass plates) to $20 (out of state plates) for a day pass. For comparison you can get into Stone Mountain, a significantly larger park beautifully maintained with variety of attractions from hikes and to see the carvings, for the same price. The rangers here take parking VERY seriously. Do not leave your car unattended even for a minute! You need to go walk up to a pay meter to pay your fee (Visa and Mastercard only), they aren't individual meters and there isn't an easy car drive up. In the barely 2 minutes I stepped away from car to pay (I experienced a challenge with the machine and my car) I returned to find a ranger writing a ticket. She shredded it after I showed her I stepped away to literally pay them but still, that short time frame especially if you see someone is at the machine to start issuing a citation? Come on... You'd think that with the park no longer relying on donations would mean better upkeep but no. There used to be nice signage to let you know the names of formations and where to go. All that is gone with the exception of Lover's Leap (probably because the sign is too high up). So now you will need to rely on your phone or research to know what to look for. The map has a couple dots of what formations remain but they don't really show you where things are. What was also unfortunate was the trash. We went early so the trash that was there I'm willing to bet was from the previous days. More money, and a small area, you'd think would mean better maintained. But overall it is not. In fact they don't even have trash cans at the visitor center, somewhere staff would routinely be. So instead people being lazy leave it around unfortunately. So overall, it's a disappointment. If it were well maintained and the money was being used for enhancements and upkeep it would be less upsetting but the fees being charged are clearly not being used except to make money. After all, how hard is it to even bring back signage? read more

Such an amazing place to see and explore!! My fiancé and I enjoy visiting, for it's only 10 mins from our home now. read more

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My second day of going out brought me to Purgatory Chasm. First off, wear shoes that are comfortable and really good grip for climbing lots and lots of rocks. You do have to pay a parking fee which can be done through a kiosk or staff. The chasm was my favorite part because it was such a workout traversing through the sides or center just to get across this little path. I don't know if it's the only way to get to the trails, but I liked the challenge. My companions who have no affinity for physical activity were out of fuel as soon as we finished. So, we walked to Little Purgatory afterwards and left shortly after. read more

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FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!! This is a great place to do different types of hiking...and it's awesome for all! Families, friends, couples or even just on your own. You can go at almost any point during the year and it never feels crowded. One of my favorite parts is the Fat Man's Misery, where you can see me trying to climb out of. Overall, one or two hours spent here makes for a great trip. Remember to wear proper shoes and clothing however as it's not one of the hiking trails that has been manicured for the general public. read more

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This is an amazing amazing place to go to get outside. Even if you don't want to go crazy and climb down rock faces, there's so many beautiful trails to supplement. I highly suggest going through the rocks though because some spots are amazing to stop and look up as you're below the higher ground. An amazing place for a picnic, hike, drive, or simply walk around for awhile. I've been coming here since I was young and I still love it. The rangers are also very nice and helpful. So many cool stories! read more

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What's not to like here? I suppose some may complain about having to pay to park. Personally I'd like to see an option for those of us living in the Blackstone Valley (and others) to purchase an annual sticker. Similar to the way you might support a local zoo, for example. They would likely get higher donation amounts voluntarily, vs. the extortion-like pay-to-park each visit. Beyond the parking... For those seeking heat relief, on a hot summer day the low parts of the chasm are considerably cooler. Of course this does generally bring the crowds. Remember to bring bug spray. Children will be in awe of the rock formations and most will absolutely love climbing over, under and through the rocks, crevices and small caves. The rocks are normally slippery, more so after a rain or during the humid summer months - decent footwear is a must. Grandparents beware: not the best place to try to follow an 8 year old! However, across the street by the visitor center there's a nice playground for the kids to tire-out. If you want a longer/safer/less slippery hike you can follow Charlie's Loop trail in it's entirety (start by the covered picnic tables). Then maybe veer off onto the northwest side fire road. From there you can find a couple of trails that head back toward the parking lot. This is a great place to walk the dog(s) - leashed. Please pick up after your pet. Also a wonderful spot for snowshoeing - assuming we still get snow. re: parking - if you are local you might find a place over on Mendon Road, from which you can enter the park via the fire road (47CF+628). read more

Great hiking spot for families and people of all ages! Also has a fun park for the kids, picnic benches and charcoal grills!

Such a beautiful place to hike! Fun for the whole family with the chasm for adventure and serene, easy to hike trails for all.

I've always loved this park. Kid tested and approved 100%! Great place for the entire family. Picnic and play area. It cost $5 to park for in state residents but it's worth it! read more

Purgatory chasm is an amazing place to take your kids or even go with a group of friends. They have a cute playground a visitor center with some really cool stuff to look at the chasm itself is amazing with plenty of trails near the end that you can take, depending how far you want to go. read more

This rock formation in state park has been in the same place since the end of the Ice Age, people from Sutton mass and surrounding towns have been coming here for many years. To enjoy the sights, and the beautiful landscape of purgatory chasm. But now if you want visit the chasm you have to pay five dollars per vehicle or they'll tow your car even if you're from town, I no longer go there. I'm not going to pay to see something in my hometown. I'm just disgusted. read more

Beautiful scenery and an extraordinary rock chasm for those capable of climbing it is a bit dangerous but a chasm is covered by Park Rangers and there are signs posted to show you the way through the chasm as well as alternate routes for especially challenging parts. The reservation also offers Lots of areas to picnic and relax and enjoy with the family and pets. There are built in fireplaces and picnic tables, just be prepared to bring everything else and take home your trash. Several scenic walking paths also with markings from beginners to advanced. Definitely recommend! read more

Amazing place to go hiking with the kids, also thee is a park there if someone wants to hang back with infants.

Really nice park to walk around and enjoy the outdoors. It's clean and parking is plentiful (though it does cost a buck or two).

Purgatory is such a fun spot to picnic, relax or hike. It is kid and dog friendly even on the trails. The climb through the chasm is a lot of fun. You can make it easier and follow the arrows, or choose you own adventure to get through by climbing over all kinds of rocks. There are built in fireplaces and picnic tables for your use. It is a great place to spend the day. Been going here for 50 years and still love it. read more

Great place to go for a hike, I love going there with my family but some of the trails are tricky and hard to navigate(sometimes) but the colored trail markers help you follow the trail you are on, just watch your step if you fall you could get really hurt. read more

What a fantastic time way to spend an autumn afternoon. Purgatory Chasm is less than an hour outside of Boston. It makes you feel like you've been transported to another place.. but can still go back home if you develop some weird allergy to trees. Or rocks. Or something. Anyway.. Last weekend, a few of us packed up some lunch and headed out to Purgatory (heh). It was really the fun names that got me out there.. because Lord knows.. I don't hike. And seeing as that the chasm is about a quarter mile long, the little (and lazy) ones won't get too tuckered out from the trek (and if the chasm seems like torture, they have a playground). I thought the chasm was great.. especially for an amateur hiker like me. It was a teensy bit scary because it was slippery from the rain the day before and the dry fall leaves. Note: Wear good sturdy shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. There are some muddy parts.. kind of like the Neverending Story but on a much smaller scale (I made a lot of Neverending Story references on the trip). One of the other reviewers said that it was incredibly busy, but I didn't feel that way at all. Maybe it gets packed during the summer? Most of the time, it seemed like me and my friends were adventuring out on our own. Then a bunch of children came out of nowhere. And teens. Yelling, bounding teenagers. But for the most part.. it felt just like us. For the more advanced hikers, you can go bouldering up some of the chasm but you need to have a permit. I posted a bunch of pictures, but some of the sights include: Fat Man's Misery (a smallish crevice that most everyone needs to get through sideways), Devil's Coffin (a tiny cave with a rock inside that's shaped like a coffin. There's some story about vampires in the main building at the beginning of the trail where the maps are. Oh, and there's an engraving on a rock outside the cave that says, "Prepare to meet thy God"), Devil's Pulpit (the actual pulpit has fallen.. so you can just stand on top of the stub and pretend to be powerful), Devil's Corn Crib (yeah I wasn't that excited either), and Lover's Leap (eep!). You're not supposed to bring any food in the chasm (people are dang litterers) but there are picnic benches at the beginning of the trail (there was even an ice cream truck hanging out) if you want to veg out before or after your hike. We thought ahead and brought sandwiches, drinks, and candy for our journey. And don't worry.. there are clean bathrooms at the beginning of the trail.. so go ahead and hydrate. And it's free.. so huzzah for that. :) Oh and the park closes at sunset.. because who wants to hang out in purgatory if the sun aint shinin'? read more

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This is a Great family place to walk around and have fun. You can have a nice picnic with the tables provided, bring the kids to the playground to burn off energy. Weather you go for a relaxing day or you go for a hike you won't be disappointed. You can walk for 10 minutes or walk for 2 hours. The scenery is beautiful year round and you can always find different trails. They may charge a small fee to park now but it is well worth it!! Great for all ages. read more

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Pretty great :) I came here the other day with my girlfriend and we got to experience the descent into the chasm. It was pretty fun feeling so small among those rocks. I very much enjoyed the fact that it felt like a familiar level of Halo that I had played and also like a scene from Skyrim... Not that I'm an obsessive gamer or anything. We only did the basic Chasm descent since the sun was going down quickly but just that alone was worth the trip and I would already recommend that people come out just based on that experience. One thing did bother me though, there seemed to be a lot of burners and alcoholics about. I'm fine with that shit but I just thought it was super odd. In California our burners are adventurous and they respect other people by taking their business into the forest, they don't hang around on the trails looking suspicious and guilty for no reason just to be annoying. I figure this happened because of the late hour of our visit but it was still odd. It's not like the sun was gone or anything. There were only three other people out there who weren't lighting up or drinking suspiciously from red cups. It all felt very nineties... drinking and having fun is great but not when you put yourself in an environment that other people go-to to get away from that shit. So yeah, maybe go earlier in the afternoon? Or maybe on the weekend. I'm used to nature and I've been to tons of national and state parks, but this was still a great visit. read more

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This was a lot of fun! We went here on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed both the Chasm rock trail and the Charlie Loop trail. The chasms are impressive. Its a bit dangerous, but just keep your eyes open and enjoy the challenge. While only 1/2 mile long, it has all kinds of twists and turns - something for beginners and experts alike. The walking trails are long and peaceful, for the most part. There can be a lot of kids and suprisingly rude walkers. People have no problem shoving you aside on a narrow walk, but this has nothing to do with the park itself. There are restrooms, portapoties, and a truck with ice cream and beverages on site as well. No charge to use the various trails. read more

Great place to bring the family, and family dogs! Trails for all levels, a great day in the great outdoors!

Purgatory is such a fun spot. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because it gets super crowded (even during COVID), making it hard to enjoy. It is not a tough spot to hike at all- lots of flatter options and kid and dog friendly trails. The climb through the chasm is a lot of fun. You can make it easier and follow the arrows, or choose you own adventure to get through by climbing over all kinds of rocks. I would love to come back here on a weekday when I could have more space to myself and not worry about other people pushing me along. read more

Some steep rock climbing but manageable for most. Saw wide range of ages enjoying the descent into the chasm. Wear proper footwear and you should be okay. Make sure to seek out the fat mans misery and devils corn crib. Kids love it. Lots of free parking and rest area with playground at entrance to chasm at visitor center. Great exercise for the whole family. Plan on spending an hour or 2 there. Lots of picnic tables for enjoyment as well. read more

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So much fun! My kids, husband and self had a blast there! Huge rocks to climb, caves and great trails. Never experienced a hike like that before. Great for kids age 6 or 7 and up. Dogs allowed but I would not take a little dog. Wear sneakers and take a back pack with water and bug spray. $5 parking Picnic tables and grills Fun geocaches hidden there too Look forward to going back read more

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Awesome Place! My brother told me about this park some time ago and I finally got the chance to check it out. It's a great place to take a short hike, to see a different kind of landscape and to see unique geology. Just be sure to wear comfy shoes with a good tread. Also, make sure you're in fairly decent shape so that you can climb over and under rocks and up steep inclines. Oh, and don't forget your camera! Lots of free parking. Grills and picnic tables, as well as play grounds for the little ones who might be too scared to hike in the chasm (I witnessed a screaming toddler who was too scared to go through the entire thing). Luckily when I went it wasn't too busy and so my boyfriend and I got a good chance to explore:) Check it out! read more

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Great play area for small children as well as offering trails for hikes. Can be a bit hazardous if not in the right foot ware

So this is what Purgatory looks like? It's a very interesting place. A super place to see these magnificent glacial boulders. Perfect for people who love rocks. There are tons of picnic tables and grills and a playground for children. This wasn't my kind of hiking. There are so many opportunities to trip over rocks and get hurt here. But even with that being said, I certainly acknowledge its beauty and the grand story behind a chasm like this. read more

I've only been here once and explored maybe 15% of it (we were limited on time) but was in awe that this special gem of a place was within a half hour of where we live. The day we went was a perfect 65 degrees and it was like walking around a piece of heaven. Between the cool massive rocks that you could walk through, to the trails, to visitor's center and just everything - I was in love. There was a scary huge porta potty outside of the visitor's center (it was pretty gross) but fear not! There were nice clean real bathrooms in the visitor's center. This place is an absolute must go for any lover of the outdoors. I can't speak for the trails and how easy/hard they are, but it seems there are quite a few here. The name is a bit off putting but there's so much history to this place alone. It's been around for quite sometime and multiple plaques placed on various rocks, really show how beloved this place was to many years ago. My 7 year old daughter really loved climbing around, as did I and we look forward to heading back to explore the trails, the playground and much more! read more

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Purgatory is an excellent place to take the family for a day rock climbing places to relax a nice cool area in case it's too hot out. Welcome to Sutton Enjoy you're day in the cool air! read more

I love hiking around this park have been hiking here since I was a kid! Really such a cool hidden gem! It's a great practice ground if you want to do more serious hikes there are parts that have some elevation. Gorgeous there! read more

I love purgatory chasm! Climbing around on all of the large boulders and rocks is really fun and not as monotonous as a traditional hike. The parking is easy and it's great to come here for an hour or two and explore all the nooks and crannies. read more

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Didn't realize how awesome this place was when I was being told about it. Then I arrived and realized wow this place is huge and has so much to offer you. Love the playground for the kids and all the caves. Plus trying to climb up over on the side and under rocks threw trails is awesome. The also have multiple trails without the rocks threw the wood as well. Cool little picnic area and a odd Little house looking thing that's clearly old. Very easy to get lost if you don't pay attention. Awesome place to get the dogs and children out for a fun day in the outdoors. read more

Great outdoor location. Open and interesting with plenty of space to spread out and get away from the crowd.

Great local hiking spot! They have rest rooms and informative staff! Many courses to try with varying lengths to hike! Short courses and long! Picnic areas are clean and tables are available so pack a lunch! They have a playground for kids too! Weekends have many scheduled activities! Check the web site for options! read more

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation - Purgatory Chasm! Great hiking! - Parks Near Me - Sutton, Massachusetts

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