A really nice drive to a really beautiful spot. Good wheelchair accessibility. Be aware the…read morebathrooms are up a flight of stairs so you'd need to drive up, a long walk up the road, or use porta potty at the accessible level. Beach wheelchairs are available to use, but we just used our own to get to the edge of the water. Wooden ramp from parking to edge of the lake leads you to a rubber mat that goes about ten feet into the water for accessibility. Still a little to navigate but the easiest we've found so far. Good swimming!

I grew up coming to Erving State Forest and it is one of my favorite places…read more My own family has camped here many times, as well as come for single day visits and we always have the best time. The grounds are PRISTINE, including the beautiful Laurel Lake. Clean sand and crystal clear water. Bathroom facilities are clean and functional. Nicely groomed and marked hiking trails. The campground area also has a wilderness center that the ranger opens up a couple times a week to do crafts and activities with kids. Sites are clean and level and all have a fire pit with grate, charcoal grill and picnic table. For the rates, you really can't go wrong here. Beautiful and relaxing, and perfect if you're looking to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. I'd give more stars if I could!

Close to Colonial Hotel, this is an accessible gem. A new parking payment machine has been set up…read morebut no charges at moment. There are lots of picnic tables and looks like swimming in a Great Lake with s sandy beach. Trails are clean and shady. I wish there was a map that showed distances: I was unsure how long it would take for me to hike around it, so I did not take the trail. Clean bathrooms, but only open until 3 pm at the moment.

The pavilion was rented for a birthday party on, what turned out to be, a very cold and windy day…read more The staff offered indoor warm space and hot chocolate in the visitor center. The building is beautiful. On a warm day, the pavilion would be great...large with 12+ picnic tables. The park has walking trails, a beach and a playground. The staff go out of their way for the visitors. Highly recommend!

Wonderful 2mi round trip walk from the parking lot to the Dam and the Millers River. This is a very…read moreeasy hike, no hills and easy footing all the way with plenty of water and wooded areas to observe as you head toward the flood plain control area. Throughout the 4384 acre reservoir area there are an additional 25 miles of dirt roads and trails in designated areas there is swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking and snowmobiling, making this a very scenic local resource in the area.

Ive gone hiking here in the past countless times and let me say, it's probably the best sight in…read moreRoyalston!!

This place used to be my favorite, now I wouldn't step foot back if you paid me…read more On Sunday, August 3rd around 1:15pm at Gate 8, we were greeted by the most VILE, DISRESPECTFUL woman I've ever had to deal with. From the second we pulled up, she looked at us with pure attitude, like we were beneath her. She made us feel like an inconvenience, snapping and acting like we didn't belong there. It was humiliating and completely uncalled for, especially considering she was literally with 2 different customers- how professional! After snapping at us for simply entering the premises, she continued to laugh at how she had just treated us in front of other customers (who experienced the whole thing) For reference, she was a blonde woman with neck tattoos, so there's no excuse for whoever in charge to not know exactly who this is and take action. I seriously don't understand how someone with that kind of nasty, hostile energy is allowed to work with the public. She has no business being employed anywhere near customers. She should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY. This woman ruined the entire experience, and because of her, they've permanently lost a loyal customer. Absolutely VILE behavior that will not be tolerated and this will be continually reported until action is taken. It's sad, because the gentlemen that work there are so kind and made our past experiences so wholesome. It was truly the place to go when you needed a break from the busy world. Super unfortunate how some nasty unhappy woman could ruin it.

What a gem! My wife and I got there a little later in the day but we were still able to explore…read morethis beautiful body of water and still got some great fishing in as well. The LMB were biting today in every cove we spent time in. The folks at the launch were very friendly and they spent the time coaching us on how to use the motor with the boat rentals, provided us fishing tips and made for great conversations. This was during COVID so we had to bring our own PFDs!

This is our first time staying at a DCR campground west of 495, simply because none of them have…read morewater and electric. Now we have a basic solar kit to keep the batteries charged I was ready to go for it. This place is BEAUTIFUL. Pros and cons aside for a minute, we didn't want to leave. My husband is the beach lover but said this was probably his favorite we've camped at so far. (Granted some of it had to do with it being less than perfect weather and come Sunday morning we had almost the whole section to ourselves.) In our opinion the north side is nicer, and more set up size-wise for trailers. Any site from 101-112 is truly lake side and you can put your kayak or canoe in the lake right from there. We stayed at 116, and that section is more of a steep drop off but you still have wonderful lake views. But, it is also set up somewhat awkwardly with having to drive over the grass with not super clear markings. (119 is in front of 116 FYI. We felt bad setting up as we blocked some of their view.) That said, if you camp with friends, esp. tent camping it's a great area to reserve. The row of pull-through sites one up from the lake-side still offer a great water view and nice privacy between. The drawback is that if you are a family with young kids the access to the beach/swimming area is over at the east side. The bathrooms on the north side are small, very rustic and don't have dishwashing stations. However the ladies room shower has been updated to a real shower head and dial control that will let you regulate the hot water and stays on, not like the push button ones at Scusset or Salisbury! They were as clean as they could be, meaning they are old with an eroded cement floor so not much could be done. Oh and other reviews have mentions the traffic noise from 202 is loud at those sites that are nearest to roadway, and yes, we rode our bikes over there and it was terrible. And FYI some of the east side noise travels across the lake if you are at 113-118. Overall a totally different experience from Horseneck Beach, Scusset or Salisbury if you've been to those, but we really enjoyed it.

Kids love it. Large and somewhat private campsites. Ice cream truck at least once a day. Don't have…read moreto go far to find bathroom block. Near the water the bathrooms are old and full of bugs. Could be worse

It's just a very serene and pretty place to spend a few hours. Loved the walkable covered bridge!read more

Lake Potanipo (sometimes called Potanipo Pond) is a highlight of the small town of Brookline. The…read morebeach has been cleaned up considerably, and it's open (albeit in a limited way) to the general public. It has a small, charming lighthouse along with a public beach. It's picturesque. A great little place for hikes&leisurely walks. Lake Potanipo is an understated place. Its waters eventually lead to the Gulf of Maine. Not bad for a little quiet country lake.

What a sweet little swimming spot! I last went to Dean Pond when I was a wee one, and seem to…read moreremember a sad little swimming area, no facilities and a non-existent beach (think "muck" between your toes and slimy little pond plants!). So...I really didn't have high expectations for this outing, but the pond is less than 15 minutes from my parents' house, so....off we went. Clearly, things have changed! The beach is now well defined AND nice and sandy (no muck....and good quality "sand castle sand" to boot!). My son and I had a great time playing, swimming and generally goofing around. The entry fee (parking) is $5, but that buys you a nice picnic area, changing facilities, real bathrooms, and nicely cared for grounds with plenty of room for sitting under the giant pines or eating a picnic meal. We went mid-week, and while there was a bus-load of campers, they were gone by 1pm, and we practically had the place to ourselves. This will definitely be a "must-go" place for us whenever we visit the grandparents!

It used to be a nice place for a lunch but it needs work. Time has left it behind and it is a…read moredreary place. It is unfortunate that it has been so forgotten. Money needs to be allocated towards restoring this place so that it can be something the community can be proud of. Some trails where a few people walk dogs but not much else going on there.

5 stars Cool trails,…read morecreepy old bunkers, and beautiful trees. Even saw deer here! The only downside to this place is that it is a little close to the road and you can hear the cars speeding by if you are close. Other than that, it is a wonderful wildlife refuge.

There were a lot of cars, but who knows where the people were? I read there was a park center with…read morerest room, but unclear how much of a trek it was from the parking lot and I'm afraid of ticks. No animals were allowed, although my dog would have loved it. I get it, but it would be more convincing if there wasn't some huge plant next door. For a the path was well maintained though, and small areas off the path you could get to without injury.

Tripps Pond is a nice little space to spend some time outdoors... I had the opportunity to do so…read morewhile visiting friends this past weekend! Located on River Street, Hog Brook runs into the pond which in turn becomes the Assabet River. There are paths and trails on each side of the pond which are great for a stroll or a change of pace but certainly aren't built for lengthy hikes of any sort. One path travels through the woods over a couple small bridges and ends on a small peninsula at the pond's edge. The other side of the pond is well manicured with wide walking paths and multiple benches and picnic tables. When I was here, a few dedicated Hudson families were cleaning up the park and clearing away fallen trees and branches in anticipation of Earth Day! Plenty of space to soak in the early spring sun. There is a bench dedicated to George Chiasson (at one time a park commissioner who firmly supported the return of an annual fishing derby at the pond). The event is so aptly named the "George Chiasson Memorial Trout Fishing Derby". Sounds like the pond is stocked with trout for the event with a single tagged fish that if not caught on the day of the event, remains part of a prized contest until such day that some lucky person reels it in! The flowers are starting to bloom and the buds starting to emerge from the trees. Looks like the local boy and girl scout troops dedicate work and time to the park. There is a weeping willow and white birch tree there with plaques from the groups. I found a "#kindnessrocks" rock nearby to a bench in the park, a welcome message during my visit. A nice place to breathe in the fresh air and come together with the residents of Hudson.

Nice little pond for strolling, dog walking, and even fishing. On one side, there are several stone…read moreand wooden benches for sitting, a couple picnic tables, and swings. On the other side there's a path through the woods for a short nature walk. Plenty of Great Blue Heron sightings!