Discover the Best State Parks in Massachusetts

More than 150 sites make up Massachusetts’ superlative network of state parks, which encompass a diverse array of landscapes and historic spots. With such outstanding choices, it’s challenging to choose a definitive list of the best state parks in Massachusetts. However, here are several you really shouldn’t miss.

Do I Have to Pay to Enter Massachusetts State Parks?

All state parks are free to enter; however, many popular sites charge daily parking fees, some year-round and others seasonally. These fees are significantly higher for out-of-state visitors than for Massachusetts residents, as residency is determined solely by the vehicle’s license plate. Massachusetts residents can purchase an annual park pass, which is valid for one calendar year; both a Massachusetts driver’s license and a Massachusetts license plate are required.

Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park

Best State Park for History

Thirty-four islands and peninsulas in and around Boston Harbor comprise this park, offering a blend of urban and wild nature managed by various agencies. Narrated harbor cruises are an excellent way to see the scenery and lighthouses, including Boston Harbor Light, the oldest continuously operating light station in the United States.

Passenger ferries run to islands where visitors can swim, hike, view wildlife, and explore historic forts. On the mainland, Deer Island in Winthrop provides stunning views, as do several parks on the South Shore.

Middlesex Fells Reservation

Best State Park for Suburban Hiking

Just six miles north of Boston, Middlesex Fells spreads across 2,575 acres of rocky, hilly land covered in pine and mixed hardwood forest. The park boasts more than 100 miles of trails, including the popular Skyline Trail, which rewards hikers with panoramic views of the Boston skyline.

Other trails of varying difficulty, many suitable for mountain bikers, traverse woodlands and wetlands past numerous ponds, including several large reservoirs. Spot Pond Reservoir in the eastern Fells offers kayak, canoe, and rowboat rentals.

Walden Pond State Reservation

Best State Park for Literary Inspiration

Henry David Thoreau famously spent over two years living in a cabin at Walden Pond in Concord. At Walden Pond State Reservation, visitors can explore the landscape that inspired Thoreau, visit an exact replica of his cabin, and see the footprint of the vanished original.

Walden Pond itself is a deep kettle pond formed by glaciers over 12,000 years ago. A scenic path circles the pond, taking about an hour to hike, with the beach at the east end being a popular swimming spot in summer.

Blue Hills Reservation

Best State Park for Multisport Activities

This sprawling park encompasses more than 7,000 acres in five different towns, about 10 miles south of downtown Boston. Roughly 125 miles of multi-use trails ascend the park’s hills, while others skirt the edges of ponds and meander through forests, meadows, and wetlands.

Visitors can enjoy panoramic views, including the Boston skyline from the rocky summit of Great Blue Hill, which is topped by a stone observation tower and a weather observatory. Swimming is allowed at Houghton’s Pond, which features seasonal facilities and lifeguards.

Halibut Point State Park

Best State Park for Birdwatching

Located at the northern tip of Cape Ann, Halibut Point State Park features the remnants of a granite quarry, leaving a 60-ft deep pit filled with water from underground springs. Trails lead around the quarry through oak-conifer forest to scenic viewpoints on the rocky headland and down to tidepools.

This state park, along with the adjacent Halibut Point Reservation, is a top birdwatching destination, especially in fall and winter when seabirds feed offshore. A fire-control tower from World War II houses exhibits about the park’s natural and cultural history.

Moore State Park

Best State Park for Spring Flowers

Moore State Park in Paxton, northwest of Worcester, showcases the remains of a historical village with grist and sawmills that once harnessed the power of Turkey Hill Brook. A reproduction of the original sawmill now stands on its foundation.

This park is particularly lovely in spring when rhododendrons and azaleas bloom, while autumn foliage forms a scenic backdrop for the mills, waterfalls, and the covered bridge that crosses Eames Pond.

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

Best State Park for Intriguing Geology

Dramatic geology is the main attraction at this small park in Sutton, southeast of Worcester. Its centerpiece, Purgatory Chasm, is a quarter-mile-long glacially carved rock cleft with walls up to 70ft-high and large boulders scattered across the ground.

Visitors can squeeze through the deep, narrow gap called Fat Man’s Misery and hike to other rock formations with names such as Devil’s Pulpit, Lover’s Leap, and Devil’s Coffin. Sturdy footwear is essential for this adventure.

Bash Bish Falls State Park

Best State Park for Waterfall Views

In Massachusetts’ southwest corner, the state’s highest waterfall tumbles 80ft into a clear pool in a deep, forested gorge, making it the main attraction of Bash Bish Falls State Park. From the parking lot, it’s a short but steep 0.6-mile hike that can get slippery.

For an easier option, visitors can drive into New York to Taconic State Park, where the hike is around 1.5 miles round trip, offering a more gradual descent despite some rocky and uneven terrain.

Natural Bridge State Park

Best State Park for Natural Wonders

Natural Bridge State Park in North Adams is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America. This unique formation is 30ft-long and 15ft-thick, carved over 13,000 years ago by glaciers. Visitors can also see glacial potholes along the gorge, indicating the region’s geological history.

Mount Greylock State Reservation

Best State Park for Lofty Views

Massachusetts’ highest point, 3,491ft Mount Greylock, dominates its namesake park in the northwestern corner of the state. Year-round trails cater to all abilities, ranging from easy woodland walks to challenging summit hikes with expansive views reaching as far as 90 miles.

Climbing the Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower offers additional panoramic vistas. Be mindful that the auto road to the summit is open from mid-May through October, and expect traffic during fall foliage season.

Nickerson State Park

Best State Park for Families

For many, Cape Cod is synonymous with sandy beaches and scenic lighthouses. Nickerson State Park in Brewster showcases a different side of the Cape, featuring 1,900 acres of forests and eight freshwater kettle ponds, several stocked with trout year-round.

Hiking trails wind through the woods and around the ponds, which offer swimming beaches and canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals. A paved bike path connects to the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, and the park boasts over 400 campsites, including furnished yurts.

Mount Holyoke Range & Skinner State Parks

Best State Park for Hikes and Spotting Hawks

Located in the Connecticut River Valley south of Amherst, Mount Holyoke Range State Park and Skinner State Park protect a series of forested peaks that provide outstanding hiking options. In the fall, migrating hawks can often be seen soaring on updrafts along the mountain slopes.

Quabbin Reservoir

Best State Park for Wildlife

Covering 39 square miles, Quabbin Reservoir provides drinking water for 40 percent of Massachusetts and attracts diverse wildlife, including white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, and bald eagles. Quabbin Park features scenic views, hiking trails, and an observation tower.

The establishment of Quabbin involved the displacement of four towns in the 1930s, creating a poignant historical context alongside its natural beauty.