Quabbin Gates & Biking
How to get into the reservation on foot or by bike
The Quabbin gates are numbered gates on the old roads that lead into the Quabbin Reservation from the highways around it, including Routes 202, 122 and 32A. Walkers may go in through any open gate from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, and parking at the gates is free. Bikes are allowed only through a short list of them, and you must never park in front of a gate.
Outside Quabbin Park, the gates are how the public reaches the 81,000-acre reservation. Behind them, the roads of the four lost towns run through forest down to the shore.
Gates at a Glance
How the Gates Work
- Enter on foot through a gate or a posted access area. Going in anywhere else is not allowed.
- Be out by one hour after sunset. Night access needs a permit (fishing season only, specific gates).
- Park without blocking the gate or the road. DCR tows cars parked in front of gates.
- Restricted areas stay closed even behind an open gate: Prescott Peninsula, posted administration areas, the islands and the baffle dams. DCR prohibits going onto the frozen reservoir and regulating ponds.
Gates Worth Knowing
- Gate 8 (Pelham, Route 202): Boat Launch Area 1; bikes only in fishing season.
- Gate 16 (west side): DCR has led a 2-mile easy out-and-back here; also a night-fishing permit gate.
- Gate 29 (Elm Street at Route 202, New Salem): a 2.4-mile round trip through forest to the shore (DCR), and the road toward the lost village of Millington and the Keystone Bridge. DCR's suggested entry since Gate 30 closed.
- Gate 30 (Route 122, New Salem): closed since July 10, 2021. The road inside crosses the Swift River on an 1866 stone keystone bridge that DCR engineers found unsafe.
- Gate 31 (Route 122, New Salem): Boat Launch Area 2.
- Gate 35 (north side): DCR's 5-mile out-and-back follows a dirt road down to and along the water.
- Gate 37 (Monson Turnpike Road off Route 122, New Salem): start of the steep Soapstone Mountain hike, 2.7 miles, which DCR rates difficult and calls one of the best views of the reservoir.
- Gate 40 (Route 32A, Petersham): the road to Dana Common, about 4 miles round trip.
- Gate 43 (Greenwich Road, Hardwick): Boat Launch Area 3.
Quabbin Park's own entrances also have gate numbers on DCR's map: West (1), Middle (54) and East (51). Those are covered on the Quabbin Park page. Exact gate locations are on DCR's map; see maps.
Biking at Quabbin
Bikes are allowed only on designated roads, and only through Gates 29, 30, 31, 35, 40, 43A, 43B and 44, plus Gate 8 during the fishing season. DCR's trail guides put it more plainly: bicycle access is limited to paved roads within the reservation, and riding on dirt roads and trails is prohibited. No bikes on the baffle dams. Inside Quabbin Park, bikes stay on the designated park roads; DCR suggests riding across Winsor Dam. Kids under 16 must wear helmets under state law, and DCR recommends them for everyone.
Fishing and Night Access at the Gates
In the fishing season, shore fishing on foot is allowed along the shorelines from Gates 8 to 16A and from Gates 22 to 44. Night fishing needs DCR's online Night Access Permit and is allowed only through Gates 16, 31, 33, 35, 41 and 43. Details on the fishing guide.
Hunting Season Closures
Deer hunting is limited to DCR's managed hunts, and parts of the reservation change during them. For the 2026 shotgun season, Pelham and New Salem are open to permitted hunters from November 30 to December 12, the Hardwick area from Gate 41 south to Gate 49 is closed the first week of shotgun season for a two-day controlled hunt, and Quabbin Park closes to the public for its two-day hunt on December 2 and 3. DCR advises wearing orange during hunting season. Call (413) 323-7221 if you're unsure.
What's Allowed Behind the Gates
- Walking, snowshoeing and bird watching.
- Picking berries and mushrooms for your own use, without damaging anything.
- Geocaches only after review by the Quabbin Visitor Center.
- Groups of 25 or more, or 10 or more cars, need a DCR group permit.
- No dogs, horses, fires, camping, alcohol, drones or swimming, and no removing artifacts. See rules.
Gates FAQ
What are the Quabbin gates?
Numbered gates on old roads around the Quabbin Reservation. They are the public's way in on foot, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Can you bike at Quabbin Reservoir?
Yes, on designated roads through Gates 29, 30, 31, 35, 40, 43A, 43B and 44 (and Gate 8 during fishing season), and on designated roads in Quabbin Park. Not on dirt trails.
Is Gate 30 at Quabbin open?
No. The Gate 30 parking area off Route 122 has been closed since July 10, 2021, because the old keystone bridge inside is unsafe. Use Gate 29 on Route 202 instead.
Where can I park at a Quabbin gate?
Near the gate without blocking it or the road. DCR tows vehicles parked in front of gates.
Which Quabbin gate goes to Dana Common?
Gate 40, on the west side of Route 32A in Petersham.