A Hike to a Town That no Longer Exists
Winter is the perfect time for hiking to ruins. With the trees clear of their leaves, you can get perfect views of old stone walls and foundations that may not be as visible in the spring and summer months. And one spot that may have the most stone walls that I have ever seen is the area surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir.
Quabbin History
On the night of April 27, 1938, the residents of four towns: Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott held a ball to commemorate the final day of their towns’ existence before the towns were disincorporated and over 2,000 residents would need to leave their homes behind.
The reason for this was to make way for what would be the largest man-made reservoir at the time that it was completed (in 1946). This body of water that today spans 39 miles across Western and Central Massachusetts is the Quabbin Reservoir, and it supplies Boston and the surrounding towns with its water supply.
When the towns were disincorporated, the buildings and homes that were once a part of these towns were relocated or destroyed, leaving only the foundations behind. When the water came in to fill the reservoir, the towns were flooded but much of the town of Dana, including its town center, remained above water due to its elevation.
Hiking to the Dana Town Common
Today, the Dana Town Common is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and you can still find the original foundations of the buildings that were here like the town hall, church, and general store. Beside each of the ruins, you’ll find photos showing how the buildings would have looked before the flooding.
To reach the Dana Town Common, start at Gate 40 off of Route 32A in Petersham. The hike follows the old road and along the way, you’ll see stone walls, several foundations, and side roads leading to more ruins and water views.
Distance and Terrain:
The hike to Dana Common is about 4 miles round trip on relatively flat terrain. For those looking to extend the adventure, you can hike all the way to the shores of the reservoir, making it a 7-mile round-trip journey. Check the map on AllTrails for a detailed elevation profile, current conditions, and GPS coordinates for the trailhead: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/massachusetts/dana-commons.
Know Before You Go:
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is responsible for maintaining and protecting the Quabbin Reservoir and there are specific restrictions in place. As a result, dogs are not allowed on the trails and there is also no swimming or wading in the water.
Post Hike Lunch
After your hike, The Country Store in Petersham is the perfect spot for lunch. It is only about a 6 minute drive from the trailhead to the town center of Petersham where you will find the store. This spot features seriously good sandwiches and is filled with unique items. On colder days you will even find a fireplace to warm up by. My go-to sandwich here is the California Turkey on 7 Grain Bread which features all natural turkey, avocado, swiss cheese, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, greens, and house-made dijonnaise.
After lunch, take a stroll around the town common to get a sense of what the Dana Common might have looked like back in the day. You will find some beautiful buildings and there are also spots on the common to enjoy your lunch on warmer days.
Happy Hiking!
“Take Only Photographs, Leave Only Footprints”
