Twice a year, hundreds of visitors flock to Clinton for an opportunity to hike over the top of the Wachusett Dam and gaze over the Wachusett Reservoir.
This year, the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation will open the Wachusett Dam to the public for the first time in 2024 on Saturday, May 11, from 2 -5 p.m., Regional Director Kelley Freda told MassLive.
Visitors can walk across the top of the dam, from one side to the other and down to the grounds below on the land side of the dam, which are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
The dam is open semi-annually – once in the spring, and once in the fall.
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DCR rangers are typically on hand to provide information about the agency’s watershed protection program during Dam Day.
Backpacks, briefcases and large bags will not be allowed due to security, according to the Dam Day page on the state’s website.
Other items may be subject to search.
Dogs are also not allowed at the top of the dam and there are no restrooms on the property.
About the Wachusett Dam:
The Wachusett Dam was completed in 1905.
At the time, it was the largest gravity dam in the world. The walkway to the top of the dam closed to the public in the 1990s due to water supply security and public safety concerns.
The Wachusett Reservoir provides water to metropolitan Boston and holds about 65 billion gallons of water. It is the second-largest body of water in the state.
The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts (Noah R. Bombard).
Before you go:
To get to the dam, plug 265 Boylston St. Clinton into your GPS. Visitors can park along routes 70 and 62 in Clinton. Parking is also allowed about a mile away at Clinton Middle School or Clinton High School.
There is a limited number of reserved spots for people living with disabilities at the entrance to the promenade, according to the state’s website. Call the Wachusett Reservoir Ranger Station at 978-365-3800.
