Morning Calm - View from the Beach
Hiking from Gate 22 gives you the opportunity to see panoramic Quabbin views from a quiet beach. Reaching the beach takes between 45min to 1 hour. If you're looking for a full day of exploring, the road continues beyond the beach.
Where to Park?
Gate 22 is located in New Salem, Massachusetts. You can find it at the end of Shutesbury Road, off Route 202. Here’s the location of Google Maps. Once you pull onto Shutesbury Road, stay on it until the road turns to dirt. That’s how you know you’re almost there.
Before the gate, there are some dirt parking spots on the left by a cellar hole. There is also room to pull over on the right side of the road if the dirt spots are taken.
What to Expect on the Trail - Overall
Like most Quabbin Reservoir hikes, the path will follow old roads through the forest. For those headed for the beach, it’s mostly downhill on the way there so it’s not super challenging. Pace yourself on the way back, because it will be uphill most of the way.
Spring / Summer: The road from Gate 22 is mostly shaded when the leaves are in season. It stays fairly cool but be prepared for full sun when stopping at the beach or other shoreline points of interest. I recommend packing a hat, sunblock, and sunglasses to make the beach experience a safe one.
Be aware of tall grass on the road or by the roadside in the Spring, Summer, and early fall. Ticks are unfortunately abundant in and around the Quabbin Reservoir. A quick check every so often can’t hurt, but make sure to fully check yourself after hiking in the warmer months.
Fall / Winter: The cooler weather months offer better views because of the lack of foliage. In the fall, keep a hat with you for sun protection. In the winter, I always keep my micro-spikes in my bag just in case. The hills can be treacherous when covered with ice. The micro-spikes can keep you safe, and make the hike much easier if you find an icy spot on the roads.
Always Dreaming no. 17 - Gate 22 Road
Hike Overview - Getting to the Beach:
For this hike, you will follow Shutebury Road from Gate 22 until the road takes a hard left by the beach. There is one spot about 30 minutes to 45 minutes into the hike where the road forks left. At this spot, keep left and follow the road downhill. If you fork right, the road will shortly end at a brook that has no way to cross.
Getting to the beach will take 45 minutes to one hour depending on your speed. The road will turn left, heading north. When you arrive at this turn, you should be able to see the Quabbin and the beach.
This beach is one of my favorite spots in the Quabbin Reservoir. It offers views of Mount L, Mount Zion, Curtis Hill, and Mount Pomderdy. Every season offers a different experience. For example, the foliage can be stunning when viewed from the beach. In the colder months, the water level tends to be lower. You can follow the shoreline north for some additional exploration.
Bliss Road Beach - Toy Film Camera
Hike Overview: Let’s Keep Going
You made it to the beach and want to extend your hiking experience. No problem!
From the beach, head back to the road and follow it north. The road follows the shoreline for a while before turning towards Route 202. At the start, the road is mostly flat with little ups and downs for this stretch. It’s not super challenging, and quite peaceful.
Keep an eye out for a four-way intersection with another road. To keep the hike going, stay straight at the intersection. If you’d like to turn around here and head back, that is also an option.
If you turn around, make a right at the intersection and follow the road to a small cove. You can give yourself another view of the water before heading back to the car.
For those who want to continue, stay straight at the intersection. Here’s your warning, the road will bend left and you’ll have to climb a rather large hill. At the top of the hill, you’ll arrive at a “T” intersection. Make a right, and follow the road downhill until you arrive at a dike.
The dike is located in an inlet west of Rattlesnake Hill. This is a great spot to stop and have lunch. I’ve seen Kingfishers hunting while eating lunch, as well as a spider surfing across the water using its web as a sail!
Autumn Light no. 3 - Taken on the Dike
Believe it or not, you can cross the dike and the road will intersect with more roads to keep the hike going. These roads are accessible from other gates, such as Gate 30, so I don’t recommend pressing on. You can explore those areas another time. Not to mention, you have some serious hill climbing to do before you get back to the car.
For the return, go back the way you came from the dike. The hills can be challenging, but there are flat spots to provide balance. It’s a rewarding hike if you stop at the beach and the dike.
Hop Brook - Fall
Don’t Miss Hop Brook
You might have seen a brook crossing shortly after starting the hike. This is Hop Brook. Heading away from your car, you will see a fairly new set of steps and railing on your right. The steps are part of a science station collecting data on Hop Brook.
You can follow them down to the brook, and enjoy a peaceful view of the following water. I love stopping here on the way back for one more spot to take photographs.
Where to Next?
If you made it to the dike, and wonder what’s on the other side, check out my article that lays out a hike from Gate 30.