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Wachusett Dam and Wachusett Reservoir
4.8 ★★★★★ 332 Google reviews · Running trail in Clinton, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Wachusett Dam and Wachusett Reservoir's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park on 2.2 square miles around a reservoir, offering picnicking, hiking, winter sports & fishing.
What runners say about Wachusett Dam and Wachusett Reservoir
“The area is very clean, well maintained, and perfect for taking photos, enjoying nature, or simply spending quality time together.”
“You can join onto route 62 going towards Berlin to enjoy horse farms, farm stores and apple farms along beautiful winding country roads.”
“Our first visit to The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts was honestly such a beautiful and peaceful experience.”
I walked the spillover area at the Wachusett Dam on route 70 in Clinton on this sunny fall day. There is parking above at the top of the dam with many steep stairs, more for avid hikers, or you can enter down below, where there is no parking.
Update - 5/7/2022 - returned back on the Wachusett dam day when the dam was open for public. It was windy but provided a good 360 degree view. Pleasant experience. I stumbled upon this place as I was returning back to home after having some work in Clinton town. You can’t miss if you happen to be in town.
Went to check out the train tunnel nearby and totally missed the fact that it was next to this beautiful dam! It was really nice to walk around but it was definitely rough climbing the stairs all the way back up (worth going down to explore however) it is worth noting that there is limited parking and most of it is…
I didn't have much expectations when I visited for Dam Day but it was a great place to come for a walk. The dam was much bigger than expected and has some nice history. The actual dam is only open twice a year currently, but Dike Path is nice to walk along the reservoir.
Trail conditions & character
“The view was something an artist would love to paint with it's glowing foliage and sunshine to the point where I caught images of a rainbow from the fountain at around 1:00 p.”
“Our first visit to The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts was honestly such a beautiful and peaceful experience.”
“There is parking above at the top of the dam with many steep stairs, more for avid hikers, or you can enter down below, where there is no parking.”
“There is parking above at the top of the dam with many steep stairs, more for avid hikers, or you can enter down below, where there is no parking.”
“They do have a place at the smoothly paved entry that you could do a drop off at if you were with a group or had somebody in a wheelchair.”
“I would say the fully paved path is a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile long one way and very level, no hills.”
Plan your run at Wachusett Dam and Wachusett Reservoir
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitemass.gov
- Phone+1 978-365-3800
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Clinton
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Central Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 425 reviews
Small park featuring shady trees, benches, a fountain and a sculpture honoring Spanish War vets.
North Dike - Wachusett Reservoir
4.8 ★★★★★ 41 reviews
Tranquil open space with views and a walking path, plus a reservoir to fish in.
Central MA Rail Trail (Sterling)
4.5 ★★★★★ 68 reviews
Dog-free trail running through a wetland and woodlands with wildlife and 2 parking lots.
Gates Pond Reservoir Loop Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 210 reviews
Nature preserve providing kid-friendly hiking trails around a picturesque pond.
