Ashmere Lake State Park Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Boat Ramp at Ashmere Lake State Forest

121 Smith Road, Hinsdale, MA

About Boat Ramp at Ashmere Lake State Forest

The Boat Ramp at Ashmere Lake State Forest provides paddling and motorboat access to Ashmere Lake, a 287-acre lake surrounded by woodlands, summer camps, and lake houses. This launching site enters the lake's southern section, which has an iconic inlet reaching down the lake's center. In this section of the lake, motorized recreation sports are popular since the water is wide open, with waterskiing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing being common sights. The northern section is of similar size, but it is oddly shaped with multiple inlets that divide the lake into many different subsections. A beloved feature of the northern section is Ashmere Island, a small forested island managed by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council that boaters can stop at and explore. This isolated area has no trails or amenities. Still, visitors are welcome to walk around and see what they can discover, or they can use the island as a scenic picnic spot. Paddlers can reach the northern lake through a small culvert under Route 143, but larger boats will not fit through the passage.

Ashmere Lake is a popular fishing area at any time of the year, as anglers can catch bass, pickerel, perch, and more. The lake is excellent for birding and wildlife viewing while kayaking or canoeing around its serene waters. In the winter, the lake's 1,600-foot elevation keeps it frozen for most of the season, making ice fishing easily accessible by walking into the lake from the boat launch. Many visitors also enjoy using the frozen lake for ice skating. After a snowfall, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing around the perimeter is typical, as the oddly shaped lake makes the excursion more fun than circling around a perfectly round lake. The frozen lake also makes it easy to access Ashmere Island by foot. With so many opportunities for adventure, Ashmere Lake is teeming with fun things to do in the Berkshires at any time of the year.

The boat launch can be accessed on Smith Road in Hinsdale. A dirt driveway leads from the road to the ramp, and a brown "Public Boat Ramp" sign marks the driveway's entrance.