Old Town Hall Playground
Hinsdale, MA
Playground | Basketball
Plunkett Reservoir Beach Plunkett Reservoir Road, Hinsdale, MA
Managed by
Hinsdale Recreation Association
Part of
Plunkett Reservoir Beach/Hinsdale Beach
Allowed Uses & Features
Information
- Dogs allowed - Leashed
- Family Friendly
- Free
- Parking
- Picnicking
- Restroom
- Water Access
- Water Views
- Public Land
- Private Land
- Bus Route
- Trail
- Major Trail
About Plunkett Reservoir Beach
Plunkett Reservoir Beach is a small, family-friendly beach in Hinsdale's Plunkett Reservoir. The beach offers a roped swimming area and a sandy beach. An open grassy area also contains multiple round picnic tables with umbrellas, perfect for enjoying a snack outdoors while escaping the sun. Visitors can also walk along a narrow stretch of land along the lake's western edge, earning views of surrounding forestry, camps, and lake houses. Hinsdale swells in population during the summer as local camps draw families into the Berkshires, meaning summer beachgoers should expect to see campers enjoying the reservoir and participating in water sports. Visitors may also spot some other sandy shorelines along the water, but Plunkett Reservoir Beach is the only public beach.
Since the beach is relatively small with few amenities, it is best suited for families and individuals seeking low-key outdoor activities in a calm environment. Lifeguards are on duty during peak swimming season. In the winter, the reservoir is excellent for ice skating when thoroughly frozen, and the beach is an ideal access point. At an elevation of over 1500 feet, low temperatures help keep the lake frozen in the winter, and they also make the beach extra appealing when Western Massachusetts heats up in the summer.
The beach can be accessed off Plunkett Reservoir Road (Longview Avenue), with parking available just south of the beach.
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Accessibility Assessment
There are no accessible features at this location.
The parking area at Plunkett Reservoir Beach is a dirt pull-off located on the other side of the road from the beach. The pull-off has no accessible parking and is prone to mud, making accessibility difficult for some visitors. There is no path access to the beach, and visitors will have to contend with stairs when accessing it, which can further impede some visitors' accessibility. A new accessible pavilion is being constructed at the beach, featuring a path that provides access from the road to the picnic area located above the beach. The paths are made of a mix of concrete and stone, which can be uneven in some points. The path to and from the pavilion is 4 feet wide, providing ample access to visitors.
Parking area
Accessible Pavilion
Clubs, Retail & Rentals
Looking to meet up with others for team sports or group activities? Check out our list of clubs, guides and leagues in the Berkshires on the Resources page. Our list of summer camps will help you plan an overnight or day camp adventure for your young ones.
We also link to an array of outdoor recreation retail shops for gear and rental facilities for equipment on the Gear page.
