Plunkett Reservoir Beach

Plunkett Reservoir Road, Hinsdale, MA

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.