Wachusett Dam Day 2022 will open top of dam in Clinton to visitors

The base of the Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Sept. 7, 2019 (Noah R. Bombard)
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It’s arguably the best dam view around.

Twice a year the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation opens the top of the Wachusett Dam in Clinton. It’s a rare opportunity for visitors to stroll across what was once the largest gravity dam in the world.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., DCR will open the top of the dam to the public again.

“The walkway along the top of the majestic Wachusett Dam was originally closed in the 1990s due to water supply security and public safety concerns,” DCR said in a release. “In recent years, DCR has been able to open the dam to the public for a day during the spring and fall.”

Wachusett Dam Day typically allows visitors to walk across the entire top of the dam and exit to the trails on the other side. This year, due to construction on the bastion structure at the far end of the dam, the top of the dam will be open but visitors will not be able to exit the far end of the dam.

Stairs lead down to the base of the dam and take visitors to the Nashua River as well as to trails that run along the reservoir and the river.

Wachusett Dam

“DCR Watershed Rangers will be on hand to provide information regarding the agency’s watershed protection program, which is responsible for the protection of the metropolitan Boston water supply, including the Wachusett Reservoir and watershed area,” DCR stated.

No dogs are allowed at the top of the dam and backpacks and other large bags are not allowed.

The dam is 205 feet and was completed in 1905. The reservoir itself holds about 65 billion gallons and covers 108 square miles and 37 miles of shoreline and is the second largest body of water in Massachusetts. The reservoir provides drinking water for the Boston metropolitan area.

When it was built, the reservoir flooded portions of Clinton, Boylston, West Boylston and Sterling, necessitating the removal of homes and farms and the relocation of bodies from a cemetery.

The Eckroth family of Westford with the Bennett family of Pennsylvania at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A little visitor at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Jessica Butler of Worcester and Beth Bylund of Auburn at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The DCR information table at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Alicia Lee of Clinton and Jeremy O'Connell of Clinton at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A couple takes a selfie at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Hillary Fais, Anya Kuhn, and Oren Kuhn of Berlin at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Andrea Borges of Middleboro and Sandra Zelny of Clinton at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A little girl does a cartwheel at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Messier family of Worcester at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Schiering family of Lancaster and the Breslau family of Clinton at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Steve and Liam Johnson of Marlborough with Bill Grimaldo of West Boylston at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Vistors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Steve Houghton of Springfield and Barbara Stachowiak of Alexandria, VA at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Donald Von Linden of Lancaster and Raksha Patel of Lancaster at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors posing for a photo at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Jenn, Baylee,, and Bob Bonin of Clinton at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Vicki, Emily, and Jillian Russo of Gardener at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A little girl does a cartwheel at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The folks at Appearance Hair Studio in Clinton at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Jennifer and Rowan Drew of Rutland at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Brockelman family of Clinton at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Schiering family of Lancaster and the Breslau family of Clinton at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Benoit family of Auburn at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors sit by the fountain at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Denise McNamara of Boylston, Daniel Thomas of Clinton, and Diane McNamara-Bodine at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Schiering family of Lancaster and the Breslau family of Clinton at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Ayden and Novaly Tran of Lowell at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Kinosian family of Townsend at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Ryder Turini and his brother stand on the dam at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Beata Baclawska of Auburn and her dog Max at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A runner at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

The Dennehy Family of Worcester at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Sean slides down the hill at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

A couple embraces at the Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Visitors at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

Ryder Turini rolls down the hill at Dam Day at Wachusett Dam on October 13, 2019.

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