Some Of The Cleanest And Clearest Water Can Be Found At Massachusetts' Benedict Pond
By Melissa Mahoney|Published October 29, 2021
×
Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
With over 3,000 lakes and ponds, there are some incredibly pristine bodies of water around the Bay State. One of the cleanest and clearest ponds can be found within Beartown State Forest. This particular pond is quite remote and unspoiled, so if you’re looking for untouched beauty around the state, head to the forest and make your way to Benedict Pond.
Beartown State Forest protects 12,000 acres within Great Barrington, Monterey, Lee, Tyringham, and Stockbridge. Within its boundaries are forests, including two areas of old-growth forest, a section of the Appalachian Trail, and the pristine 35-acre Benedict Pond which has its own beach.
Along this easy trail, you'll hike over wooden bridges and encounter lookouts over the pond where you can stop and appreciate all the natural beauty and the pristine water. Depending on when you visit, you may have the pond all to yourself!
Benedict Pond is a shallow man-made pond that connects to the Housatonic River. Previously a swamp, trees were cleared in the 1930s and a dam was built.
With such incredibly clean and clear water, spend some time swimming at Benedict Pond's beach in the warmer months. The pond is quite shallow throughout with the deepest parts at five-to-eight feet.
Wouldn’t you just love to take a walk around Benedict Pond with some of the cleanest and clearest water in Massachusetts? In the comments, let us know if you’ve been here before. To learn more, visit the Benedict Pond webpage.
Do you have a favorite natural spot around Massachusetts that you would like to see us write about? You can nominate your favorite place it using this form.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.