Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

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Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
Purgatory Chasm
Purgatory chasm view 2.jpg
View of Purgatory Chasm, looking south, in 2008.
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Location within Massachusetts.
Location198 Purgatory Road
Sutton, Massachusetts 01590
Coordinates 42°07′45″N71°42′43″W / 42.12917°N 71.71194°W / 42.12917; -71.71194
Length2.14 mi (3.44 km)
Area100 acres (40 ha)
Elevation472 ft (144 m)
Established1919
Operator Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Website Website

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation is a protected state park in Sutton, Massachusetts. Located within the Blackstone Valley, the reservation is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Contents

History

Previously owned by the Whitin Machine Works, Purgatory Chasm was declared a state park in 1919. [1] The reservation is notable for its .25-mile-long (400 m), 70-foot-deep (21 m) chasm in granite bedrock with abrupt precipices and caves. Various theories have been proposed to account for the creation of the chasm. According to one source, it was created when glacial meltwater ripped out bedrock at the end of the last Ice Age.

Purgatory Chasm is open to the public, although the chasm proper is closed to hikers during the winter season because of icy hazards. There are 2 miles (3.2 km) of hiking trails, and rock climbing is allowed by permit. The reservation also includes picnic areas, a visitor center, and a playground. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Cook, Greg (June 13, 2020). "Descending into Purgatory Chasm – WONDERLAND". Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Purgatory Chasm State Reservation | Mass.gov". Mass.gov. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
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