The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Barre Falls Dam located in the towns of Hubbardston, Barre, Oakham, and Rutland. Nestled within the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MDCR) 22,000-acre scenic Ware River Watershed, the area offers many recreational opportunities. There is something for everyone to enjoy - canoeing, picnicking, hunting, fishing, hiking, horseshoes, sightseeing, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, 18-hole disc golf,, volleyball, and wildlife observation. The recreational benefits are an "extra dividend" to the main purpose of this flood reduction project.

Picnicking is a very popular activity at Barre Falls Dam. The Corps maintains a small rustic picnic area for your enjoyment. The area contains twelve picnic sites with tables and fireplaces. A covered picnic shelter, with six tables, is available and may be reserved by groups for a modest fee. Wheelchair accessible sites are available. Click here to reserve the picnic shelter.

The MDCR prohibits camping, swimming, and off-road/all-terrain vehicles within the Ware River Watershed, including lands owned by the Corps of Engineers. Motor vehicles are restricted to established roads. Snowmobiling, horseback riding, and mountain bike riding are restricted to designated trails. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. For assistance with our park regulations, please contact our park ranger.

Hunting and fishing are permitted in accordance with Massachusetts laws and regulations in the more than 22,000 acres of combined federal and state land. The area offers both large and small game - white tail deer, bear, turkey, rabbit, and stocked pheasant to name a few.

Fishermen will enjoy the challenges of fishing for the stocked and native species of fish that abound in the Ware River and in the many smaller streams and ponds in the area. For more information on hunting or fishing, you may contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

As you drive or walk down Coldbrook Road past the cemetery, see if you can identify the trees we have labeled for self-guided tours. In addition to the these activities, special interpretive programs on the cultural and natural resources, water resources, water safety and flood control are provided by Park Rangers. Group and school tours of Barre Falls Dam are also available. Call or email the Park Manager or Park Ranger to arrange a tour.