Buffumville State Park
Rate this placeNearby: Buffumville Lake Eddy Pond
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Buffumville State Park is a beautiful 200-acre park located in Charlton, Massachusetts.
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Summary
The park offers visitors a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, and camping. The park's centerpiece is the Buffumville Lake, which is a popular spot for fishing and boating.
One of the main reasons to visit Buffumville State Park is for its natural beauty. The park is surrounded by lush forests, rolling hills, and scenic views of the lake. Visitors can enjoy hiking along the park's many trails, which offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
There are also several points of interest to see within the park, including the Buffumville Dam, which was built in the 1940s and is now a popular spot for picnicking and fishing. There is also a well-maintained beach area for swimming, as well as a playground and picnic areas.
Interesting facts about the area include that the park was once home to a thriving mill industry during the 19th century. The park is named after the Buffumville Mill, which was one of the most successful mills in the area.
The best time of year to visit Buffumville State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, and other outdoor activities. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy hiking and other winter activities during the colder months.
Overall, Buffumville State Park is a beautiful and peaceful destination for nature lovers, hikers, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. With its scenic views, abundant outdoor activities, and rich history, it is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting Massachusetts.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Buffumville Lake
Eddy Pond
Webster Memorial Park
Wawela Park
Russell Memorial Park