I just finished creating a page for one of my favorite swimming spots in Southern New England.  Bigelow Hollow State Park is a lovely spot in Union, CT just over the line from Massachusetts.  It’s an ideal place to go on a hot summer day with your swimming gear on and the supplies for a picnic.  It’s only about an hour and half from Boston and much less than that from Worcester or other places west of Boston on the Mass Pike (I-90).  For those of you who prefer a fresh-water swim to a dunk in the ocean, this is a great place to go.  There aren’t any lifeguards and you can swim as far as you’d like in Mashapoag Pond.  A few things to consider if you’re headed out there:

1. If you’re headed there on a hot weekend day I’d recommend getting there early, once the lot fills up they close off access and the lot sometimes fills well before noon.
2. There aren’t any lifeguards.  This is something I appreciate because I like to be able to swim where I want in the pond without being told to come back to shore, however that also means if you have trouble swimming out on the lake you’re likely on your own.
3. There aren’t any facilities beyond pit latrines including trash cans.  So be prepared to pack out what you take in and bring anything you want to eat or drink with you.
4. If you have some people who want to hike there are also some trails on the property that make a loop around the other pond and you can also fish here with a state permit.

For more information, check out the new Bigelow Hollow page and enjoy a nice swim!  Summer doesn’t last long in New England, get outside and enjoy it while it’s here!!