Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

About this park

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation protects a dramatic granite gorge in Sutton, declared a state park in 1919 after the land was donated by the Whitin Machine Works, a major regional manufacturer. The chasm itself, a narrow, boulder-strewn passage carved between towering rock walls, remains the centerpiece of the park and one of the more geologically striking small-scale natural features anywhere in central Massachusetts. Roughly two miles of trails wind through and around the chasm, leading to named rock formations with colorful nicknames like The Corn Crib, The Coffin, and Lovers' Leap, drawing both casual hikers and more adventurous scramblers willing to pick their way between the boulders. The site has attracted genuine pop-culture attention over the years, having been featured on an episode of the television show "Rescue 911" and used as a filming location for the movie "The Sea of Trees." The Chasm Trail itself closes seasonally during winter months when wet, icy rock surfaces make the boulder-hopping genuinely hazardous, though the reservation's other trails, picnic areas, visitor center, and playground remain open year-round. Located just 15 minutes from Worcester off Route 146, Purgatory Chasm draws heavy local and regional day-trip traffic, particularly on weekends, for a natural landmark that packs a surprising amount of dramatic terrain into a relatively compact footprint.