Known for being a fantastic destination to visit all year round, East Brimfield Lake is a must-see area for RV lovers who are traveling through southern Massachusetts. Located near the town of Brimfield, East Brimfield Lake was built by the U.S Army Corps Engineers to reduce the flood risk along the Quinebaug and Thames rivers. Construction began on the lake in 1958 and was completed in 1960. It has a permanent reservoir that consists of 360 acres and the flood storage area covers around 2,270 acres. Along with the lake, itself the U.S Army Corps Engineers also manage the lands around it, taking the total area of the project to 2,070 acres.
The scenery at East Brimfield Lake is very similar to the rest of southern Massachusetts with pretty rolling hills, heavily forested areas, and a diverse selection of wildlife in and around the lake. During your visit, you may be able to spot animals such as deer, rabbits, and geese. Recreation is in abundance at East Brimfield Lake, and four different areas are jam-packed with activities. These include freshwater swimming areas, canoe trails, fishing facilities, nature trails, and many boating opportunities.
If you are looking to do some RV Camping in the area, you will have to look elsewhere are there is none available at the lake. There are two private campgrounds close by, or you can head to Wells State Park (which is only around seven miles to the northeast.) Whether you are renting a rig or bringing your own, East Brimfield Lake is well worth the visit.
East Brimfield Lake is a very easy place to find thanks to its location to the east of Brimfield. To access the lake, you can take Highway 20 (which is to the north of the lake), or come up from the south via Holland Road or E Brimfield Holland Road.
If you are looking to stop in to grab some last-minute supplies and amenities before you reach the park, there are plenty of places to stop. These include Sturbridge (around three and a half miles away), Brimfield (around four miles away), and Southbridge (around seven miles away). The closest city to East Brimfield Lake is Worcester, which is around 24 miles to the northeast.
The roads in and around East Brimfield Lake are in excellent condition as the county maintains them. They are all paved, wide, and shouldn't cause RV drivers any issues such as overhanging branches. During the winter months, the park is known to get a lot of snow, so we recommend that you call ahead to the office to make sure that the roads will be cleared and accessible for you to enjoy.
There is plenty of parking available on the eastern side of the lake.
Although there are no campgrounds run by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers at East Brimfield Lake, there is a privately run campground located close to the water. The campground has over 80 RV friendly sites for you to enjoy and all of them either have electric and water hookups or offer you full hookups. One thing to note is that if you plan to stay here, you will pay the same for an electric and water only site as you would a full hookup. Also, the campground sites are quite small, so you should stay here only if you have a smaller rig.
Other amenities within the campground include WiFi at the office, cable TV, 60 ft in-ground pool, shuffleboard, volleyball court, and a basketball court. There's also a beach with picnic amenities, showers, toilets, horseshoe pits, a playground, recreation hall, and a dump station.
Reservations can be made for the campground online or by calling them directly. The campground is open from mid-April until mid-October each year.
The nearby Wells State Park is another excellent option that you have if you want to stay close to the lake. Wells State Park Campground is located around seven miles to the northeast of the lake and is well equipped for a pleasurable stay in southern Massachusetts. The campground has 39 RV friendly sites available for you to call home that are a mix of pull-through and back-in sites on gravel pads. The size of the sites are quite small, so only RVs between 15 and 30 feet will be able to stay at the campground. If you are looking for some water views, you are in luck as some of the sites have views to Walker Pond.
There are no hookups on any of the sites, but each of them has a picnic table and a fire ring for you to enjoy. You'll also find comfort stations with flush toilets and hot showers located throughout the campground. Please note that there is no dump station at Wells State Park Campground. If you want to know where there is one, you can contact the park office for more information.
Campers wishing to bring pets must show proof of current rabies vaccination upon check-in. Wells State Park Campground is open from mid-May to mid-October and reservations are recommended.
One of the best ways to enjoy the summer days at East Brimfield Lake is to relax at the freshwater beach at Lake Siog Recreation Area. Located south of the main lake, there is a small sandy beach that is perfect for people of all ages to use and another sandy beach that is located directly opposite the main swimming area. The lake is also a fun diving destination, so if you are an experienced scuba diver, then pack your gear and see what is out there under the water.
A unique feature of East Brimfield Lake is the superb five-mile flatwater canoe trail that attracts paddlers from all over to take it on. The trail takes paddlers along the Quinebaug River from Lake Siog to East Brimfield Reservoir so you will have a few miles to explore. There are both upstream and downstream launching points, and three "rest stops" that are equipped with benches great for a quick rest. Quinebaug River Canoe Trail is free to use, but overnight camping along it is not allowed.
If you don't have a canoe, or you want to explore the waters within the area in a different watercraft, you can do so as boating is allowed on the lake and surrounding waters. Both powered and non-powered boats can be used on the main reservoir, and there are ramps available for you to use in Brimfield and Sturbridge. While boating can be done all year round, it is most popular during the summer months. If you don't have your own watercraft, you should organize a rental outside of the lake area as there are no guarantees that boats will be available during your visit.
Unfortunately there are no public transport options that will take you to East Brimfield Lake.
Fishing may be the perfect way to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of East Brimfield Lake, no matter when you visit. The lake has many fish species that call it home, including yellow perch, bluegill, golden shiners, largemouth bass, pumpkinseeds, and brown bullheads. Ice fishing is popular once the lake freezes over, and a small number of trout are stocked at the north end of the lake in the spring. There is also an accessible fishing area with platforms to let people of any ability try and land a big one.
Bring your hiking boots as the East Brimfield Lake Nature Trail is well worth exploring. The trail is excellent for those looking to explore the nature surrounding the lake, whether you want to stop and sniff the flowers or look out for park wildlife. The trail will take you through five acres that vary between open fields and pine-hardwood forest. It will take around 40-45 minutes to complete. However, if you are short on time there is a shortcut that you can take that will take roughly half as long.
When leaves have vanished from the trees and the snow has settled in, East Brimfield Lake transforms into a little winter wonderland. Many winter activities are popular with visitors, including building a snowman, snowball fights, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. The frozen lake is also a great place to do some ice fishing if you can handle sitting out on the cold lake waiting to catch a big one. All of the trails are open to winter activities, but snowmobiles are not allowed.
