Top state parks
State ParkHalibut Point State Park
State ParkHammond Pond Reservation
State ParkTolland State Forest
State ParkJ. A. Skinner State Park
State ParkNatural Bridge State Park
State ParkSouthwest Corridor Park
State ParkHopkinton State Park
State ParkRobinson State Park
State ParkBrimfield State Forest
State ParkCallahan State Park
State ParkCutler Park
State ParkBeaver Brook Reservation
State Parks by county
- Barnstable County5
- Berkshire County10
- Bristol County4
- Essex County9
- Franklin County4
- Hampden County7
- Hampshire County4
- Middlesex County11
- Norfolk County9
- Plymouth County3
- Suffolk County7
- Worcester County10
All state parks (83)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halibut Point State Park | Essex County | — | Rockport | 5 |
| Hammond Pond Reservation | Middlesex County | — | Chestnut Hill | 9 |
| Tolland State Forest | Berkshire County | — | Otis | 5 |
| J. A. Skinner State Park | Hampshire County | — | Hadley | 6 |
| Natural Bridge State Park | Berkshire County | — | North Adams | 5 |
| Southwest Corridor Park | Suffolk County | — | Roxbury Crossing | 9 |
| Hopkinton State Park | Worcester County | — | Cordaville | 7 |
| Robinson State Park | Hampden County | — | West Springfield | 7 |
| Brimfield State Forest | Hampden County | — | Wales | 5 |
| Callahan State Park | Middlesex County | — | Framingham Center | 8 |
| Cutler Park | Norfolk County | — | Oak Hill Park | 9 |
| Beaver Brook Reservation | Middlesex County | — | Belmont | 9 |
| Breakheart Reservation | Essex County | — | Saugus | 8 |
| Mount Greylock State Reservation | Berkshire County | — | Adams | 5 |
| Mount Washington State Forest | Berkshire County | — | Sheffield | 4 |
| Savoy Mountain State Forest | Berkshire County | — | Adams | 4 |
| Shawme-Crowell State Forest | Barnstable County | — | Sagamore | 5 |
| Spencer State Forest | Worcester County | — | Spencer | 5 |
| Nickerson State Park | Barnstable County | — | Brewster | 4 |
| Charles River ReservationJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy | Suffolk County | — | Allston | 9 |
| Mount Holyoke Range State Park | Hampshire County | — | South Amherst | 6 |
| Nahant Beach Reservation | Essex County | — | Lynn | 8 |
| Quincy Quarries Reservation | Norfolk County | — | Milton | 9 |
| Quincy Shore ReservationBoston Harbor Islands | Norfolk County | — | Quincy | 9 |
| Wachusett Mountain State Reservation | Worcester County | — | Princeton | 5 |
| Roxbury Heritage State Park | Suffolk County | — | Roxbury Crossing | 9 |
| Rumney Marsh Reservation | Suffolk County | — | Revere | 9 |
| Stony Brook Reservation | Suffolk County | — | Hyde Park | 9 |
| Watson Pond State Park | Bristol County | — | Raynham | 7 |
| Alewife Brook Reservation | Middlesex County | — | West Somerville/Davis Square | 9 |
| Pope John Paul II Park Reservation | Suffolk County | — | Ashmont | 9 |
| Webb Memorial State ParkBoston Harbor Islands | Norfolk County | — | Hingham | 8 |
| Hemlock Gorge Reservation | Middlesex County | — | Newton Upper Falls | 9 |
| Bradley Palmer State Park | Essex County | — | Wenham | 6 |
| C. M. Gardner State Park | Hampshire County | — | Westhampton | 5 |
| Leominster State Forest | Worcester County | — | Leominster | 6 |
| Wells State Park | Worcester County | — | Sturbridge | 5 |
| Bash Bish Falls State Park | Berkshire County | — | Sheffield | 4 |
| Belle Isle Marsh Reservation | Suffolk County | — | Suffolk Downs Station | 9 |
| Blue Hills Reservation | Norfolk County | — | Readville | 8 |
| Wompatuck State Park | Norfolk County | — | North Scituate | 7 |
| Ames Nowell State Park | Norfolk County | — | Abington | 7 |
| Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation | Franklin County | — | South Deerfield | 5 |
| Mount Tom State Reservation | Hampden County | — | Easthampton | 7 |
| Clarksburg State Park | Berkshire County | — | North Adams | 5 |
| Demarest Lloyd State Park | Bristol County | — | Bliss Corner | 5 |
| Dighton Rock State Park | Bristol County | — | Dighton | 6 |
| Dunn State Park | Worcester County | — | Gardner | 6 |
| Ellisville Harbor State Park | Plymouth County | — | Sagamore | 5 |
| Holyoke Heritage State Park | Hampden County | — | Holyoke | 8 |
| Wahconah Falls State Park | Berkshire County | — | Dalton | 5 |
| Quinsigamond State Park | Worcester County | — | Hamilton Worcester | 8 |
| Lynn Shore Reservation | Essex County | — | Swampscott | 8 |
| Weymouth Back River ReservationBoston Harbor Islands | Norfolk County | — | Weymouth | 8 |
| Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park | Worcester County | — | Uxbridge | 6 |
| Lynn Heritage State Park | Essex County | — | Lynn | 8 |
| Maudslay State Park | Essex County | — | Newburyport | 6 |
| Borderland State Park | Norfolk County | — | Easton | 7 |
| Cape Cod Rail Trail | Barnstable County | — | Brewster | 5 |
| Ashland State Park | Middlesex County | — | Ashland | 7 |
| Moore State Park | Worcester County | — | Paxton | 6 |
| Mount Everett State Reservation | Berkshire County | — | Sheffield | 4 |
| Mount Grace State Forest | Franklin County | — | Northfield | 4 |
| Pearl Hill State Park | Middlesex County | — | Ashby | 5 |
| Chicopee Memorial State Park | Hampden County | — | North Chicopee | 7 |
| Cochituate State Park | Middlesex County | — | Natick | 8 |
| Connecticut River Greenway State Park | Franklin County | — | Turners Falls | 5 |
| D.A.R. State Forest | Hampshire County | — | Ashfield | 4 |
| Fall River Heritage State Park | Bristol County | — | Fall River | 8 |
| Scusset Beach State Reservation | Barnstable County | — | Sandwich | 5 |
| South Cape Beach State Park | Barnstable County | — | East Falmouth | 5 |
| Greycourt State Park | Essex County | — | Methuen | 8 |
| Massasoit State Park | Plymouth County | — | North Lakeville | 6 |
| Great Brook Farm State Park | Middlesex County | — | Carlisle | 7 |
| Hampton Ponds State Park | Hampden County | — | Southampton | 6 |
| Chestnut Hill Reservation | Middlesex County | — | Chestnut Hill | 9 |
| Lake Dennison Recreation Area | Worcester County | — | Baldwinville | 5 |
| Lowell Heritage State Park | Middlesex County | — | Lowell | 8 |
| Lake Wyola State Park | Franklin County | — | Shutesbury | 5 |
| Lawrence Heritage State Park | Essex County | — | Lawrence | 8 |
| Pilgrim Memorial State Park | Plymouth County | — | Plymouth | 6 |
| Western Gateway Heritage State Park | Berkshire County | — | North Adams | 5 |
| Lake Lorraine State Park | Hampden County | — | Ludlow | 7 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph state parks
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.