Swimming at Massasoit

You can swim at Massasoit State Park only if you are camping there. The park's one swimming area is the Middle Pond waterfront, which DCR reserves for registered campers, and it has no lifeguard. Day visitors have no place to swim in the park, and Lake Rico has no designated swim area. For a public freshwater beach nearby, DCR's Watson Pond State Park on Bay Street in Taunton is open in summer.

The Middle Pond Waterfront

DCR's Resource Management Plan describes the campground's "exclusive access to the Middle Pond waterfront area," and the reservation system says plainly that the beach is for campers only. Staff in DCR's plan call it Camper's Beach. It sits beside the campground, and DCR rebuilt it during the renovations that reopened the campground in 2018. See camping at Massasoit.

No Lifeguards

The waterfront is unguarded. DCR's plan notes that campers often swim outside the roped-off designated area; stay inside the ropes, keep children within arm's reach, and never swim alone. Middle Pond also has Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant that DCR flags as a tangle risk for swimmers, which is one more reason to stay in the marked area.

Water Quality

DCR tests the water at Camper's Beach for Enterococci bacteria weekly in summer. If the beach is posted closed after a test or a storm, don't swim.

Why Day Visitors Can't Swim

When Lake Rico was created in 1973, DCR built swimming and day-use areas along its new shore. Today the park's swimming is limited to the campground's Middle Pond waterfront, and DCR's plan does not list a day-use beach. The day-use area near Big Bearhole Pond has picnic sites, a boat launch, fishing spots and the playground, but no swim area. See picnic areas and playground.

Where to Swim Near Massasoit

• Watson Pond State Park, Taunton: DCR's 10-acre seasonal park with a beach, bathhouse and playground on 78-acre Watson Pond. Open daily in season, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; parking is $8 for Massachusetts plates and $30 for others.

Accessibility

DCR lists an accessible beach, an accessible bathhouse and a beach wheelchair at Massasoit. DCR's plan notes the viewing path by Middle Pond Beach has eroded and is no longer fully accessible, so call the contact station at (508) 822-7405 before you go.

Dogs and the Beach

DCR does not allow dogs in designated swimming areas of inland beaches from May 1 to September 15 unless posted otherwise. See dogs at Massasoit.