Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach

Shutesbury, Massachusetts · on Lake Wyola Reservoir · Lake Wyola State Park

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the beach is lifeguarded (9am-7:30pm).

About Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach

Lake Wyola State Park, officially the Carroll A. Holmes Recreation Area, is a 42-acre Massachusetts DCR day-use park on the northwest shore of 128-acre Lake Wyola in Shutesbury. It centers on a lifeguarded, sandy swimming beach open Memorial Day through Labor Day, with picnic grounds and a separate boat launch, making it a clearly official, well-documented swimming hole.

The park sits in wooded hill country in Franklin County, north of Amherst, on the northwest shore of Lake Wyola. About 80% of the lake's shoreline is privately developed with year-round homes and summer cottages, so the state park beach and a small conservation-area boat ramp off Locke's Pond Road are the lake's only public access points.

Swimming at Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach

Swimming takes place at a sandy, lifeguarded beach within a designated swim area during the guarded season; conditions are calm and shallow enough to suit young or beginner swimmers, with generally clear water in settled summer weather, though wind and algae can reduce clarity after hot stretches. Elsewhere on the lake, swimmers must stay within 150 feet of shore unless accompanying a boat.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Route 202 in Shutesbury, follow Wendell Road to Lakeview Road; the signed park entrance is at 94 Lakeview Road. The separate boat launch is at 32 Randall Road.

Parking: A paved DCR lot serves the beach; it fills on summer weekends, so weekday visits are recommended. A separate lot at the 32 Randall Road boat launch accommodates trailers.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up DCR beach with a paved parking lot immediately adjacent to the sand; no hike is needed to reach the water (walk from lot to beach is under a couple minutes). Nearby New England National Scenic Trail (NET) segments pass through the area (one stretch runs roughly 17 miles from near Lake Wyola to Davis Road, about a 6-hour hike, and a separate ~9-mile Section 15 is described as moderate and good for birding), but these are optional side hikes unrelated to reaching the swimming beach itself.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Sandy, shallow lifeguarded beach (9am-7:30pm, Memorial Day-Labor Day) with calm water; motorized boats and jet skis are barred lake-wide and speed limits keep the swim area quiet, making it well suited to young/beginner swimmers. Beach wheelchairs are available for accessible access. Periodic bacteria advisories have occurred historically, so checking DCR water-quality status before a visit is worthwhile.

Parking

Lot

Paved DCR lot at the beach entrance (94 Lakeview Road); described as easy to access but fills on summer weekends, so weekday visits are recommended. A separate lot at the 32 Randall Road boat launch handles trailers. No fee amount was found on the official page or any secondary source, so cost is left null rather than assumed free.

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms are listed among the official DCR facilities at the beach (exact building location not specified in sources).

Water clarity

Varies with season and flow

Described as clear for a western-Massachusetts lake during settled summer weather, but wind and algae blooms can reduce clarity after hot stretches; periodic elevated bacteria levels have prompted pre-visit water-quality advisories.

Hours

Beach lifeguarded and officially open 9:00am-7:30pm daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day; the park grounds themselves are day-use. A May 2026 DCR advisory delayed the lifeguarded swim season while water levels recovered from town dam repairs, with no confirmed reopening date found.

Swim smart

Cold water shock and sudden depth changes have been noted; periodic elevated bacteria levels have required pre-visit water-quality checks; cell phone coverage on site is reported as poor.

Rules: No alcohol and no littering at the park; swimmers must stay within 150 feet of shore unless accompanying a boat; boating speed limits are 30 mph by day and 5 mph from dusk to dawn and in coves, with no jet skis and mandatory counterclockwise travel. A DCR advisory published May 18, 2026 delayed the lifeguarded beach/swim-area opening while water levels recovered from town-led dam repairs, with no end date given as of this research; the park itself remained open to the public during the delay.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksCanoesSailboatsMotorboats

Restrictions: Swimmers (outside the guarded beach) must stay within 150 feet of shore unless accompanying a boat. Lake-wide boating rules: 30 mph daytime speed limit dropping to 5 mph dusk-to-dawn and in coves, no jet skis permitted, and mandatory counterclockwise travel direction. Boat launch access is only at the separate 32 Randall Road site, not at the swimming beach.

No rental or outfitter business serving Lake Wyola was found; the lake's shoreline is roughly 80% private homes/cottages, and no commercial watercraft rental presence turned up in official DCR materials or the paddling/travel sources reviewed.

Backstory

The park was created in 1997 when the state's Department of Environmental Management acquired the land from Emelia Bennett; it is officially named the Carroll A. Holmes Recreation Area after a former Shutesbury selectman who directed DEM's regional office. It is now managed by DCR, DEM's successor agency.

Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach: FAQ

Is Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach?

When is the best time to visit Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach?

Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the beach is lifeguarded (9am-7:30pm).

What are the rules at Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach?

No alcohol and no littering at the park; swimmers must stay within 150 feet of shore unless accompanying a boat; boating speed limits are 30 mph by day and 5 mph from dusk to dawn and in coves, with no jet skis and mandatory counterclockwise travel. A DCR advisory published May 18, 2026 delayed the lifeguarded beach/swim-area opening while water levels recovered from town-led dam repairs, with no end date given as of this research; the park itself remained open to the public during the delay.

What water body is Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach on?

Lake Wyola State Park - Public Beach is on Lake Wyola Reservoir, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.

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Managed by

Lake Wyola State Park

Official site · Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

At a glance

Land access: Open to the public
Facilities: restrooms; picnic areas with charcoal grills; beach wheelchairs; volleyball court; horseshoe pit; boat launch (separate location, 32 Randall Road)
Highlights: Beach wheelchairs available for accessible swimming access; Lake's name is said to derive from a Native American term for 'quiet waters'; One of only two public access points on a lake that is roughly 80% privately developed shoreline
Nearby towns: Locks Village (0.4mi); Dudleyville (2.1mi); Moores Corner (2.4mi); North Leverett (2.7mi)
Coordinates: 42.5040, -72.4343