Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, State park and nature reserve in Sutton, Massachusetts.
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation is a state park and nature reserve in Sutton, Worcester County, featuring a roughly quarter-mile granite chasm with steep walls and natural caves throughout. The split reaches depths near 70 feet (21 meters) in places and cuts through forested terrain with trails along the upper rim and through the bottom.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation acquired this land from Whitin Machine Works in 1919 and established it as a protected natural area. Geological research shows the chasm formed during the final stage of the Ice Age when meltwater carved through the bedrock.
Rock climbers obtain permits to train on the granite walls while visitors hike to formations bearing names such as The Corn Crib, The Coffin, and Lovers' Leap. These popular destinations within the chasm offer natural viewpoints and spots to pause between the towering rock walls.
The reservation charges parking fees from May through October, with different rates for Massachusetts residents and out-of-state visitors. Trails through the chasm require sturdy footwear and some balance, as the floor is uneven and involves climbing over rocks.
Rangers report that visitors occasionally spot porcupines in the caves along the rock walls, which retreat between the crevices. The temperature at the chasm floor remains several degrees cooler than outside even in midsummer, providing a refreshing break during hot weather.
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