Cutler Park

Cutler Park is a nature reserve covering about 600 acres in Norfolk County that contains the largest freshwater marsh system along the middle Charles River. The land includes extensive wetlands and wooded areas that support a wide range of animals and plants.

The marshlands formed from flooding caused by the Newton Upper Falls Silk Dam and were used as pasture lands for many years before becoming a state park in 1962. This shift from working landscape to protected area has kept the region active for generations of visitors.

The reserve serves as a place where people come to watch birds and learn about how wetlands work through self-guided visits or organized programs. It has become important to local communities as a spot to observe rare species that depend on the marshland for their survival.

The reserve can be explored using several hiking paths, including a loop trail around Kendrick Pond and connecting paths that lead to a canoe landing area. Visitors should expect wet conditions in many areas and wear appropriate footwear, especially in the marshy sections.

The area holds a Massachusetts Natural Heritage core habitat designation that protects more than 100 bird species in a setting few other places in the region can match. This concentration of species makes it a preferred destination for bird watchers from across the region.

Location: Norfolk County

Inception: 1962

Operator: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Website: https://mass.gov/locations/cutler-park-reservation

GPS coordinates: 42.28310,-71.19750

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:00