Gate 16 is one of the access points to the Quabbin Reservoir. To hike to the reservoir from Gate 16, you can follow a trail that starts from a parking lot across the street from Prescott Road, along Route 202 in Shutesbury. The trail cuts through the woods and then joins a service road that leads to the northwestern shore of the reservoir. The hike is easy and about 1.2 miles long round-trip. 

The Quabbin Reservoir is a remarkable engineering feat that provides water to millions of people in Massachusetts. It was constructed in the 1930s by damming the Swift River and flooding four towns in the process. The reservoir covers an area of 39 square miles and has a capacity of 412 billion gallons. The Quabbin Reservoir is a popular destination for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The reservoir is surrounded by a protected forest that hosts a variety of plants and animals, some of which are rare or endangered. 

Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest unfiltered water supplies in the United States. Along with the Wachusett Reservoir and Ware River, it is the source of high-quality water for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water supply system. Recreational activities are regulated and limited to protect 3 million people’s drinking water.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike from Gate 16.