The Lake Mansfield Recreation Area is a community natural resource area featuring a 29-acre pond and the adjacent 29-acre Conservation Forest with a 0.25-mile easy walking loop trail. The area is a vital natural habitat and treasured community space. Visitors are responsible for their own safety and must be mindful of their impact on the delicate habitat and the enjoyment of others. The Lake, Beach Area, and Conservation Forest are owned by the town of Great Barrington and overseen by the Parks and Conservation Commissions. Stewardship is provided by Lake Mansfield Alliance.

The pond is open to the public for seasonal recreation. Visitors are welcome. A parking area provides access to the sandy beachfront, grassy shaded picnic area, swings, and forest trails. Portable toilets are available from May through September. Visitors to the Lake Mansfield Recreation Area enjoy swimming, boating, picnicking, fishing, walking trails, and nature watching. The beach area is closed to pets. Dogs are welcome to access the lake at the boat launch area. The Lake Mansfield Recreation Area allows for road and forest trail walks, giving visitors opportunities to enjoy the beauty and wildlife of the lake and forest. The Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest features an accessible trail network within a 29-acre woodland. The majority of the trail is built to accessible standards, including gentle slopes and a crushed stone trail surface. The shady trails provide a complement to the open lake.