At dawn and dusk in summer the call of loons can be heard drifting up from below. Scarlet Tanagers, Hermit Thrushes and Least Flycatchers call from the picturesque woodland. Any time of year Bald eagles and Ravens can be observed along the ridgetop.

A short walk on an accessible trail brings you to one of the area’s best vistas.

One of the hidden gems of the North Quabbin Region is New Salem’s town overlook. Constructed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) watershed staff, the town park abuts the DCR watershed lands that maintain the vista providing some of the best views of the reservoir.

The park is accessed from the driveway beside the New Salem Fire Station in the Center of Town. Follow the driveway past the athletic fields to a small parking lot. The short wheelchair-accessible trail leads to a couple of picnic tables at the crest of the ridge. From here the view of the reservoir and the islands are a year-round threat.