Purgatory Chasm State Reservation —
Your Complete Guide
A boulder-filled chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts, with named rock formations and 2 miles of trails. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
What Is Purgatory Chasm State Reservation?
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation is a state park at 198 Purgatory Road in Sutton, Massachusetts, built around a narrow chasm full of boulders.The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) runs it. A blue-blazed loop of about 0.5 mile takes you down through the chasm floor and back along the rim, past rock formations with 19th-century names: His Majesty's Cave, Lover's Leap, the Devil's Pulpit, the Devil's Coffin, Fat Man's Misery and the Devil's Corn Crib.
DCR says the park has 2 miles of trails, plus a playground, picnic areas with grilling, restrooms and a visitor center near the chasm entrance. It's open every day from sunrise to sunset. Parking costs $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others from May 9 to October 26 in 2026. The one rule that catches people out: DCR closes the Chasm Trail in winter, when the rocks ice over.
Purgatory Chasm at a Glance
What to Do at Purgatory Chasm
The chasm is the main sight. The rest of the park has wooded trails, picnic areas and a playground.
Rock Formations
His Majesty's Cave, Lover's Leap, the Devil's Pulpit, the Devil's Coffin and Fat Man's Misery, a crack about 1.5 feet wide.
See All Seven →The Chasm Loop Trail
The 0.5-mile blue-blazed loop starts with a boulder scramble through the chasm floor. Sturdy shoes, dry rock, and take your time.
How Hard Is It? →Trail Map & Other Trails
Six trails on DCR's map, from the Chasm Loop to Charley's Loop and Little Purgatory, all short enough to combine in one visit.
Read the Map →Photos
Three public-domain engravings of the chasm from 1878, plus the classic photo spots on DCR's trail.
View Photos →Kids & Playground
A playground, picnic areas and free weekend programs for kids as young as four.
Plan a Family Day →Rock Climbing
DCR lists rock climbing here. The rules that matter: stay off wet rock, and rope climbing only where DCR allows it.
Climbing Rules →How the Chasm Hike Works
DCR's self-guided tour starts at a bronze dedication plaque just inside the chasm entrance. From there the trail drops onto the chasm floor, and for the first few hundred feet you climb over and between boulders. Blue blazes painted on the rock mark the way. At the far end the trail turns left out of the chasm and loops back along the top, past Fat Man's Misery and the Devil's Corn Crib, to the Glacier Chair, a smooth couch-shaped rock above the entrance.The full Chasm Loop guide.
What Not to Do
DCR's rules here are mostly about the rock. Keep clear of the chasm edges. Don't climb in or right after rain, when the rock gets slippery. Don't climb on the chasm walls during the hike. DCR's map also asks for no alcohol, no open fires and no bikes, scooters or skateboards, and the park is carry-in, carry-out. The full list is on the rules page, and the reasons are on the safety page.
When to Go
Searches for Purgatory Chasm peak in August. Pick a dry day: DCR warns that the rocks are slippery during and soon after rain. The Devil's Pulpit, once an upright stone lectern, tipped over in 1994, so don't expect the old postcard view.Plan your visit.
How to Get to Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
The park entrance, parking and visitor center are on Purgatory Road in Sutton.
By Car
Set your GPS to 198 Purgatory Road, Sutton, MA 01590, the address DCR publishes. Parking is on site; in season you pay by plate. Parking guide.
What to Wear
Rubber-soled shoes or hiking boots, per DCR's trail map. The chasm floor is all boulders, and flip-flops are a bad idea.
Park Office
DCR, 198 Purgatory Road, Sutton, MA 01590. Phone (508) 234-3733. Email purgatory.chasm@state.ma.us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Purgatory Chasm?
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation is at 198 Purgatory Road in Sutton, Massachusetts, in the Blackstone Valley. It is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Don't confuse it with the Purgatory Chasm in Middletown, Rhode Island, which is a different place.
Is Purgatory Chasm free?
Walking in is free. DCR charges a daily parking fee from May 9 to October 26 (2026 season): $5 for cars with Massachusetts plates and $20 for other plates. A Massachusetts annual state parks pass covers it.
How long is the hike through Purgatory Chasm?
DCR's Chasm Loop Trail is about 0.5 mile over moderate terrain. The first few hundred feet are a scramble over boulders on the chasm floor, so it takes longer than the distance suggests. DCR's guided chasm hike runs one hour.
Is Purgatory Chasm hard?
It is short but rough. DCR rates the chasm hike moderate and recommends sturdy footwear, because you climb over boulders and the rock is slippery when wet. DCR's guided chasm hike is aimed at ages 8 and up.
Are dogs allowed at Purgatory Chasm?
Yes. DCR lists the reservation as dog-friendly, and its trail map asks visitors to keep dogs on a leash.
Is Purgatory Chasm open in winter?
The reservation is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, but DCR closes the Chasm Trail during the winter season because of slippery, wet conditions. The other trails stay open.