Kids & Families

Purgatory Chasm has a playground, picnic areas, restrooms and a visitors center, all near the chasm entrance, which makes it an easy family day in Sutton. The chasm hike is the main event: DCR rates it moderate and aims its guided version at kids 8 and up. Younger children can take the paved 0.25-mile Spring Path, play on the playground, and join DCR's free hands-on programs for ages 4 and up.

The Playground and Picnic Areas

DCR lists a playground, picnic areas, grilling and restrooms among the park's facilities. On DCR's trail map the playground sits east of Purgatory Road beside a playing field and the visitors center, and picnic tables are spread on both sides of the road, including near the chasm entrance and around a pavilion. That layout lets one adult watch the playground while others take older kids through the chasm.

Grilling follows DCR's statewide rules: gas grills are allowed in most parks, brought-in charcoal grills in only a few, and stationary grills are first-come, first-served. Details on the rules page.

Can Kids Do the Chasm?

Yes, if they're ready for it. It is a real scramble over boulders for the first few hundred feet, and the rocks are slippery when wet. DCR's guided Chasm Hike is for ages 8 and up, and DCR asks that children be with an adult. Go on a dry day, put everyone in sneakers or boots, and keep little ones well back from the rim. The full route is on the Chasm Loop Trail page.

For the squeeze, DCR suggests the Devil's Corn Crib, about 5 feet deep, as the smaller alternative if Fat Man's Misery looks intimidating.

Easy Walks for Little Legs and Strollers

DCR's family-hikes brochure rates the Spring Path easy: 0.25 mile, paved and accessible, starting outside the back door of the visitors center. It passes the Old Spring House, where DCR says early settlers drew their water. It's the trail DCR describes as paved and accessible, which makes it the stroller option.

Free Programs for Kids

DCR runs free programs here with no registration. In September and October 2026 the schedule included two drop-in programs for ages 4 and up, both meeting at the pavilion near the chasm entrance and moving to the visitors center in bad weather:

• Rock Detectives, Saturdays 11 am to noon: look at different rocks and learn where they came from. Stay five minutes or the whole hour.
• Secrets of the Skull, Sundays 11 am to noon: figure out how animals live by looking at their skulls.

For ages 8 and up there were the guided Chasm Hike, a 15-minute Chasm Primer on the chasm's history, a Glacial Geology Hike and a Time Traveler Tour. Children must be with an adult. Schedules change; call (508) 234-9610 or see programs.

A Simple Family Plan

1. Park, use the restrooms, and pick a picnic spot.
2. Older kids and an adult do the half-mile Chasm Loop while it's cool and dry.
3. Younger kids take the paved Spring Path and the playground.
4. Regroup for lunch, then catch a weekend program if one is running.

What to Bring

• Rubber-soled shoes or boots for everyone going into the chasm (DCR trail map).
• A trash bag. DCR runs the park as carry-in, carry-out.
• A leash for the dog, if you bring one.