Purgatory Chasm can be an adventure for hikers ... but mind the warning signs
Editor's note: This is part of a series on walking places in and near Worcester. Let us know your favorite walking places at wmeditor@gatehousemedia.com.
When it comes to Worcester County places with interesting names, Purgatory Chasm in Sutton is right up there with Busta Rhymes Island and God’s Acre.
The chasm in question is a quarter-mile-long ravine that was most likely created 14,000 years ago, when a flood of meltwater from a glacier tore a long gash in the landscape. Today, it’s the center of a state park that draws hikers and rock climbers from all over Southern New England.
At the bottom of the ravine lies the Chasm Loop Trail, a short but challenging hike that follows a trickling stream and hops several boulders on its way through. Even on a sunny day, the entrance to the trail looks ominous, with tall rock formations on both sides, and at some points on the trail, huge rocks jut out directly overhead.
Safety first
A sign by the trailhead warns hikers to “beware of the dangers of this trail: slippery and deceiving rocks,” and the warning is not unfounded.
In 2020, after responding to a medical emergency in the chasm, Sutton Police Sgt. Josh Nunnemacher told the Telegram & Gazette that Sutton emergency services receive calls from the state park “several times a year for falls or people getting lost or for medical emergencies.”
If it has rained in recent days, the Chasm Loop Trail may be closed to prevent hiker injuries, as the rocks can be dangerously slippery. This was the case when Worcester Magazine visited, and we can tell you that’s no issue — there are still 2.75 more miles of trails to explore, including Charley’s Loop, which overlooks the chasm from above.
From the huge rocks on top of the ridge, you can hear the water that drips from the overhanging rocks, peer down below and look out at the treetops, which are all deep green at this time of year. When Charley’s Loop passes the end of the chasm, it passes through a forest and over Purgatory Brook.
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All experience levels
The Forest Road Trail and Old Purgatory Trail, both uphill from the chasm, and the Spring Path, which circles by a natural spring and past a playing field and playground, provide two more opportunities for less experienced hikers.
The Worcester Magazine reporter who visited had previously hiked the half-mile Chasm Loop Trail with a friend on a day when it was open, and on that day, the trail was an entertaining natural obstacle course.
At different points within the chasm itself, hikers have to hop over the small stream that flows through it and climb over the rocks still scattered throughout. When the trail loops back and follows the other ridge above the chasm, it’s time to explore some unusual rock formations, including a narrow gap between two halves of a boulder named “Fat Man’s Misery.” (Try to fit inside if you dare — but, as always, be careful.)
If you like your nature walks to feel like adventure movies, or if you just enjoy places with spooky names, this trail should be on your list of spots to hit this summer.
Wear hiking shoes or boots with good traction if you plan to hike the chasm portion of the trail, and bring insect repellent, because the still water found near many of the trails is a breeding ground for bugs in the warm months. Parking in the lots next to the trailhead and visitor center costs $5 for cars with Massachusetts license plates, $20 for cars with out-of-state license plates.
To learn more about Purgatory Chasm, visit mass.gov/locations/purgatory-chasm-state-reservation.