Buffumville OHV Area

Buffumville Lake OHV Area is a designated off-road riding facility managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers on federal land adjacent to Buffumville Lake in Charlton and Oxford, Worcester County, one of only a handful of legal, publicly accessible OHV areas in Massachusetts and the most established OHV venue in the state with organized trail infrastructure. The area covers approximately 100 acres of variable terrain on the glacially sculpted upland above the lake reservoir: forested rolling hills with mixed hardwood and pine cover, rocky glacial till that creates natural technical sections, and the exposed gravel and sandy loam substrate that drains quickly and stays rideable after most rain events, an important attribute in the wet New England climate. Trail loops range from beginner-accessible loops on the lower terrain to intermediate and technical sections on the rocky hillsides where the glacial substrate produces challenging surface conditions. ATVs and dirt bikes are the primary permitted vehicle classes; the area's scale is better suited to machines under the full UTV width spectrum. A day-use fee is collected at the entrance station. The Army Corps manages seasonal hours tightly, the area closes for the winter season and reopens in late April, with hours enforced at the gate. The Buffumville Lake Recreation Area has restrooms, parking, and trailer staging capacity. As one of the very few designated public-land OHV areas in Massachusetts, Buffumville draws riders from across central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut who lack closer public riding options. Contact the USACE New England District (508-248-5697) for current season dates and fee information.