New England Paddler
Upper and Lower Goose Pond
Upper and Lower Goose Pond
Last Updated: 6/2024
About The Trustees
We are more than 100,000 people like you who love the outdoors, who love the distinctive charms of New England, and who believe in celebrating and protecting them, for everyone, forever.
Together with our neighbors, we protect the distinct character of our communities and inspire a commitment to our special places. Our passion is to share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures we care for.
We enjoy and care for more than 100 special places – nearly 25,000 acres – all around Massachusetts. And we are actively building an extended family of friends and neighbors across the state that can help in their different ways.
Goose Pond Reservation
The Trustees own the 112 acre Goose Pond Reservation, established in 1986 at the end of Lower Goose Pond. The reservation is on the north bank and is the only continuous stretch of undeveloped shoreline. Goose Pond Reservation is managed as a wilderness area. THERE IS NO POND ACCESS FROM THE RESERVATION. We are grateful to the Lee Land Trust for providing access to Goose Pond Reservation with their parking lot on Route 20 and the 2 mile trail which climbs upward from there.
For more information visit the website:
Trustees of Reservation
About AMC
AMC members are people like you. We paddle, bike, climb, hike, camp, ski, and thrive in the outdoors. We are friends, parents, kids, gear heads, minimalists, thrill seekers, volunteers, and nature lovers. We are experts, novices, and lifelong learners. We crash through whitewater. Blaze new trails. Revel in quiet sunsets. And delight in a good challenge.
For more information visit the website:
Appalachian Mountain Club
AMC - Upper Goose Pond Cabin
A view of the spillway for the earthen dam.
Gravel Boat Ramp can handle trailers.
Lower Goose Pond Boat Ramp
Position: 42°16.46'N 73°12.05'W
Boat Launch:
Boat Launch:
There is limited parking near the boat ramp. On weekends, you may need to unload your boat and move your car a short distance. Be considerate of homeowners.
Nearest Launch Address:
4 Ridge Street, Lee, MA 01238
STATISTICS
Skill Level: Flat water
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hour
Perimeter Distances: 6.5 miles total
Upper: 2.5 miles
Lower: 4.0 miles
USGS Map: Stockbridge, MA
Physical Features:
- Total Area: 324 (293) acres
- Upper: 61 (55) acres
- Lower: 263 (238) acres
- Upper: 61 (55) acres
- Max depth:
- Upper: 33 feet
- Lower: 48 feet
- Upper: 33 feet
- Average Depth:
- Upper: 15 feet
- Lower: 23 feet
- Upper: 15 feet
- Transparency: 17 feet (Both)
- Terrain Type: Homes, Wooded, National Park, Trustees of Reservation
Fish Population
- Last survey: 1980
- 6 Species: chain pickerel, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, golden shiner and white sucker.
National Inventory of Dams
Goose Pond Dam
NID ID: MA00312
Owner: Goose Pond Dam Maintenance District
Owner Type: Local Government
Purpose: Recreation
NID Height: 28 feet
NID Storage: 4,280 Acre-feet
Year Complete: 1840
Dam Type: Earth
Last Inspected: 08/05/2016
Emergency Action Plan Prepared: YES
Last Emergency Action Plan Revision: 02/28/2018
Owner: Goose Pond Dam Maintenance District
Owner Type: Local Government
Purpose: Recreation
NID Height: 28 feet
NID Storage: 4,280 Acre-feet
Year Complete: 1840
Dam Type: Earth
Last Inspected: 08/05/2016
Emergency Action Plan Prepared: YES
Last Emergency Action Plan Revision: 02/28/2018
Description
Goose pond is located on the border between Lee and Tyringham. There are summer homes along half of the lower larger pond while the upper pond seems almost wilderness like. The upper lake intersects the Appalachian Trail and an Appalachian Mountain Club for hikers sits on its shore. Four thousand acres surrounding the upper pond were purchased by the National Park Service to be included as part of the Appalachian Trail Corridor.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife have designated this as a premier coldwater pond and it is managed primarily for salmonids. The ability of this water to carry trout from year to year recently resulted in its designation as special brown trout water with specific regulations designed to promote the production of big browns. There is a limit of one brown trout per day with a minimum length of 15 inches. There is also a lot of brood stock salmon.
On a trip in April 2005 I spotted a bald eagle, hawks, and turkey vultures. Bald Eagles with eaglets have been observed in 2012
SOUTH Goose Pond
The south end of Goose pond is an earthen dam with a spillway which allows exit of water into Goose Pond Brook. Close by, is the boat ramp maintained by the town of Tyringham. This is the only public access point.
EAST SIDE Goose Pond
Along this side of the lake are numerous summer homes. Many of these have changed from cabins on posts to more formal and elaborate homes with full foundations over the years. I have occasionally encountered a strong wind and found hugging the shore to ease the work load.
NORTH SIDE Goose Pond
The Trustees of Reservation own the 112 acre Goose Pond Reservation. The reservation is on the north bank and is the only continuous stretch of undeveloped shoreline. The reservation may only be accessed by canoe or kayak from the shoreline; note that the shoreline is very rocky, and it may be difficult to go ashore. The pond becomes more and more wooded.
As you reach the northeast end of the pond, the entrance to Upper Goose Pond is not obvious. If it’s the first time for you, then paddle like you know where it is and you will hit the passage suddenly. There was a large brown sign (as seen below) but was vandalized a number of years ago and no longer exists. It is narrow and shallow but can be easily passed with a small craft.
WEST END Upper Goose Pond
After paddling through the 500 foot long channel, you will enter Upper Goose Pond. Camping and fires are not permitted along the shore of the upper pond, though day use is welcome. Just past the channel you will see a dock and the Upper Goose Pond Cabin. If you stop there, leave plenty of room around the dock when beaching your craft.
The Upper Goose Pond Cabin is owned by the National Park Service and managed by AMC volunteers, with overnight accommodations exclusively for AT hikers. The cabin has six double bunks, a covered porch, and two outhouses, and is open May through October when a volunteer caretaker is present. The caretakers are friendly and ready to share a tale or two. Check out the notebook in the bin on the front porch where thru-hikers and other guests leave notes about their travels. Some of the thru-hikers may have already walked 1500 miles on their way to Maine.
The Upper Goose Pond Cabin is owned by the National Park Service and managed by AMC volunteers, with overnight accommodations exclusively for AT hikers. The cabin has six double bunks, a covered porch, and two outhouses, and is open May through October when a volunteer caretaker is present. The caretakers are friendly and ready to share a tale or two. Check out the notebook in the bin on the front porch where thru-hikers and other guests leave notes about their travels. Some of the thru-hikers may have already walked 1500 miles on their way to Maine.
Consider leaving a book or two for caretakers and hikers to read. Outdoor interests are best.
I have a favorite island with a rock that I like to stop and sun myself on. See if you can find it. You may want to take a swim.
EAST END Upper Goose Pond
This is one of my favorite spots. Make it a point to paddle as silently as possible and your efforts will be rewarded by wildlife. Insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals are all here. The very end has a wetlands appearance where Higley Brook enters. Here is where the AT (Appalachian Trail) meets the pond. At this writing, there are two beaver dams. The higher has raised the brook more than 3 feet above lake level. Beavers are most active at dusk, evening, and dawn. You may see, or hear a slap by a young one during the day.
WEST Goose Pond
After going through the passage between ponds, Goose Pond opens up in front of you. Turn left down the west shore of the pond. Woods will slowly give way to summer homes as you travel south. If the wind is strong, stay close to the shore or consider crossing to the east side for a better lee. As you travel south, Cooper Brook enters as the shore turns westward. After this turn, the Take-out at the boat ramp will be directly in front of you.
Fishing
This is a premier coldwater pond and it is managed primarily for salmonids. Abundant numbers of stocked trout and an adequate forage base translate into excellent trout fishing. The ability of this water to carry trout from year to year recently resulted in its designation as a special brown trout water with specific regulations designed to promote the production of big browns. Starting in 1994, there is a limit of one brown trout per day with a minimum length of 15 inches (this does not affect the standard three trout limit, but only one of those trout can be a brown, and it must be at least 15 inches long).
The brood stock salmon are an added attraction at this pond. Most salmonids are taken by trolling small spoons, spinners or streamers, or by still fishing the bottom with worms, shiners or dough baits. Ice fishing is slow, but sometimes results in a trophy.
While this pond is justifiably renowned for its salmonid fishery, don’t overlook the smallmouths. These scrappy fighters are not particularly large, generally running around a pound or two, but there are enough of them to keep any bass angler happily occupied. The largemouth fishery is also worthwhile. (1998)
Passage Between Ponds
The old sign to Upper Goose Pond.
Maybe it will be replaced with a new one?
Footpath for the People
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Appalachian Trail
The National Forest Service
The Appalachian Trail travels through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Search the NPS website for details in each one:
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. Learn more at their website:
