Lake Quannapowitt

Lake Quannapowitt

Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880

Official Website

About this Location

Lake Quannapowitt is a large, shallow lake at the north end of the town of Wakefield. It covers 254 acres and is about 3.6 miles around. Its average depth is 6 feet, and its maximum depth is 11.3 feet. According to the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife “This lake was last surveyed in 1979, at which time eight warm water species were recorded: largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, and golden shiner. The chain pickerel and white perch dominated the sample. Tiger muskie fingerlings were stocked here on several occasions from 1978 to 1991.”

The lake was originally known as Reading Pond or South Reading Pond, and it was renamed by town vote in 1847 after the Indian James Quannapowitt. Also known as James Rumney Marsh, James Quonopohit, and James Wiser, he was a member of the Pawtucket tribe of Nipmuc Indians and was born in Chelsea, Mass., in 1636. A Christianized Indian, he was involved in King Philip’s War in the 1670s, serving colonists as a guide and spy. His wife’s name was Mary, and they eventually moved to Natick, Mass. He was also one of the signers of the 1686 deed releasing to the colonists the land now occupied by the town of Wakefield. It is not known what the name, which has several variant spellings, originally meant in the Algonquin language.

Some published maps of Lake Quannapowitt show a small island in the center of the north end of the lake called “Monk Island”. The island does not exist, and there is no evidence that such an island ever existed in the past. The most likely explanation for its appearance (although this has not been verified) is that some map publishers protect the copyright of their maps by putting small errors in them, which could be detected if the map were reproduced by another publisher. There is a reference, however, to Rabbit Island, which was in the shallow southwestern corner of the lake in the early 1800s. The island is described as having been about 300 feet long by 100 feet wide and having “bushes, breaks, mud, and water” with a small clearing in the center. The “island” or small mudflat is not depicted on any maps of that era and seems to have disappeared by the late 19th century, if not before.

The lake is popular for boating, windsurfing, walking, and other recreational uses. A non-profit group called the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt is active in preserving the lake and promoting clean, safe recreational use of its resources.

Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield is on Lake Quannapowitt.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Roadside viewing

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Official Website

Last updated January 2, 2024