Lake Garfield is a 275-acre Great Pond that is located about a half mile north of the center of Monterey, Massachusetts off Route 23.
Average depth is 16 feet with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The water is transparent to 11 feet and the bottom is a mixture of boulders, clay and mud. Aquatic vegetation is abundant to a depth of about 8 feet, particularly in the inlet and outlet coves. The shoreline is moderately developed with approximately 75 dwellings.
View the Lake Garfield Gallery for more images of the lake. View the Lake Garfield Video Collection for short stories and videos.
Description
There is an excellent public boat ramp and parking lot on Lake Garfield located at the extreme western end of the lake off Tyringham Road. Unfortunately, the town of Monterey closes it to trailer boats during the swimming season from June 15 through September 6. Those who want to launch trailer boats during the summer can do so for a fee at a commercial boat ramp on the south shore slightly east of the center of town. Shore fishing is not possible since the shoreline is privately owned and generally developed.
Launch your boat next to the Town Beach. There is parking across the road on the grass if you cannot park closer.
West End along the South Shore
Follow the south shore by many homes along the shore for the first half-mile. At mile 0.6 you will pass into the main part of the lake. Because the lake is completely surrounded by private land, most non-boaters never get to see the lake. For nearly a mile the shore is wooded with no lakeside homes. To the north is the widest part of the lake and on windy days it can be a challenge to paddlers. At mile 1.5 a private boat launch is nestled among lakeside homes and docks. It is difficult to find.
To the north views of Hunger Mountain in Beartown State Forest can be had. Follow the south shore for another mile. The end of the lake is marked by very shallow water and marsh. There are no houses and if you explore into the narrow stream that feeds the lake, you will find a beaver lodge and other dam structures.
North Shore Westward
At the East end of the lake to the north is a canal that end at a boat dock. This canal is so regular that it must have been dugout rather than a natural feature. There are several houses the boarder the canal at mile 2.5.
Travel west along the wavy north shore of the lake. At mile 3.0 the shore turns northwest At 3.8 miles there is a small cove. At mile 4.0 is a second cove with a small waterway that you can paddle into for a quarter of a mile. One more cove and then at mile 5.0 you will reach the end of a point of land where you traveled at the beginning of your paddle. Following numerous summer homes around the north side of the east end of the lake back to the town beach.
Brewer Lake
Just north, almost bordering the town beach, are three culverts that pass under Tyringham Road. A canoe or kayak can easily pass under. If you feel adventurous, pass into the little lake and explore. It’s 0.6 miles around with an earthen dam and outlet at the southwest end.