As you travel down Reservoir Road in Cumberland, Rhode Island, you will come upon one of New England's most underrated gems. On your left, you will see the beautiful Diamond Hill Reservoir, on the right, Arnold Mills Reservoir. Providing breath-taking views year round, the reservoir is most vibrant in the Fall season when the foliage provides an array of spectacular colors and views. The surrounding area in this laid-back northern RI town, and in the neighboring Massachusetts towns of Wrentham, and North Attleboro, provide a charming back drop of old New England Historical homes, local country stores, antique shops, farm stands, and a winery. The area offers a magnificent countryside, strewn with rustic farmhouses, and laced with original stonewalls, plentiful woodland paths and streams make for a great day trip for old-school Americana fans and nature lovers alike.
The roadway through the reservoir is widely used and greatly appreciated by locals that love to take in the beautiful scenery while they are out exercising or just enjoying a relaxing country drive. It has become extremely popular with cyclists, joggers, and walkers, that plan their routes accordingly to the scenic landscape. Several bike routes and paths are abundant in the area and can be found in postings by active cyclists online, for both recreational users and for those cycling enthusiasts that ride competitively.
The reservoir is also a very popular destination to view the amazing sunrises and sunsets. Not only are the views incredibly beautiful, but for nature lovers, there is a variety of wildlife in the area. A pair of American Bald Eagles call the reservoir home, and if you're lucky enough, you can get a glimpse of them flying overhead. Other birds of prey, including hawks and falcons have been sighted, along with plenty of other water foul and several different types bird species.
Finally, as you can tell, the reservoir offers plenty of unmatched photo opportunities. On any given day, you can find people so taken by the views that they will stop and take a picture. You never know what you will see on any given day, and each season brings forth significant beauty in all areas along the reservoirs.
The Diamond Hill Reservoir, also known as the Pawtucket Upper Reservoir, and was built in completed in 1887 by the industrial city of Pawtucket. The Arnold Mills Reservoir was built in 1927 to add more water as urban expansion increased. These bodies of water are for drinking water purposes only. There is no recreational use, fishing, swimming, or boating in the reservoir and it is protected, operated, and owned by Pawtucket Water Works, though it resides in the town of Cumberland. Despite the postings, some of the locals know where to fish and swim despite security patrols.
Pictured below are some photos of the Reservoirs being built, and the Pavilion structures that are no longer standing. I wish I had been around to enjoy them because they must have been amazing. Thank you to Tom Letourneau of Cumberland RI for the photographs. I also added the photos from my "phone" pic days.....yes....the learning curve is evident....but I feel that they give many different looks of the reservoir and vicinity so I included them despite their imperfections.
THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO MY MOTHER, CAROL FISHER (BURAK, RYBACK). THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEVER ENDING LOVE AND SUPPORT.