Walden Pond State Reservation
add photos3 Reviews for Walden Pond State Reservation
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"Fun with the Family"
Walden Pond can be a crowded place, especially when the water is warm enough for swimming. It’s best to come here in the off-season; otherwise, it’s hard to imagine the peace that Henry David Thoreau found when he lived here alone. His cabin was taken down long ago, but in its place is a large pile of rocks that visitors have placed here as a simple tribute to the man who chose Walden Pond as his home and wrote On the Duty of Civil Disobedience and Walden (which is credited with the birth of environmentalism). Ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Walden Woods; canoeing, fishing, and kayaking are allowed on Walden Pond. No pets. TIP: Call before traveling; if the parking lot is full, you will be turned away.
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44 families found this helpful
"Great for Everyone"
Walden Pond is a great place to take your little ones. You can even enjoy some shade trees on the beach on those warm summer days! But, yes, it can get busy. On a sunny weekday in the summer you will find almost exclusively parents (usually moms) and young children. There are two swim areas with a gentle pitch good for wading with young children. On early mornings and in the evening you will find far fewer people but theyare in canoes, kayaks, or swimming back and forth across the pond for exercise.
While it is free to access this State Park, the parking fee is $5 and parking is limited. Arrive early on beautiful days or skip it all together if you hate crowds. It is a good place for a playdate. It is inexpensive and easily accessible. Use a stroller, cart,or wagon to transport gear to the water's edge.
Trails surround the pond. Occaionally you can spot the commuter rail on its way opposite the swimming area for your train loving toddlers.
There is a gift shop featuring Thoreau and other local authors. A snack truck is on site during the summer. There is also a boat launch with nearby parking.
3 families found this helpful
"Good Swimming in the Summers & Stunning in the Fall"
Walden Pond is a popular spot for families on a beautiful summer day. With a lifeguard on duty between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and cordoned off swimming areas, no currents, it is a safe swimming spot for younger children in the midst of nature.
There are also easy trails around the area, including a 1.5 mile loop around the pond. This loop is stunning on a crisp Fall day, and a great beginners trail for cross country skiing. The trail diverges to Thoreau's reconstructed cabin, built to every last specification as described in his writings. Children, both young and old, will enjoy walking into Theoreau's cabin, furnished with bare essential furniture, a wood stove and a few tools, allowing them to imagine his rustic, ascetic lifestyle. (A good teaching moment.) Visiting on a Fall or Winter day makes the experience especially compelling, allowing the kids to better imagine Theoreau's life in the face of winter. There are informative placards with quotes from Theoreau concerning his life at Walden Pond.
Walden Pond is free but parking is $5 for the day. The parking lot can be full on a beautiful summer day. On the weekends, it would be prudent to arrive in the morning lest you are turned away. It is a short downhill walk to the swimming area.
The DeCordova Museum, with its large outdoor sculpture garden, is a short drive from Walden Pond. This could be included in the same day trip.
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