Walden Pond - Concord, Massachusetts

Spend a Day at Walden Pond in Concord, MA

Walden Pond State Reservation in northeast Massachusetts is a beautiful place to visit whether you love touring literary sites or spending time in a beautiful outdoors setting. The 411-acre nature preserve is located in Concord, MA. This is the site where Henry David Thoreau built his cabin on the lake in 1845 and immortalized the area in his book, Walden.

Today Walden Pond is a National Historic Landmark. You can visit a replica of the cabin built here by Thoreau and experience the woods and pond that inspired his writing. There are 5 miles of hiking trails to explore in the woods surrounding Walden Pond. Winter visitors can use the trails for snowshoeing or cross country skiing.

Walden Pond is a 62-acre glacial kettle hole pond that is a popular swimming destination in the summer. Fishing and canoeing are two other activities you can enjoy here during your visit. The crystal clear waters of Walden Pond reach a depth of 103 feet at its deepest point.

Walden Pond is a terrific place to relax and picnic in a peaceful setting. Park regulations ensure no more than 1000 persons at a time are on site, so there is ample opportunity to enjoy the natural surroundings. The woods at Walden Pond today resemble the woods seen by Thoreau thanks to preservation efforts. Although the trees were leveled by a hurricane in 1938, visitors can see stumps of some of the 400 white pine trees planted by Thoreau at his house site.

You an also look for signs and perhaps glimpse some of the wildlife Thoreau would have seen during his time spent at Walden Pond. Rabbits, gray squirrels, and chipmunks are some of the animals you may spot easily. If you arrive early in the day or stay until sunset, you may also see red foxes, skunks or raccoons. Some of the birds you can spot at Walden Pond include blackbirds, chickadees, red-tailed hawks and kingfishers. Ducks and geese are a common sight during spring and fall migration periods.

Special seasonal performances are held on site at Walden Pond. You may see and talk with an actor portraying Thoreau during these special events. Interpretive staff members host programs and give guided tours at Walden Pond year round.

There is an excellent gift shop featuring books, clothing and other Thoreau and Walden Pond themed items operated by the Thoreau Society at the Visitors Center on site. Maps of the hiking trails at Walden Pond are also available at the Visitors Center.