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Walden Pond
Concord, Massachusetts
DCR state reservation on Thoreau's Concord kettle pond. Paid parking, seasonal lifeguards, daily attendance cap — go early on hot weekends.
At a glance
Overview
Walden Pond State Reservation is a DCR property in Concord, MA built around Thoreau's glacial kettle pond. The main beach at the visitor center has a roped swim area with seasonal lifeguards; the far shore is reached on a flat loop trail and is a quieter swim. Parking is paid (with a higher non-resident rate) and capped — the gate closes when the pond hits its daily attendance limit, often by mid-morning on hot summer days. Dogs are not allowed on-site during the summer swim season.
- Also known as
- Walden Pond State Reservation, Thoreau's Pond
- County
- Middlesex
- Region
- Greater Boston
- Water type
- Pond
- Swim feature type
- Pond
Know before you go
Public
Partial
Conditions
Conditions snapshot
Check posted signs and official updates before entering.
Getting there
From Route 2 in Concord, take Route 126 (Walden Street) south. The DCR entrance is on the right across from the parking lot. Swim off the main beach by the visitor center, or walk the flat pond-loop trail to quieter shore points.
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