My mom and I stopped by Walden Pond when we spent a day in Concord a week or so ago, and it was a treat to experience it on my first visit to Concord. Walden Pond is a pond, not very different from ponds all over the country. What makes it special is its association with Henry David Thoreau. He lived in a cabin on the shore of the pond for two years, and the pond and his experience living there inspired one of his most famous works, "Walden; or, Life in the Woods." The park has a lot to offer. There are trails, including the Pond Path, which circles the pond. There are beach areas. There is a visitor center, where you can watch a short documentary about Walden Pond. There's a gift shop/bookstore, where you can buy a copy of Walden to read while looking at Walden. There's also the replica of Thoreau's cabin (you can also visit the site of the original cabin). My mom and I visited the Visitor Center, watched the documentary, and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the main beach. We saw tons of people hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, and more. Walden Pond is a special place - a must visit if you're also visiting Concord for the first time. read more

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The water levels declined significantly from last time i visited. The beach is exposed on all sides. While it's great to swim in the water, i notice people are barbequing, grilling, smoking, vaping an playing loud music on the speakers. Even though there are notice boards saying not to. It would be good if DCR stations a few more staff members in the trails and beaches, to enforce the pond rules. The smell and sound was unbearable. It felt like a Las Vegas beach club. Pond was beautiful and quiet, but the crowd environment was not People were also not cleaning up after and leaving piles of food The geese would eat that and get more aggressive read more

The pond is a great place for solitude, but don't expect solitude on a weekend with warm weather. Everyone and their mother was out swimming, barbecuing, drinking, etc. While it's amazing to see everyone being active, I do wish part of the pond had a quiet area. There is a lot of construction and swimming, but it would be so nice for one small corner to be off limits to swimming and have benches just for a peaceful aspect. It's a beautiful area though and the visitor center is well done. Lots of neat information and a fun gift shop. read more

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Great park and pond! Parking is limited but a decent amount and it makes sure it not overcrowded! Walking the trails is worth the trip not just the pond itself and historical aspect obviously is really the cherry on top! read more

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Henry David Thoreau's Walden pond. He spent 2 years, 2 months and 2 days here, fending for himself and living on the land. You can read his accounts and try to soak up all of his experiences and lessons learned. That is valuable. Visiting the actually physical location is the cherry on an already loaded sundae. The pond and surroundings are beautiful, clean and quiet. The 1.7 mile walk is relatively easy and flat now. We went off season so did not have to pay the exorbitant entrance or parking fees, but someone has to pay for its upkeep. Definitely worth a visit, long or short. read more

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Walden is an extrodinary place to visit. Taking a walk around the pond may take you 45mins to 1 hour and is so beautiful, relaxing and good for you! There is a gift shop where you can get maps and drinks to keep you hydrated. I love this place! (There may be an entrance fee before 5PM I believe - Then free.) Alan Tauber alan@drumconnection.com read more

An amazing place to be able to just sit, relax and enjoy nature. You can sit by the pond or walk the trail. They have a parking area which gets quite busy. read more

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$30 to park with an out of state license plate is crazy and $8 for in-state isn't cheap either. The parking lot fills up fast and rather than doing one-in-one-out they just close the lot for hours. That being said, I do appreciate how beautiful and clean the park and pond and appreciate when the number of people there is limited. It's a good place to visit as long as you have an MA car or have an in state friend who can drive you!! read more

Walden Pond is a serene summer escape, with clear, cool water perfect for long swims and sandy shores backed by quiet woods. Walking the looping trail between dips adds reflection to an easygoing, all-day freshwater retreat. read more

As an avid reader of both Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, I of course had to come here when on vacation in the area. It was amazing to be able to connect with an area that resulted in writings that I've referred to since I was a teenager. The pond is beautiful and really enjoyed walking the trail around it. The trail does lose some of its natural feel as they've put fencing up immediately beside it on both sides in some areas. I recognize this is to prevent off-trail exploring and erosion, but does impact the vibe a bit. We enjoyed going to the original site of Thoreau's cabin and the markings that have been made there to recognize it. The park also has a wonderful book/gift shop that has so many cute things, so would fully recommend stopping in and seeing what you can find there as well! read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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I've been coming to Walden Pond since I was a baby (...yep) so this place is very nostalgic for me. It's still the same historical place it's always been, the place where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote his famous works. Still the same beautiful pond with hiking trails surrounding. Still the same steep hill that you have to face on the walk back to your car after a long day of sitting in the sun. Still a New England favorite. You can visit the replica of his cabin and walk the trails to the original site of where it once was. However it's obviously been updated to keep up with times. Parking is now paid for electronically. It's $8 for the day and they have machines in which you use a card to pay for it. They've built a visitors center in the parking lot, where there are bathrooms, an educational center, and a new gift shop. They still have the bathhouse too down by the water. I will say the water feels...less clean when swimming. There's lots of leaves, and other things floating around as you swim. You also share the beach with numerous Canadian geese now. Kind of a nuisance as they get close to you and in some instances walk on your belongings... With all this, I won't stop coming here, because it's just tradition at this point. I recommend coming early as they will sporadically close the parking lot when it's full. read more

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I visited Walden Pond while I was in the Boston area. This place is unique, serene, and peaceful, perfect for hiking, swimming, or relaxing. We hiked around the lake in late June. We also visited Henry David Thoreau's small house and the original site where this famous writer lived and wrote American classics in the 1800s, seeking to liberate his soul. His desires from the 1800s convey strong messages to people living in the 21st century. I need to find a place where I can liberate myself these days. read more

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Walden Pond is a beautiful place to visit and hike when the weather is nice. We were there in late November and it was freezing. My husband and I Walked the path around the pond for a few minuets and had to return cause it was cold and the ground was wet with mud. I can imagine how beautiful this place is in the spring, summer and autumn. For the summer months you can swim at the beach or take a long hike then swim. There are picnic stops so you can pack some food and have a nice picnic with gorgeous views of the pond and the trees. In the fall I can see how colorful it gets, I'm a big fan of fall foliage. Overall I loved the whole area and would visit again on my next trip to Concord, MA. read more

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They really don't want you to visit. It's $8 for Mass residents and $30 just to park if you're out if state. They say you can stop at the Walden Pond visitors center for 20 minutes but all entrances are closed and the lots are empty. We should charge Mass residents $50 when they visit Washington Crossing NJ -- too bad it's free. We thought it would be nice to see the pond that we read about about in school. We went out of our way to see it. Steer clear of Concord. Seriously, this experience colored my whole impression of the state of Massachusetts. What a money-grubbing, crummy place that can't support its cultural institutions without ripping off out-of-state visitors! And one more thing: Massachusetts has 22 billionaires -- 3.15 billionaires for every million people, which puts Massachusetts 9th among all states. Those billionaires should be ashamed that they have to bilk visitors to support their cultural institutions. Why doesn't even one billionaire pony up to support Waldon Pond? They could get a movement going and became a real state someday like New Jersey that welcomes all people to its museums and landmarks at a modest -- if any -- fee. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - I went to the woods to pay Massachusetts for the privilege. If you're out of state, stay there. You're not welcome in Taxachusetts. - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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It's a nice pond, if they let you in. The parking situation could not be more infuriating. You have to check their Twitter/X account to see if the lot is full. It fills up random times daily and they shut down for hours. We have been in the car, on the way, 5 minutes out, at least a dozen times in the past couple years, and seen that it's closed. They don't let you drop off or wait nearby for a one-in-one-out. You're just scr*wed. THEN, if you're finally able to get there, pay for parking, and get a spot on the beach. The lifeguards kick you out of the water once an hour to do a safety check, which lasts about 10 minutes. Which is hard for children to understand. Meanwhile, they don't let you swim too far from the shore. But people are allowed to swim across the lake when they're long-distance swimmers. read more

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived...." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) One of the most loveliest and peaceful places on earth and as such, one of those sublime places that does not need a Yelp review. Thus I'll be brief: I've dreamed of coming here since I was 16 years old after reading Thoreau for the first time. I was so blessed and grateful to finally make it here 40+ years later. Everything is exactly as I imagined it would be. I enjoyed being able to obtain visual orientation on familiar landmarks and places referenced in his book. For example I now understand the view from his cabin door (although you must mentally account for fact that about half those trees weren't there 200 years ago, so the view would've been even more breathtaking), and what his vantage point must have looked like. We walked all the way around the lake, visited the outdoor landmarks and displays, then returned to the visitor center to see the short movie and study the interior exhibits. It was a lovely misty autumn day that added to the atmosphere of contemplation. Enough reading... come out here and see for yourself... then re-evaluate your own life, and in the words of Thoreau: "simplify, simplify".... Jettison everything in your life that is preventing you from flourishing and from reaching your fullest potential (including that electronic device you're now holding), and live! It's not too late. Mahalo for reading my review. read more

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My family and I are from California, and every time we visit Concord in the summer, we have to make a stop at Walden Pond. It's so peaceful and rarely crowded, not to mention its always clean near the beach area. The water is warm, so that's a huge plus! It's absolutely gorgeous and worth a visit. The visitors center across the street is worth checking out as well! Thanks Walden Pond, for the memorable memories! We can't wait to come back. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

If you have high standards forbeautiful nature.... This is not it! Walden Pond is overhyped (by people who have probably never experienced really beautiful nature.....) and probably completely polluted (it looks dirty plus see signs that warn people to avoid fishing...). Needles on the beach, dirty, nothing "authentic" about it, just a dirty pond with some forest around it. Try real lakes about two hours away from Boston. Or just go to the ocean. read more

Years ago I had read that Walden Pond had been so overdeveloped that you could not get the sense of Thoreau's writings while visiting. In 1978, we made our first visit and found the opposite to be true. Every inch of this park is designed to showcase respect for the man and the natural beauty that he made famous. On the east side of the road, there is a large parking area and a newly rebuilt park headquarters. Crossing into the pond side, you go down a gentle sloped trail to the pondside building, where you will find well-maintained restrooms. Then you set off on the trail to the northwest side, and follow the pond past a large beach area for swimming and boating. Within a half hour you arrive at the main attraction. The foundation of Thoreau's cabin was found decades ago, and stones mark the spot. Nearby, there is a giant pile of rocks where visitors who love Thoreau were encouraged to leave a stone. On our most recent trip, we left a pebble from the Zen garden in our back yard. In the six or seven times we have visited we have never seen more than a few pilgrims at this site. Proceeding west, you see the railway line that was present 180 years ago in Thoreau's day. It still is a working train line from Boston to Concord. This lovely and inspiring spot is a must for any traveler to the Boston Area. read more

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Walden Pond is a nice place to visit to enjoy the outdoors when the weather is good. The walking path around the pond offers a pleasant stroll and nice spots to sit and chat near the water. For families with young children, the beach is great - they have the buoys set up such that it's easy to keep toddlers in the very shallow area, and there's a good amount of shade for napping babies or anyone else who wants to get out of the sun. It does become extremely crowded on summer weekends, though...best for a weekday visit if you have a day off. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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A great little walk around the pond with some history. We visited Thoreau's little house. The walk is easy for children. There are some great spots to rest and have a picnic when not chilly. read more

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Craig Hockenberry: Walden Pond I had the chance to hike several miles at Walden Pond and visit the Site of Henry David Thoreau's Cabin and the replica. It was the fall which made it even more incredible! The calmness and the amazing foliage was incredible. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY Ohio Craig Hockenberry read more

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Not my thing. I got bored after 30 minutes sitting by the pond so we went for some small hikes and they were whatever. Lots of families with young children, some friend groups, but I should've known better tbh. Didn't go swimming because the water looked filled with pollen and some areas were really dirty. Some areas around the pond had people smoking, doing BBQ etc and there was waste. Some areas of the pond were calmer, more European-esque and others were filled with pollen. There were bathrooms there, they were fine, not the cleanest, not the dirtiest but it was not my kind of place. read more

There's nothing like a trip to Walden Pond to make you happy to be alive. Although some spots like Thoreau's cabin and the gift shop were closed, the beautiful surroundings more than made up for it. A lovely little nature stroll gives way to a breathtakingly beautiful mini-beach with amazing views of the sunset. Lots of people were out enjoying the water and beautiful weather. It was simply amazing and very serene. If you're around this area it should not be missed. Why the deducted star you may ask? $30 parking for out of state people is ridiculous in my opinion. Certainly not the transcendentalist way, Thoreau would be appalled. But pro tip-a ticket for not paying for parking is only $25! read more

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Standing Guard at History: Minute Man Statue & Old North Bridge Wow! Stepping onto the Old North Bridge, where the "shot heard 'round the world" supposedly rang out, was incredible. The bridge itself is picturesque, with the iconic Minute Man statue standing tall nearby. It's easy to imagine yourself back in time, right in the heart of that pivotal moment. There's a visitor center close by that (from what I hear) has some really interesting exhibits about the battles of Lexington and Concord. Overall, even though it's just a part of the park, this stop was a winner. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about American history! read more

I would really recommend Walden Pond to people who would like to go on small walks. Also for people who like historical building. While they walk around they could also admire the historical building. The view was also really pretty and beautiful. I would really recommend this place. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Passed IT I was excited to see it until I pulled in the parking lot. Parking for non- Mass license plates was a flat $30 for any length of stay. $8.00 for Mass license plates. Almost 4x the difference. Very unwelcoming to travelers. So rather than pay the exorbitant fee , I passed and I will try to remember the Waldon Pond of literature and not this. read more

Beautiful pond and had so much space to chill by the water. Definitely worth taking a trip out here to a family-orientated and historic location. Can't wait to come back if only they didn't charge so much for out of state parking! read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

I get the historical importance of this place but I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. Yes it is a pretty natural space close to Boston and a good place for a hike but it was not anything special for me. It was busy given it was a hot Sunday so there were many there to enjoy the water. The parking seemed a bit pricey but then again we were in the Boston area. Overall a bit disappointing . read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - The famous pond - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Bring your swimsuits! A little rocky but cleaner than the ocean we did the day before. We were lucky to catch the gift shop open this particular day but they only allowed one group at a time in. Parking was a little outrageous. $10 for Massachusetts residents and $30 for out-of-state so if we had known that earlier we would have planned to spend more than 2 hours here. I came to see Thoreau's house he built and sadly the interior visit wasn't available due to Covid. Kids still enjoyed the trip read more

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Saturday afternoon we stopped by the Walden Pond State Reservation. There was plenty of parking. Granted it was a cloudy day. I would like to see what it is like on a sunny day. There is a model of the cabin that Thoreau lived in while he resided at the pond. Because of the Corona Virus, it was closed so we had to look in through the window. We walked across the street where there was a public beach and then preceded to walk around the pond. I think the total distance was about a mile but that is just my guess. There is a pathway to follow so it was easy walking. I would recommend it to anyone looking to relax at the beach or is looking for a place to go for the walk. read more

Fun fact: The French word for swimming pool is "Piscine" , pronounced "piss-in" and that is certainly an apt word for Walden Pond nowadays. There is now more urine than water in Walden Pond according to a new article in The Guardian, which was then picked up by NBC and LiveScience. Don't swim in the water - it's full of bacteria and pesticides now. Also for those trashy, ignorant tourists and visitors who haven't learned basic human hygiene yet : - Don't pee in the pond when you have to go - Don't put little kids who haven't been toilet trained yet in the pond - Don't put your little toddlers with dirty diapers and a full-load in the pond - If you see other people doing any of the above call them out publicly and rudely, they ought to be shamed publicly. read more

Beautiful walk around the lake. Crystal clear water in early fall and an easy stroll along its shores. Bonus to get to see crazy people swimming laps in the chilly waters! Visitors center is modern, well appointed, and interesting! read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Nice local park. I didn't know anything about Wladen (excuse is that I am not American, and not into literature, and I am a scientist). It is nice forest around lake: only around lake is crowded, and once go further, literally nobody and peaceful forest is waiting. We made a big loop and hiked 8 miles. It is a nice short walk in the local. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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What an amazing place to get away. Great waterfront, hiking paths and escape from the daily grind

Meh. I expected more. Poor signage. Thoreaus cabin is fake. It's pretty and peaceful for the most part. I prefer not to sit in dirt. Just naturally a beach person. read more

Wow! The Pond Walk is lovely especially on a pretty day. Many folks enjoying the water; swimming, SUP, kayaking and lots of beach dwellers. We walked the loop twice. Gorgeous views. We will be back to explore further... read more

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One of the best lakes I have ever been. Nice, clear water. Such a well taken care place. $8 for parking per car, which is a good price. Bathroom wasn't as clean as I expected to be, that was only the down fall for it. Great place for a walk or bike ride to. lota of shaded from the trees around the beach. Lifesavers on site. At least three per area, which is great. they check the water every so often too. Great place for a book reading and bathing or just to go with family. No place to buy food or water, just make sure you go equiped with everything. read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - view of the water - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

I'm not the biggest fan of Walden Pond. Too many people. Too many rude people. The pond itself is beautiful and serene. And if you visit off season it is pretty easy to escape the crowds. Avoid this place like the plague when school gets out for the summer as well as every weekend during foliage. I come to walk around the pond. You can walk along the shore - but the beach is slanted and you will have to walk with one leg permanently bent at the knee. Or you can walk on the path - and be fenced in like a sheep chute - in an effort to keep people on the paths. I typically opt for uneven legs. You need to walk all the way to the back of the pond to escape the crowds. Stay to near the beach and you still run into idiots - people who set up camp on the rock stairs. Weirdo guys changing into their swimsuits using their towel as a cabana. Once you get to the back side of the pond - if you come off season - you should be able to find a quiet place to sit and think about transcendentalism. You can get your Thoreau on. read more

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Great walk (takes about 1 hour with kids) around the pond all year long. Easy for kids however not smooth for strollers the entire loop. No dogs allowed but otherwise this is very family friendly. Kids love the train that comes through as well. It is busy in the summer at the beach so we enjoy this off season. Winter strolls are the best! read more

Walden Pond State Reservation - A moment of pause - my daughters 7 and 8! - Parks Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts