About Walden Pond State Reservation

October 22, 2008

Walden Pond was once home to the renowned author, Henry David Thoreau. Now part of the Massachusetts Forests and Parks system, Walden Pond State Reservation includes 460 acres of protected open space so that visitors may come to experience the pond that inspired Thoreau, as well as hike, swim, fish, canoe & kayak and cross country ski.

In 1845, Henry David Thoreau came to Walden Pond to live. He stayed for just over two years. He didn’t come to inspire a myth or a legend, or to found movements, or to make a name for himself. He came instead for the simplest of reasons: to live simply in nature, and find out what it could teach him.

A replica of Thoreau’s house and the location of his modest accommodations are available for viewing by the public. Year round interpretive programs and guided walks are offered as well as a gift shop/bookstore and the Tsongas gallery.

In March of 1845, Thoreau began planning and building his one room house. On July 4th of that year, he took up residence. He studied natural history, gardened, wrote in his journal, read and drafted his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, a story of a trip taken with his brother in 1839. He also made the first accurate survey of the pond. By no means a hermit, he frequently walked to the village, entertained visitors was his house and hired himself out as a surveyor. In September of 1847, Thoreau completed his experiment in simplicity and became a sojourner in civilized life again.

Thoreau’s sojourn at Walden started a long tradition of people coming to the pond and it surrounding woods for recreation and inspiration. The emergence of Walden as a public park was in keeping with belief that nature is meant to be enjoyed by people. “I think that each town should have a park… a common possession forever, for instruction and recreation,” he wrote in an 1859 journal entry lamenting the deforestation that had taken place around Walden. “All Walden wood might have been preserved for our park forever, with Walden in its midst.”

In 1922 the Emerson, Forbes and Heywood families granted approximately 80 acres surrounding the pond to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the stipulation of “preserving the Walden of Emerson and Thoreau, its shores and nearby woodlands for the public who wish to enjoy the pond, that woods and nature, including bathing, boating, fishing and picnicking.” Middlesex County was given the responsibility for management of the reservation. In the summer of 1936, some 485,000 people visited Walden Pond, with Sunday crowds numbering as high as 25,000 visitors.

Today, it is estimated that approximately 600,000 people visit the reservation each year. In 1985, a number of additions were made, including the constructing of a replica of Thoreau’s house. In an effort to balance public recreation with protection of these resources, the DCR established a ‘people capacity’ at the park to ensure a positive visitor experience and to maintain the integrity of the resources.

By the time the Commonwealth acquired the property in 1922, much of Walden’s forest had been cut down. The woods have since grown back so that the vegetation resembles the hard and soft wood mix of Thoreau’s day and includes mostly berry bushes, sumac, pitch pine, hickory and oak. Above Thoreau’s house site are stumps of some of the 400 white pines planted by Thoreau and leveled by the great hurricane of 1938.

Much of  the wildlife of Thoreau’s time can still be found here. Gray squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits are common. Skunks, raccoons and red foxes are active at night, but can occasionally be seen shortly before sunset or after sunrise. Kingfishers, blackbirds, chickadees and red-tailed hawks can often be seen flying among the trees or over the water. In the spring and fall, migratory ducks and geese pass overhead and land in nearby marshes for food and rest. As noted by Thoreau, the pond “is not very fertile in fish. Its pickerel, though not very abundant, are its chief boast.” The pickerel disappeared around the turn of the century and the pond is now stocked annually. In addition, sunfish, perch and small-mouth bass compete for crayfish.

Walden Pond is a kettle hold, a deep (103 foot) pond formed over 12,000 years ago when the last glacier to cover New England slowly melted away. As it did, large chunks of ice broke off and became surrounded and covered by vast amounts of sand and gravel carried by streams flowing from the glacier. As the it melted, they left behind depressions that eventually filled with water. Because of this geological history, most kettle holes like Walden Pond have no streams flowing into or out of them.

An updated Walden Pond Trail Map for 2010, and a Walden Pond Historical Pamphlet is available here.

The interpretive staff at the reservation offers a wide array of programs for visitors. Children’s seasonal programs include nature crafts, story time, and the Junior Ranger series. Adult and family activities include poetry readings, tracking programs and Thoreau walks. Accessible hiking and boating programs are scheduled in the spring and summer. School and group tours are available when scheduled in advance. Tour themes focus on the natural history of Walden Pond and Thoreau’s life and his impact on society. Reservations may be made by calling 978-369-3254.

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915 Walden St.
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 369-3254

Summer Season Park Hours:
7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Out Gate in Parking Lot closes @ 8 p.m.)

Walden Pond State Reservation is located near Lincoln and Concord in the Greater Boston Area.

From Rte. 95/128: (North & South West of Boston area) Take exit 29B onto Rte.. 2 West, at 3rd set of lights take a left Onto Rte.. 126 South. Parking is ¼ of mile down on left.

From Rte. 93: (North & South of Boston area) get on Rte. 95/128 South, take exit 29B onto Rte. 2 West at 3rd set of lights take left onto Rte. 126 South. Parking is ¼ of mile down on left.

From Mass Pike Rte. I-90: (Boston area & out of state) Get on Rte. 95/128 North, take exit 29B onto Rte. 2 West at 3rd set of lights take left onto Rte. 126 South. Parking is ¼ of mile down on left.

From Rte. 495: (North & South West of Boston area) Take exit 29A Onto Rte. 2 East, at 6th set of lights take a right onto Rte. 126 South. Parking is ¼ of mile down on left.

From Rte. 3: (North of Boston area & NH) Get onto Rte. 62 West, Follow through Bedford center and into Concord, at stop sign there Is a Senkler Real Estate office directly in front of you, take a left, Follow road to the left around traffic circle, take next right onto Main St., take 1st left onto Walden St. Follow Walden Street until you get to the intersection of Route 2. At this traffic light go straight onto Rte. 126 South, (cross over Rte. 2) parking is 200 yards down on left.

School Vacation Week! WINTER CRAFTS for KIDS Friday, February 24th 1:00pm-2:00pm

January 27, 2012

Join a park interpreter at the Tsongas Gallery in Park Headquarters for a seasonal story book reading and a fun craft creation to make and take home. This program is for children ages 5-12, all children must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided.

School Vacation Week! MEET HENRY DAVID THOREAU WINTER WALK Monday, February 20th 1:00pm-2:00pm at the replica 2:00pm-3:00pm walk to the house site

January 27, 2012

Celebrate school vacation week by joining Henry David Thoreau portrayed by historian Richard Smith on Monday, February 20th  at Walden Pond. From 1pm to 2pm Thoreau will be entertaining visitors at the house replica near the main parking lot. At 2pm, Mr. Thoreau will lead a walk to the original house site at the pond. Dress for winter weather, all children must be accompanied by an adult. After the hike join park staff for hot chocolate at park headquarters. Sponsored by the Friends of Walden Pond, an activity of the Thoreau Society www.thoreausociety.org

The STORY of ICE HARVESTING at WALDEN POND Sundays, February 12th and March 11th 1:00pm-2:00pm

January 27, 2012

Learn how tons of ice were “harvested” from Walden Pond and shipped to places as far away as India! Hear Henry David Thoreau’s description of the small army of workers coming to Walden to cut the ice, for Frederick Tudor, the “Ice King.” Meet a park interpreter at the Thoreau house replica near the parking lot for a talk and walk to Ice Fort Cove on the far side of Walden Pond. Be sure to dress for the winter weather and 1 ½  mile walk.

THOREAU RAMBLE Sundays, February 5th and March 18th 1:00pm-2:00pm

January 27, 2012

Learn about the famed poet, philosopher and mystic Henry David Thoreau, his stay at Walden Pond from 1845-1847, and his enduring legacy. This program is for visitors of all ages. The tour will begin at the Thoreau house replica near the main park entrance. We will hike ½ mile to the site where Thoreau lived. Dress for the weather, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE Sunday, January 15, 2012 from 12:30pm-3:00pm

January 6, 2012

Join local historians and park staff for this annual program to commemorate Martin Luther King Day at Walden Pond State Reservation.

12:30pm – 2:30pm Visit with Henry David Thoreau portrayed by historian Richard Smith. Discuss the issues of the day and ask Mr. Thoreau your questions about the night he spent in jail in 1846 for not paying his poll tax, an act which inspired his famous essay. This program is for visitors of all ages.  

At 1:30pm Mr. Thoreau will lead visitors to the Tsongas Art Gallery at park headquarters where Thoreau Scholar, Thomas Blanding, will lead an engaging discussion on the writing of Thoreau’s essay, Civil Disobedience. Learn how Martin Luther King Jr., inspired by Thoreau’s essay used the concept of civil disobedience during the civil rights movement. Additional historic and present day examples of civil disobedience will be introduced during the discussion.

Sponsored by the Friends of Walden Pond, an activity of the Thoreau Society www.thoreausociety.org and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
This is a free program but there is a $5.00 daily parking fee. Pre-registration is not required. No dogs permitted, unless they are working guides.
For more information call park staff at (978) 369-3254.

WINTER WILDLIFE TRACKS AND SIGN Friday, December 30th, 2011 1pm – 4pm

December 4, 2011

Winter is an especially beautiful time to visit the diverse State Parks of Massachusetts. Being able to identify the tracks and sign of wildlife along the trail will add to your experience. Join wildlife expert Bob Metcalfe, at the Tsongas Gallery in park headquarters, for an indoor lesson in track identification, followed by a two hour walk into the woods of Walden to search for wildlife tracks and sign. This program is for ages five and up. Don’t forget warm clothes and boots.

This is a free program but there is a $5 parking fee. No dogs permitted unless they are working guides. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information call park staff at (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.

WINTER SOLSTICE WALK Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 1pm – 2pm

December 3, 2011

Come and celebrate the time of year when days are shortest, and nights are longest, heralding increasing hours of daylight. Meet a park interpreter at the Thoreau house replica, near the parking lot, for an inspirational walk around Walden Pond and beat the winter blues. Please wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather. This is a program for visitors of all ages.

This is a free program but there is a $5 parking fee. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs permitted unless they are working guides. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information call park staff at (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.

HOLIDAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS Saturday, December 17th, 2011 11am-12pm

December 3, 2011

Join a park interpreter at the Tsongas Gallery in Park Headquarters for a seasonal story book reading and a fun holiday craft creation to make and take home. This program is for children ages 5-12. All materials are provided.

This is a free program but there is a $5 parking fee. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs permitted unless they are working guides. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information call park staff at (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.

THOREAU RAMBLE Saturday, December 10th, 2011 11am – 12pm

December 3, 2011

Learn about the famed poet, philosopher and mystic Henry David Thoreau, his stay at Walden Pond from 1845-1847, and his enduring legacy. This program is for visitors of all ages. The tour will begin at the Thoreau house replica near the main park entrance. We will also hike ½ mile to the site where Thoreau lived.

This is a free program but there is a $5 parking fee. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
For more information call (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.

Thanksgiving Thoreau Rambles

November 19, 2011

Saturday, November 26th, 2011 11am-12pm

Sunday, November 27th, 2011 1pm-2pm

Learn about the famed poet, philosopher and mystic Henry David
Thoreau, his stay at Walden Pond from 1845-1847, and his enduring legacy. This program is for visitors of all ages. The tour will begin at the Thoreau house replica near the main park
entrance. We will also hike ½ mile to the site where Thoreau lived.
This is a free program but there is a $5 parking fee. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information call
(978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.


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