Walden Pond
Walden Pond State Reservation
The site where Thoreau wrote “Walden.” Its clear glacial lake is circled by a trail of about 2.7 kilometers, and cabin replicas and ruins stand on its shore.
Located south of the town of Concord, this is where Thoreau lived alone by the lake for more than two years, from 1845 to 1847, and wrote “Walden.” It is now a state reservation with a loop trail of about 2.7 kilometers, which leads to the site of his cabin (marked by a pile of stones). A replica cabin and a visitor center stand beside the parking lot. In summer, it is a popular swimming spot for locals, and when the parking lot is full, the entrance is temporarily closed, so arrive early. Parking for out-of-state plates costs about $30. You can take a commuter train from North Station to Concord station and walk about 30 minutes, or drive and combine it with the Minute Man National Historical Park.
Opening hours
Approx. 05:00 until sunset (per state park announcements)
Nearby sights
- Minute Man National Historical Park
- Mount Auburn Cemetery
- Lowell National Historical Park
- Harvard University
- Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Fenway Park
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum