Swimming at Walden Pond

Walden Pond is one of my favorite places to swim. The beach is shaded by trees for large parts of the day, the bottom of the pond isn't icky, there's a nice swimming area outside of the roped, lifeguarded area that is perfect for adults who want to swim laps or just float around without crashing into children or being hit by frisbees.

The downside to swimming at Walden Pond on a hot day is the crowds. Later in the day, the parking often fills up and you can't get in at all. Even on a week day, it is pretty crowded. Granted, my trip this summer was July 5th, so I think a lot of people had extra time off for the holiday. But when I got there at 10:00 AM, even with the crowds, there was plenty of parking.

There are two sandy beaches, one large one near the bathrooms and changing rooms, and another smaller one that is to the right as you cross over from the parking lot. I believe only the large one has lifeguard coverage.

Facilities:
The bathrooms and changing rooms are clean, there are water fountains and usually an ice cream truck. If you're not a beach person, it's easy to follow your swim with a hike instead of hanging out in the sand.

Cost:
$5 for parking, but watch out for hot afternoons and weekends when the lots are full. It is disappointing to get all suited up and drive over only to find out that the lots are full and no one is getting in. Check out the Massachusetts State Parks annual pass, which for $35 lets you get into DRC parks free from January to December. I could easily make seven trips to Walden Pond, between cool weather hikes and summer swims, which would make the pass worth it for that park alone.

Location: 
Right off Route 2, well signed, easy to access for anyone in Metro Boston or North Central Massachusetts.

Family-Friendly:
Absolutely. The main beach has sand for digging, shade so you don't roast your children, convenient bathrooms, and shallow water for swimming in the roped area.

Other Activities:
Hiking trails all around the pond, lots of people in kayaks and canoes and several adult swimmers taking long swims across the pond. Even though I believe the website says swimming across the pond is forbidden due to the depth of the kettle hole pond. I've swum across it myself, and while it's a short swim, it is definitely very deep and not a safe choice for anyone who is not a confident swimmer, accompanied by a friend.