Walden Pond
Massachusetts · Middlesex
- 63 acres mapped (USGS NHD)
- 2.8 km shoreline
- County: Middlesex
- Shoreline outline: USGS NHD
- Massachusetts freshwater fishing (MassWildlife)
The pin marks the middle of the water, for directions. The shoreline on the map comes from USGS NHD.
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Overview
Walden Pond in Concord is a famous little pond, and a deep one. It covers just 62 acres but averages 39 feet deep and plunges to 100. It's exceptionally clear, with 18 feet or more of visibility, and has almost no weeds outside a few shallow coves. The whole shoreline is undeveloped and lies inside Walden Pond State Reservation, near where Routes 2 and 126 meet.
Fishing
Walden holds cold, oxygenated water all year, so stocked trout survive for multiple seasons and some grow big. Most of what you'll catch is that year's stockers, but a few large trout are landed every year. The pond is also busy with swimmers and paddlers in summer. Award fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass; and panfish such as sunfish and yellow perch, and brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout.
Species
MassWildlife surveys found largemouth and smallmouth bass; chain pickerel; panfish such as black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, white perch and yellow perch; yellow bullhead; and golden shiner. Trout are stocked every spring and fall.
Regulations
MassWildlife freshwater regulations apply: https://www.mass.gov/freshwater-fishing-regulations. Check local town or DCR rules for access fees and restrictions.
Licensing
A Massachusetts freshwater fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older.
Access
DCR keeps a gravel ramp for light trailers off Route 126 on the southeast shore, with about 10 parking spaces. More parking is up the road at the visitor center. Both lots charge a fee, and gas motors aren't allowed. Once the lot fills, it closes, so arrive early. Trails circle the pond, and you can fish from shore anywhere along them. Contact DCR's Walden Pond State Reservation about fees and rules.
Water facts
62 acres; average depth 39 ft; max 100 ft; clarity 18+ ft.
Stocking history
| Species | Qty | Size | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | 09-30-2026 |
Nearby waters
- White Pond · 4.4 km (MA)
- Nashoba Brook · 6.4 km (MA)
- Barkers Pond · 7.9 km (MA)
- Lake Boon · 13.6 km (MA)
- Lake Cochituate · 13.7 km (MA)
- Heart Pond · 14.7 km (MA)
More in Middlesex
- Lake Cochituate (MA)
- Ashland Reservoir (MA)
- Baddacook Pond (MA)
- Hopkinton Reservoir (MA)
- Horn Pond (MA)
- Knops Pond (MA)
MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife)