A Walden Pond walk offers beauty, whispers from the past
Walden Pond in Massachusetts is a pleasant place for a walk for people with or without Parkinson’s disease. But it’s no ordinary place when you consider the reason it’s been preserved.
(Jump to hike specs here.)
Let’s go back to high school English class. Remember Henry David Thoreau? He’s the 19th century writer and naturalist who lived alone near the pond for two years and then wrote about his experience in a series of essays called “Walden.”
It became among the most influential books in American literature.
Whether or not you made it through the rambling treatise on individualism and the meaning of life, you don’t need to read or reread Thoreau’s “Walden” to enjoy a stroll around his famous pond.
Parkinson’s tip
While the route is not totally ADA accessible, there’s a half-mile portion of the path around Walden Pond specially designed for people who use a wheelchair or walker.
My hiking partner and I arrived on a Saturday in May. Google Maps brought us right to the parking lot, where we found a self-park machine for payment. Luckily, we had rented a car registered in Massachusetts, so the state park fee was only $8 – one-quarter of the cost for out-of-state vehicles.
We aimed to hike the entire 1.7-mile trail around the 62-acre pond.
After paying to park, we made our usual stop at the visitor center for route info. Then, from the trailhead across the street, we walked down a fairly steep paved path to the beach area (which at the time was flooded) and turned right to begin our trek in a counterclockwise direction.
The path was mostly smooth and flat, but occasionally tree roots made it trippy.
The main attraction at Walden Pond is the place where Thoreau single handedly build his house in 1845. The house no longer stands, but the site is well marked.
It took about 15 minutes to get to the site. We stopped for a short time and continued on.
The park has a replica of Thoreau’s house near the parking lot. I was struck by how he simplified his existence by living in a one-room shelter with only a bed, a table and chair, and a fireplace. Today’s “tiny house” enthusiasts would approve!
Parkinson’s tip
A “universal access trail” was created in 2020 for accessibility to the old house site. Stop by the visitor center for guidance. The out-and-back walk is one mile round trip, and the once-steep hills have been made easier to navigate. The downside is that it does not get real close to the pond until the end.
Fishing is allowed on the pond and the lake is stocked each year. I tested the water’s temperature and it was what I expected. Chilly.
About two-thirds of the way around the pond, a few stairs took us up and down.
The trickiest part was near the end of the walk. A short but very squished “path” between bushes and the pond was the only way to continue.
This was a temporary fix while the high water was covering the true path.
Parkinson’s tip
If you are concerned about your balance or gait, bring hiking poles, even if used for just this portion of the trail.
After about an hour, we were back to the beach area where we started.
A walk around Walden Pond is a chance to check in with Thoreau, who was one of the key players in “transcendentalism.” It’s a philosophy that some believe formed the roots of the conservation movement. Thoreau urged readers to live simply and independently, engaging with nature.
If I were a 15-year-old student, “Walden” might put me to sleep faster than a soft couch after a long hike does now. But I find it hard to disagree with Thoreau’s ideas about the sanctity of this beautiful planet we all share.
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Easy
Distance: 1.7 miles around the perimeter
Elevation gain: 30-40 feet
Trailhead location: 915 Walden St. (Rt. 126), Concord, Massachusetts
Bathrooms: at visitor center
Emergency medical support: Emerson hospital, 3 miles away
Cost: $8 to park if you have a Massachusetts registered car; $30 for out-of-state cars
Road access to trailhead: a short but steep paved path leads from lot to trail
Insider tip: Call the visitor center before making the trip to get details on the water level and path conditions.
