Take in a lovely view of Leonard’s Pond in Rochester from the shores of two small properties owned by the town of Rochester and the Rochester Land Trust. They’re a perfect destination if you’re looking for a short outdoor stroll, an idyllic waterfront picnic spot, or a place to put in your kayak or canoe for a quiet pond paddle.

This Leonard’s Pond destination is actually two separate waterfront properties: a 4.1-acre town of Rochester property and a 2.95-acre Rochester Land Trust property, both located on the same stretch of Mary’s Pond Road.

The larger town-owned property is on the southeast side of Leonard’s Pond, situated along a peaceful wooded curve of the pond’s edge. Put in your canoe or kayak and set off on a tranquil paddle around the pond while you look for birds, frogs, and turtles.

The smaller Rochester Land Trust property sits in the southwest corner of Leonard’s Pond, directly across from Eastover Farm. Here, you can take short walk along the Herbert Wood, Jr. Memorial Trail or enjoy a picnic as you take in the view of the farm’s golden yellow barns over the water.

Leonard’s Pond is a stopover for migrating waterfowl, so look for geese, mergansers, and buffleheads rafting on the pond’s surface in fall, winter, and spring. In warmer weather, the pond teems with reptiles and amphibians like snapping turtles, painted turtles, bullfrogs, and pickerel frogs.

Leonard’s Pond is located on Mary’s Pond Road. The Rochester Land Trust purchased the 2.95 acres in 2008 to preserve the scenic views of Eastover Farm and to provide the public with a place to enjoy and access Leonard’s Pond. It is adjacent to 4.1 acres purchased from the Hiller family by the Town of Rochester to provide residents with over 450-linear feet of frontage on the pond.

Native Americans camped along the Sippican River and used it as a water highway. Early European settlers built several mills near here. The land around Leonard’s Pond was cleared for hay fields, pastures, and for crops. In the 1900s it was a dairy. In recent years, some of the cleared areas have grown up in white pines, our 1st succession trees. Eventually, hardwoods will fill in as the pines fall.

The path, cut by an Eagle Scout in 2009, follows the edge of the pond and offers views framed by a shrub layer of mostly Sweet Pepper Bush, Blueberry and Red Maple.

The pond side upland of the town property contains pine and hardwood. The understory is thin enough for blueberrying and birding. A canoe and kayak boat launch and off road parking for 6 cars is provided.

The .25 mile circular trail starts and ends near the pond at the off road parking area.