Spot Pond has an area of 298 acres and a maximum depth of 47 feet. It is mostly surrounded by undeveloped land, except for some facilities such as a boating center, a visitor center, and a playground. Spot Pond was named by Governor John Winthrop in 1632 and has a history of industrial and water supply use. It also contains a mysterious granite marker on Great Island that says "Where Shute Fell". The origin and meaning of this inscription are unknown.

The Spot Pond Boat House has boats and canoe rentals.

The Middlesex Fells is a large tract of land lying only five miles from Boston and inside MA-128. It is accessible through 50 miles of trails and carriage roads and bisected by I-93. Inside the Fells are several ponds, including Spot Pond, three connected reservoirs for the town of Winchester, and several smaller ponds. The Fells’ history includes industrial use for timber, pasture, quarrying, ice, and waterpower. The Fells are largely wooded with mixed deciduous and coniferous second-growth forests that include a hemlock taiga and a sturdy grove of pines at Virginia Wood, and a red pine monoculture surrounding the Winchester reservoirs. A 10-acre meadow is in the Sheepfold area, with several smaller open fields and areas of low, secondary growth.

The site is an important migratory stopover or seasonal concentration site for migratory land birds (e.g., warblers).