Concord Heron Rookery

Concord Heron Rookery

White Pond Reservation Concord, Massachusetts 01742

White Pond Reservation Trail Guide brochure

About this Location

White Pond is a 40-acre kettle pond adjacent to the White Pond Reservation in the Nine-Acre Corner area of Concord. It formed from a large ice deposit left by the retreating glacial ice sheet more than 12,000 years ago. The depression left when the ice completely melted became a kettle pond 60 feet deep at the deepest spot that filled with water from natural springs. The terrain consists of glacial till with steep banks down to the water. Please stay on marked trails to avoid erosion of these recently stabilized soils. It is populated with pine, oak, hemlock, and birch trees.

Although Walden Pond had been made famous by Thoreau’s writings, he was also very familiar with White Pond. He said, “Since the woodcutter, the railroad, and I myself have profaned Walden, perhaps the most attractive, if not the most beautiful of all our lakes, the gem of the woods, is White Pond.” White Pond remains a gem of the woods today, with 70 acres of adjacent Town land containing well-developed hiking trails.

There are several access points. A small informal parking area is located at the end of Varick Street off Dover Street. Parking is available for three vehicles. Do not block the Town well access road or private driveways. A short walk on the main trail leads to an information kiosk. A second Concord access is off the old railbed along the west side of White Pond but there is no parking available here. A third access point, with parking, is at the Cummings Building in Sudbury which can be accessed from MA- 117

There has sometimes been a heron rookery in the wetland accessible from the White Pond parking area on Hemlock Street.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from White Pond Reservation Trail Guide brochure

Last updated December 23, 2023