Getting there

Walden Pond State Reservation is near Lincoln and Concord in the Boston area. From east or west, take Route 2 to Route 126 south, and follow the signs.

Things to remember

At Walden Pond, dogs, bicycles, flotation devices and grills are not allowed. No more than 1,000 people can visit at one time, so park officials encourage visitors to call in advance and check on parking. For more information, call (978) 369-3254 or see www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/wldn.htm.

Things to do

Visitors are allowed to swim in the pond and there is a place to change clothes on site. There is also a boat launch accessible by car, but only canoes, kayaks and small electric-powered boats are permitted.

A walk around the pond is most satisfying. On the way, a visitor can see the spot where Henry David Thoreau wrote “Walden, or Life in the Woods.” Also, a replica of Thoreau’s house and a statue of Thoreau can be seen. Year-round interpretive programs and guided walks are offered.

At the tourist center, there is a gift shop, bookstore and art gallery. There’s also an ice cream shop.

Nearby attractions

Thoreau’s grave is on Authors’ Ridge at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord. Also in Concord, the house of Ralph Waldo Emerson — Thoreau’s close friend and a pioneering philosopher and writer himself — is worth visiting.