Walden Pond Beach – Spy Pond loop from Porter

Walden Pond Beach – Spy Pond loop from Porter

Moderate

4.9

(3645)

18,645

riders

Walden Pond Beach – Spy Pond loop from Porter

02:08

50.0km

350m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 22.2 km for 211 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.13 km

Jerry's Pond

Nature Reserve

2.45 km

Yates Pond

Highlight • Lake

It’s a small one

Tip by

2.56 km

Alewife Brook Reservation

Highlight • Forest

Very close to the city, yet it feels like you're in the middle of the countryside. A visit or stop is definitely worthwhile.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

16.7 km

Denormandie Land

Nature Reserve

22.2 km

Main Beach at Walden Pond

Highlight • Beach

Bike rack available to lock bike. Restrooms. Awesome 2 mile walk around the pond to see the site of Thoreau's cabin on the opposite side of the pond.

Tip by

22.4 km

Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts is a historic and natural landmark famously associated with author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. In 1845, Thoreau lived in a small cabin by the pond for two years, inspiring his influential book Walden, which explores themes of simplicity, self-reliance, and harmony with nature. The pond, a glacial kettle-hole lake, is part of Walden Pond State Reservation, encompassing 335 acres of protected land. It features hiking trails, a beach area for swimming, fishing spots, and interpretive programs about Thoreau's life and work at the new visitors center. Visitors can also see a replica of Thoreau’s cabin and explore the environment he cherished.

Tip by

25.2 km

Concord Monument Square

Highlight • Historical Site

Take a break in the safety of this central mini-park. There's also a water fountain there to fill your bottles.

Tip by

26.4 km

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

Highlight • Historical Site

The "Little Women" house, officially known as Orchard House, is a historic home in Concord, Massachusetts, where Louisa May Alcott wrote her famous novel Little Women in 1868. The Alcott family lived there from 1858 to 1877, and the house served as inspiration for the book's setting. Preserved as a museum, Orchard House offers guided tours showcasing original furnishings, artwork by May Alcott (Louisa's sister), and the family’s personal artifacts.

Tip by

45.7 km

Uncle Sam Plaza and Samuel Wilson Monument

Highlight • Monument

Uncle Sam Plaza, located in Arlington, Massachusetts, near the Minuteman Bikeway, honors Samuel Wilson, believed to be the inspiration for the national symbol "Uncle Sam." Born on September 13, 1766, near this site—then part of Menotomy—Wilson became a meat packer who supplied the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. His barrels, marked with "U.S.," led soldiers to associate the provisions with "Uncle Sam," personifying the United States. The plaza features a bronze statue of Wilson, sculpted by Theodore Cotillo Barbarossa and installed in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. Adjacent to the statue is a bronze relief illustrating scenes from Wilson's life, including his roles in Troy, New York, and Mason, New Hampshire.

Tip by

46.6 km

Spy Pond

Highlight • Lake

Spy Pond is a 103-acre freshwater kettle pond located in Arlington, Massachusetts. It formed thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age and is part of the Mystic River watershed. The pond is bordered by Spy Pond Park, which features a playground, picnic areas, and walking paths. The Minuteman Bikeway runs nearby, providing easy access for cyclists and pedestrians. Spy Pond is also a habitat for various wildlife, including fish, birds, and aquatic plants, making it a popular natural area within the suburban landscape of Greater Boston.

Tip by

50.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types