Andromeda Ponds, Concord

Parking

There is limited parking on Old Concord Road, Lincoln, MA.

Hike

In search of salamanders, we headed to this series of 3 small kettle ponds fed by Walden Pond.

We followed the path across the field into Adams Woods and then took a right across the railroad tracks. Be careful they are active! Scrambling up the bank its an easy 5-10 minutes straight walk along the esker path down to the ponds on your left.

This place is a galaxy of calm and stillness away from people. In the 60 minute hike, we saw one very polite trail runner. The rest of the time was spent meandering the pond shoreline looking for salamander eggs, watching a blue heron fishing, and listening to the frogs. You almost expect Snow White to come out of the woods with the 7 Dwarfs! Don’t let the occasional passing train put you off searching for the so-called “Andromeda Phenomenon” – a glowing effect on the water noted in Henry David Thoreau’s journal of 1854.

Here’s a trail map

Other Recommendation

Next visit we’ll walk the 4-mile roundtrip trail from Mount Misery to the Pond with ample parking and away from the summer bustle of Walden Pond.