College Pond splash around

Looks like hot summer weather is coming. Let's get wet and keep cool!!

College Pond is one of the biggest ponds in the state forest.

Bring water shoes or shoes that you don't mind getting wet. We will walk in the water around the perimeter of the pond. There are a lot of places where there is no beach-- so walking in the water is the easiest way to proceed.

We have done this for the last two years and it was a lot of fun. We made it the whole way around without having to go more than knee to thigh deep. The loop is about 1.4 miles. Last year, several people wanted to continue afterwards on the trail to Cherry Pond Valley, which adds another 3 miles.

If you want to hang around at the end at the day use area, there are bathrooms and picnic tables and a beautiful public beach. The changing rooms and bathrooms were just renovated last year.

There is an $8 charge to park at College Pond if you don't have one of the DCR parking passes. ($30 if you have out of state tags.) Those 62 and up can obtain a lifetime pass for $10 online. (But you won't get it by Thursday.) More info at : https://yodelportal.com/massdcr