QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 229 acres
- Trail Mileage: 2.7 miles in network
- Pets: no
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: Fields Pond, ravine, fields, frog pond
Fields Pond trails in blue. Hart Farm trails in green.
Fields Pond has a cool, shady trail that traces the edge of the pond, as well as fantastic mowed paths through meadows filled with butterflies and lots of birdsong in June. One of these field trails ends at a secluded spot by a frog pool covered in a carpet of lily pads. You can rest on a bench here.
The Audubon Center also has connected its trail system to the adjacent Hart Farm trails, so visitors can do a long walk through different habitats. There’s a good map here.
If you stick to the Audubon trail system, you can make a satisfying loop of just under 2 miles if follow Lake Shore Trail to Beechwood Trail to the Ravine Trail and back to the Audubon Center. Make sure you don’t miss the turn from the lake onto Beechwood (I did). It’s about a half mile from the the boat launch. The trail is blazed, marked with a small wooden block with the letter E on it and has stone steps leading up the bank. (Or you might be tempted to continue along a herd path along the pond, which will bring you to a small sandy beach and dam.)
You can find another swimming beach at the end of the pond close to the Field Pond boat launch off Fields Pond Road. There is a small path leading away from the parking area to a sandy beach. A sign posted to a tree says people are welcome as long as they don’t have dogs, pack out their trash, and are considerate of neighbors.
Also, please note: No pets allowed.
Directions: The address is 216 Fields Pond Road in Holden. There are two parking areas, a smaller one at the boat launch and a larger one at the center.
Hi – Thanks for sharing information about Fields POnd Audubon Center. As a wildlife sanctuary, we ask that all pets stay at home. Thank you!
Of course, I knew that! Thank you so much for pointing out the error!