Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden

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 (when I visited in June 2021). One of these field trails ends at a private spot by a frog pool covered in a carpet of lily pads. You can rest on the bench here.

The Audubon Center also had connected its trail system to the adjacent Hart Farm trails, so visitors can do a long walk through different habitats.

If you want to do a big loop starting along Field Pond, be careful not to miss the lefthand turn up the bank toward the ravine and Hart Farm. It’ll be in a half mile from the the boat launch, on your left once you reach a small clearing by the pond. The trail is blazed, marked with a small wooden block with the letter E on it and has stone steps leading up the bank. Despite all these markers, I walked right by! I am sort of glad I did, though, because I continued on an obvious path along the pond that ended up at a small sandy beach and dam. While I am pretty sure this is private property, there were no signs forbidding the public from stopping by. It’s a very pretty spot, and seemingly nice for swimming.

If you want to go for a swim after your walk, you can also find another swimming beach at the other end of the pond, close to the Field Pond boat launch. There is a small path leading away from the parking lot to a privately owned 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.