Home › Massachusetts › Waltham › Shady's Pond Conservation Area
Shady's Pond Conservation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 52 Google reviews · Running trail in Waltham, Massachusetts · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Shady's Pond Conservation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park offering walking paths & a rustic setting with mature woods, ferns, a pond, a marsh & a stream.
What runners say about Shady's Pond Conservation Area
Waltham's best kept secret. This pond area is connected to the western greenway trail that stretches from stonehurst mansion near downtown waltham all the way to turtle pond in belmont. It is heavily secluded and the people who are responsible for creating this bike trail did an excellent job!
Found this trail using Google Maps and started the route at Trapelo Rd. Felt pretty safe and no major difficulties going up or down. Appreciate the signs as it was my 1st time. Recommend some type of signage once you get to JFK school.
Lovely place for a walk in the woods. Mostly flat, with easy to follow trails. Easy parking at the trail head at the end of a dead end street. No restrooms, buildings, or improvements of any kind.
Having discovered Shady's Pond April, 2020, I just adore this hiking path! Flat in some places, hilly in others, it's a comfortable challenge.
Trail conditions & character
“Flat in some places, hilly in others, it's a comfortable challenge.”
Plan your run at Shady's Pond Conservation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Waltham
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Storer Conservation
4.6 ★★★★★ 129 reviews
Landscaper Frederick Olmsted designed the grounds of this 109-acre park with trails & a museum.
Beaver Brook North Reservation
4.4 ★★★★☆ 141 reviews
This 254-acre natural area features many wildlife viewing opportunities, plus hiking trails.
Mackerel Hill
4.7 ★★★★★ 30 reviews
Prospect Hill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 621 reviews
Uphill hiking trails (some paved) and roadways lead to scenic overlooks at this hilly park with Boston views, plus a playground, picnic tables and grills.
Juniper Hill
4.3 ★★★★☆ 22 reviews
28-acre tract of conservation land featuring paths through oak & maple woods to the top of a hill.
Rock Meadow Conservation Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 290 reviews
Public conservation land of meadow, wetlands, streams & woods, plus updated Belmont Victory Gardens.