Walden Pond beach will be closed for the summer

Local News

While Main Beach will be closed, officials said that Red Cross Beach will remain open for the summer season with an unguarded swimming area.

People swim at the beach at Walden Pond. Erin Clark / The Boston Globe, file

One of the beaches at Walden Pond will be closed for the summer to accommodate construction of a new bathhouse, authorities announced.

Main Beach will be closed for the 2025 summer season, the Department of Conservation and Recreation said Friday. The new bathhouse, a $6.1 million project, will replace the current two-story facility with a new, single-story building that will be universally accessible, officials said.

“The project will make Walden Pond State Reservation DCR’s first net-zero facility and bring the facility up to federal and state accessibility requirements with new restrooms and changing areas at the plaza level,” DCR said.

While Main Beach will be closed, officials said Red Cross Beach will remain open for the summer season with an unguarded swimming area.

DCR warned that there will be limited parking at Walden Pond due to the ongoing construction project. Visitors to the reservation will be advised of the beach closure by multilingual signage.

For swimmers looking to cool off during the summer, DCR offered the following alternative locations: