A 26-acre city conservation woodland in North Waltham, historically known as Stearns Woods, holding a small pond and cattail marsh feeding a stream into Chester Brook, with a trail crossing four wooden bridges.
What to expect
Entry fee
None; free public conservation land. checked Jul 15, 2026
Dogs
Waltham requires every dog in a street or public place, including its parks and playgrounds, to be effectively restrained on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Posted signs at the site take precedence.
Hours
No gate; open access, dawn to dusk assumed.
Birdwatching
Allowed year-round
Managed by
Waltham Conservation Commission
781-314-3845 · WebsiteWhat's here
On site
Info kiosk
Conservation area sign marks the Trapelo Road trailhead.
Worth knowing
- The city purchased this parcel in 2005; it had been known locally as Stearns Woods for over a century before that.
Common questions
Can I swim in Shady's Pond?
No official swim area exists here; it is a shallow marsh pond and cattail wetland within a woods preserve, not a beach.
Is there an entry fee at Shandy's Pond Conservation Area?
None; free public conservation land.
Can I bring my dog to Shandy's Pond Conservation Area?
Waltham requires every dog in a street or public place, including its parks and playgrounds, to be effectively restrained on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Posted signs at the site take precedence.