houghton's pond

Large parking lot is a good place to meet and take an easy hike on some of the Blue Hills trails. You can take a circuit around the pond or follow the path of "old route 128" with many other trails leading off into easy hikes through this section of the park. The lot will fill up on hot summer days when people are crowding the beach there. Oh yeah, there is a public beach there. Very crowded and noisy on summer weekends. Picnic sites and a ball field adjacent to the pond. Get there early to get a spot on prime days. Good spot for a large group gathering, not at all crowded after Labor Day.

Spring fed pond w/clean sandy beach, Ideal for young families w/small children, or older adults who are seeking relaxing spot to sunbathe or swim/wade in safety during warm summer days. Plenty of hiking trails thru blue hills for the outdoor enthusiasts.

Houghton's Pond is easily accessible from 128, with plenty of parking. There is an easy, wide, paved trail around the pond, with plentty if picnic areas, There is also a concession stand if you need a meal or snacks.

We visited this place last weekend as it was close to Boston and easy to reach by highway. Parking was easy and there were a few new buildings that housed the visitor center, concession stand, and restroom/offices. There were grills everywhere on the beach side of the pond and they were all occupied with crowds of people. On the other side of the pond were nice quiet hiking trails through the forest. I think this would be a great place to revisit during foliage season.

There is a dearth of free public beaches on eastern massachusetts lakes . Houghton's pond is the answer for those of us who grew up in rural areas where there was always a clean beach to swim at the local pond. Great place for kids and adults. Hiking trails and picnic areas even a bathhouse with showers and it's Free!!!

Houghton's pond is a great spot, close to Boston and the Blue hills. But the crowds and the small approved swimming area make it kind of a pain to visit. Last time we were there, there were people with inappropriate swimsuits (very small coverage, weird lacy covers that were see through) and kids who felt free to come over and rummage through our bags for toys and snacks. It definitely draws a strange mix of people. On the positive, it has a great playground, nice bathroom facilities, and is a good place for a walk. Rental areas are available for having a birthday party or large family picnic.

This is a great free place to go that has a pretty good beach, nice warm pond to swim in with life guards, nice park, bike path, park for grilling and food stand with ice cream.This place is a lot of fun for the whole family and is Free! If you live anywhere near Milton this is a great place to go!