My route to Walden begins in Waltham, and if you are coming off of Route 128, you can follow these directions as well.
Leave the congested highway & industrial parks behind and head towards the trees. There is a house with a miniature bridge in front of it, on the right, easy to miss. There used to be a bump in the road that would leave your stomach up in the air for a moment, but the road was repaved almost 20 years ago and the street lost this quality.
Go past a few more streets, think of this area as a place where Henry identified Cassandra Chamaedaphne calyculata, aka the Partridge Pea.
And then the road takes your breath away. The Cambridge Reservoir suddenly expands your view on both sides. If you happen to be coming in the fall, the colors will surround you. Some days the water is mirror like. Others, the scene exists in shades of grey.
There is a family who has a pond in their front yard, on your right, look for a stone sculpture.
As long as you are not traveling in the full lushness of summer, you can see the Wooden Castle (112 Trapelo Rd, it's currently for sale $875k) You can easily see it through the trees. There was an open house sometime in the early 90's and I spoke to the disillusioned owner who was desperately trying to sell. He had made a fortune in one of the technology bubbles (late 70's, it was built in 1980), and was told by a gypsy that he would always be safe if he lived in a house with turrets. The gypsy was wrong.
There's a tin replica of an American flag just beyond it and directly across the street is a barn with a peace sign painted onto the door. (Once some vandal had painted over one line to transform it into a symbol for a famous expensive car. If you are wondering, the American flag came MUCH later than the barn peace sign)
There are fields and lovely houses along the road. Keep an eye out for a farmhouse & silo, posed next to a reflective pond. You'll have to look over your shoulder as you go up a hill. Just make sure you don't plow into the town cemetery (which now exists as a large, above ground traffic island).
At the 5-Way Stop Sign, you'll want to look to your left to make sure you don't miss the Lincoln Library, which is a brick gem itself, including turrets from the 1800's and a recent glass wing. The tree in front has managed to twist itself into spirals watching the traffic over the past 100+ years.
Go straight across (look for a sandwich board communicating interesting local events on the mini-traffic island). Admire the trees and houses along the road here, one used to have a winter scene painted on a window pane on the 2nd floor. Another held a secret tunnel/room for the Underground Railroad. (I hear it is now used as a wine cellar)
The field on the left belongs to the town and is where they shoot off fireworks for the 4th of July. Along on your right will be the Decordova Museum & Sculpture Park, which I have talked about on a previous post. Don't get distracted now, you are about to actually come to a turn!
If you keep going on the road you are on, you will drive along Sandy Pond Road, which Henry knew as Flint's Pond. He complained about Farmer Flint and what right had he to give his name to a pond where all he did was own the title to the land. It's a reservoir now, but a very lovely view nevertheless. (Hikers and swimmers are discouraged, but Walden is easier and better anyhow!)
Just beyond the goat field (I think I've seen as many as 3), you will see Baker Bridge Road on your left. (The asphalt is purple) There will be a horse farm on your right, with a few conspicuous horses. Up the road is a school and another horse place (where the horses are completely hidden from view). Follow the road as it winds around a large rock and in no time you will find yourself at the great trivia question. When was this beautiful white house with the glass wall and spiral staircase built? 1980's? Nope, 1938! The Gropius House.
I know it is tempting, but keep going.
Down the hill, you'll come across fields on either side of the road. They are the Lincoln CSA Farms (community sponsored agriculture) for the less advantaged. This past summer, in the left field, there were a row of sunflowers planted closest to the road. On the right, you can look behind the field and see a house. It is on the same road that the Thoreau Institute is on. Don't look too hard, here's another turn! Right! Onto Rt 126!! Quick!
If you happen to turn left instead, you can make a scenic detour and head past the Codman Estate (1790). Even if the house itself is not open, park & go for a walk of the grounds. Especially the jewel of the Italianate garden, with its rectangle pool and stone sculptures. (There's plenty to distract yourself with on this side of Rt 2, if Walden's parking lot is closed due to overcapacity on a hot day!)
Back to our regularly scheduled turn onto 126. Immediately in front of you, there are 2 stone driveway columns and a sign marked "Private Way". If you were to drive up there (don't, not just yet anyway), on Baker Farm Road, you'd encounter a bunch of speedbumps and at the very top, a/the Thoreau Institute which lives in a former hunting lodge.
But keep on Rt 126, the brown wooden barriers are a sign that you've reached the edge of the property. The lake will soon emerge on your left, hopefully smiling in the sun.
Enjoy yourself!!
Leave the congested highway & industrial parks behind and head towards the trees. There is a house with a miniature bridge in front of it, on the right, easy to miss. There used to be a bump in the road that would leave your stomach up in the air for a moment, but the road was repaved almost 20 years ago and the street lost this quality.
Go past a few more streets, think of this area as a place where Henry identified Cassandra Chamaedaphne calyculata, aka the Partridge Pea.
And then the road takes your breath away. The Cambridge Reservoir suddenly expands your view on both sides. If you happen to be coming in the fall, the colors will surround you. Some days the water is mirror like. Others, the scene exists in shades of grey.
There is a family who has a pond in their front yard, on your right, look for a stone sculpture.
As long as you are not traveling in the full lushness of summer, you can see the Wooden Castle (112 Trapelo Rd, it's currently for sale $875k) You can easily see it through the trees. There was an open house sometime in the early 90's and I spoke to the disillusioned owner who was desperately trying to sell. He had made a fortune in one of the technology bubbles (late 70's, it was built in 1980), and was told by a gypsy that he would always be safe if he lived in a house with turrets. The gypsy was wrong.
There's a tin replica of an American flag just beyond it and directly across the street is a barn with a peace sign painted onto the door. (Once some vandal had painted over one line to transform it into a symbol for a famous expensive car. If you are wondering, the American flag came MUCH later than the barn peace sign)
There are fields and lovely houses along the road. Keep an eye out for a farmhouse & silo, posed next to a reflective pond. You'll have to look over your shoulder as you go up a hill. Just make sure you don't plow into the town cemetery (which now exists as a large, above ground traffic island).
At the 5-Way Stop Sign, you'll want to look to your left to make sure you don't miss the Lincoln Library, which is a brick gem itself, including turrets from the 1800's and a recent glass wing. The tree in front has managed to twist itself into spirals watching the traffic over the past 100+ years.
Go straight across (look for a sandwich board communicating interesting local events on the mini-traffic island). Admire the trees and houses along the road here, one used to have a winter scene painted on a window pane on the 2nd floor. Another held a secret tunnel/room for the Underground Railroad. (I hear it is now used as a wine cellar)
The field on the left belongs to the town and is where they shoot off fireworks for the 4th of July. Along on your right will be the Decordova Museum & Sculpture Park, which I have talked about on a previous post. Don't get distracted now, you are about to actually come to a turn!
If you keep going on the road you are on, you will drive along Sandy Pond Road, which Henry knew as Flint's Pond. He complained about Farmer Flint and what right had he to give his name to a pond where all he did was own the title to the land. It's a reservoir now, but a very lovely view nevertheless. (Hikers and swimmers are discouraged, but Walden is easier and better anyhow!)
Just beyond the goat field (I think I've seen as many as 3), you will see Baker Bridge Road on your left. (The asphalt is purple) There will be a horse farm on your right, with a few conspicuous horses. Up the road is a school and another horse place (where the horses are completely hidden from view). Follow the road as it winds around a large rock and in no time you will find yourself at the great trivia question. When was this beautiful white house with the glass wall and spiral staircase built? 1980's? Nope, 1938! The Gropius House.
I know it is tempting, but keep going.
Down the hill, you'll come across fields on either side of the road. They are the Lincoln CSA Farms (community sponsored agriculture) for the less advantaged. This past summer, in the left field, there were a row of sunflowers planted closest to the road. On the right, you can look behind the field and see a house. It is on the same road that the Thoreau Institute is on. Don't look too hard, here's another turn! Right! Onto Rt 126!! Quick!
If you happen to turn left instead, you can make a scenic detour and head past the Codman Estate (1790). Even if the house itself is not open, park & go for a walk of the grounds. Especially the jewel of the Italianate garden, with its rectangle pool and stone sculptures. (There's plenty to distract yourself with on this side of Rt 2, if Walden's parking lot is closed due to overcapacity on a hot day!)
Back to our regularly scheduled turn onto 126. Immediately in front of you, there are 2 stone driveway columns and a sign marked "Private Way". If you were to drive up there (don't, not just yet anyway), on Baker Farm Road, you'd encounter a bunch of speedbumps and at the very top, a/the Thoreau Institute which lives in a former hunting lodge.
But keep on Rt 126, the brown wooden barriers are a sign that you've reached the edge of the property. The lake will soon emerge on your left, hopefully smiling in the sun.
Enjoy yourself!!
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