Forge Pond: Westford, MA

Directions: Click here for Google map

Forge Pond was the first exciting place I took Cooper because it was located right behind the house we were living in at the time. It is a small local park that I believe is underutilized because people simply don't know that it exists unless they live nearby.

During the fall, winter and spring, we were almost always the only people/dogs there. It gets a little busier on nice summer days though (especially weekends).  The summer season at this beach runs from June - August, which seems to be the only time of year with restrictions.  For more information, click here.

Please note that Westford has a 24-hour leash law.

Here are the positive features:

• Free, paved parking
• Large fresh water pond with small sandy beach
• Short trails in the woods (great for potty breaks)
• Swing set and slide for the kids
• Picnic tables
• Fishing allowed (appropriate permits required)
• Canoes/kayaks allowed
• Often empty in off-season, during weekdays, or in the evening
• Pretty New England views
• Breakfast place, pizza place & convenience store are right next to the park

Negative features:

• In the summer, non-residents must pay $5 per person to park
• In the summer, dogs are not allowed on the sandy beach (but you can walk around in the woods nearby and dogs are allowed on the beach in the early morning/evening)
• The park is somewhat small (1-2 acres)
• They don't usually plow the road in the winter
• There are a lot of snowmobiles on the pond in the winter

We now live about 5 miles away from Forge Pond, so we don't go there every day like we used to. But once in a while, we'll drive over there and Cooper gets SOOO excited about it! So apparently dogs really like Forge Pond. :-)