When one thinks of the jewels of Lenox, places like the Pleasant Valley Sanctuary, Tanglewood and their many historical and cultural attractions come to mind. Wood Pond does not necessarily come to mind at first. It is, however, truly a hidden jewel in the Lenox area of the Berkshire region. Woods Pond, an hour west of Springfield and roughly 2 and a half hours west of Boston is a straight drive on the Mass Pike (exit 2) with a few lefts and rights once you’re off the exit.
If there is one thing Woods Pond doesn’t lack it is scenic views. In fact, after viewing one of my photos taken at Woods Pond, a friend of mine described it as looking like a painting. Although I only walked a fraction of the trails, I was awestruck by the beauty I viewed.
Unexpectedly, the breezy and overcast weather conditions actually provided for some pretty photography. The wind created modest ripples in the shimmering blue water contrasted with the vibrant green hues of the algae.
A variety of flowers and plant life such as babies breath, daisies and chrysanthemums are evident at Woods Pond, just to name a few.
Unfortunately, a common issue with many parks, Woods Pond is littered with trash. Bottles, charred ash from campfires, plastic bags and even the skeleton remains of a de-boned fish are scattered throughout. Like a scratch on the Venus de Milo, this debris stands out all the more against the otherwise pristine environment. People, yuck.
Another issue I did have with Woods Pond goes back to the desecration of the land. To meet the electrical needs of houses that arguably should never have been built in the area, annoying power lines traverse the pond. Also, transformers scar an otherwise picturesque woodland. I can only imagine how many two headed fish we will see during my next visit. Oh yeah, a construction company liberally posts how trespassing is frowned upon. This private property extends from the right side of the trails of the pond, a rather large area.
Those issues aside, Woods Pond is a beautiful pond with an easy trails to hike, bike, walk or jog. And, in case you forget your umbrella, trees provide shelter from the sun and rain. Cars are also allowed on the trails.
There is also a diverse group of wildlife at Woods Pond. Many shrieks and rustling of leaves can be heard. The hard part is tracking down the origins of these noises. I did find these critters.
It was so sweet to see mommy and daddy protecting their babies.
Dogs are also allowed at the park. Patrick was too excited to stand still for a photo.
Also, Woods Pond has a launching area for kayaks and there were several kayakers enjoying the seasonable weather.
Alas, just when you might think your visit to Woods Pond is complete, there is a Train Museum with a functioning rail train. A toy train model and a old time control board are some of the displays in the museum.
Yes, in case you’re wondering, The train still makes trips.
In the rear of the museum, there is a train. The very one that still makes treks out to New York and other surrounding areas (Lenox is only 42 miles from Albany, NY)
With its winding trails, picture perfect and train museum, Woods Pond is definitely a must-see. Just expect to spend a long time. My only regret is I didn’t have more time to spend at this true gem.
New England Nomad 