In the midst of the city of Woburn sits Horn Pond, a 133-acre lake that is surrounded by 500 acres of conservation land. Native Americans named it Innitou, which meant “Mirror of the Spirit.” Home to a wide variety of waterfowl, springtime offers opportunities to see baby ducks, swans or geese on the pond. It is a popular spot for birders, who find plenty of opportunities to see Great Blue Herons, Green Herons or Wood Duck in the lagoons and marshy areas around the main pond.

Local naturalists lead guided walks organized by Woburn Residents Environmental Network (WREN) during the summer, sharing the pond’s early history during the days of ice harvesting. A popular walk is a trail that loops the pond, and can be covered on foot in about an hour. Wooded trail options exist, taking the hiker past calm pools, over eskers and up hills. The natural habitat at the western end of the pond gives way to wooded trails with Horn Pond Mountain on the eastern end. Climb to the hillside meadows overlooking the pond, where prairie warblers and red-tailed hawks can be seen in summer months.

Source: Woburn Residents Environmental Network (WREN)