Mass Audubon's Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary — Attraction in Holden

It's fairly quiet, but the trails are poorly-maintained in spots with lots of deadfall. The view is primarily woods with underbrush - there aren't any particularly scenic spots, no overlooks or vistas. Eagle Lake is only visible for a very small portion of the trail system, and only one short stub trail provides access to the water. There's no trail along the shoreline.

I've been to about two-thirds of the many Audubon sanctuaries in Massachusetts, and Eagle Lake is at the bottom of the enjoyment list. As better sanctuary alternatives in that area, I'd recommend Wachusett Meadow (15-20 min north) or Rutland Brook...

day14 (28JUL2024) sanctuary26: eagle lake (and stump pond) weed choked, with no open water that i could see. single-track trails marked with blue discs on trees when moving away from parking and a yellow disc when walking back toward parking. lovely woodland with shrub layer dominated by mountain laurel. very good stone walls. i was harried by skeeters and flies during my visit today - it was warm, damp and humid after last nights rain and this...

I enjoyed a nice Saturday evening hike for my side goal of hitting all open to the public Mass Audubon sites. This location marks #27 of 64. I parked at the trailhead off Causeway Street, then walked the eastern side of Appleton Loop, on the “municipal pipeline”, then the eastern side of the Asnebumskit Loop then back on the western side, to the pipeline and finish on the western side of the...