Hammond Pond Reservation

It’s nice. Trails could be cut back a bit. I got some poison ivy here. Look forward to trying out some fishing here too

I moved from Yosemite to Boston in 1988. Lived in Brookline for 5 years. HP is a great bouldering area. Bouldered there, quite literally, 100’s of times, all months of the year (even on bitterly cold January days.) This place saved my sanity. There is a hell of a lot more rock here than people imagine. Wander northeast through the woods from the Pusherman wall and you’ll find tons of stuff. If I ever go back to Boston for a visit, I’m definately gonna hit this place up.

This park has a pond and a very popular rock-​climbing area. Trails connect to the larger Webster Conservation Area on the west side of Hammond Pond Parkway, and also to the lovely Houghton Garden on the north side of the MBTA tracks. For details on these areas, and a map of the reservation, visit this website:

I haven’t spent a ton of time here, but what time I was able to was pretty awesome. It’s a beautiful park, and I didn’t even get to see that much of it.
One of my good friends is an avid climber, so we went out to Hammond Pond to boulder on some of the big rocks. I don’t really know how to rate rocks, but I suppose Hammond’s were good, law-​abiding rocks and considerate enough to have a lot of hand-​holds, foot holds, and small trees to grab. I’m a pretty lousy climber, and even I managed to get on top of a couple of good rocks.
It was a beautiful day, the leaves were all reflect-​y, and we met a couple of couples out for a light hike as our small group bounced off of rocks, and had very pleasant conversation (at least, what passed for conversation while one party is partially humping a rock). If I liked nature more, I could see myself here a LOT (assuming I had a car to get here).

Whoever would have thought that just beyond the mêlée of Route 9 and the lousy parking lot of the Chestnut Hill Mall is some of the most fun, accessible rock climbing in the Boston (excuse me, I mean Brookline) area. The landscape is quiet serene, and the climbing is varied and lots of fun; there’s some excellent top roping, though it probably wouldn’t challenge the most seasoned of climbers, which I am not, and a load of bouldering that ranges from easy to scary as hell.
If you’re planning on top roping and it’s a nice day, be sure to arrive early; there are only a few trees that serve as anchors, and they fill up quite quickly. I definitely second Rachel C.‘s suggestion to bring plenty of webbing, as you’d have a tough time setting up a rope without it.
The rock is very textured, and, respectively, there are many features on the face that make it exciting and interesting to climb. Still, the rock is quite sharp and can be slippery, which certainly adds to the challenge of where to put those feet and hands. Hammond Pond is a great place to go with a group of friends; that way, when you’re not climbing or on belay, you can sit back, take in the surroundings, and watch the seemingly endless parade of dogs go by. Or, if you’d prefer not to climb rocks, which seems reasonable, this is also a fantastic spot for a leisurely walk or even a picnic. A great way to escape from the city without having to travel very far at all.

Accessible, beautiful, and fun! There is a parking lot if you drive and its fairly easy to get to from the D Line (look at a map first because you have to go through some parking lots). This quaint park is behind the parking lot of the Bloomingdale’ s in Newton and is a stark contrast to the strip malls of consumerism that precede it on the highway. Great little trails and lots of bouldering! There are also a few small walls that have some really fun climbs on them, even a crack! Bring lots of webbing though because you might have to get creative with some of your anchors. The rocks can be very slippery, yet you will leave with your finger’s torn to shreds. But I prefer it to the greasy blasted rock on some of the climbs at Quincy Quarries. The shaded atmosphere also makes this place a nicer climbing/​relaxing destination in the summer.

The easy, scenic trails that trace the pond attract families, joggers, fishers and dog walkers alike. What motivated me was the large hunks of New England Puddingstone perfect for beginner to intermediate climbers and solid bouldering. I won’t get into specific climbs, but the Boston Rocks book by the MIT Outing Club is a great reference.
A practical tip though: many of the rocks are shaded by enormous hemlocks, and are often times a bit slick, so be sure to bring chalk. I’d also get there early, especially on the weekends, cuz it fills up fast and as there are no bolts to anchor from and a limited number of trees up top. You might want to play musical ropes with your climber cohorts. Great option for a quick excursion as it’s accessible by the Green line (D) to Chestnut Hill.