Boston Kayaker

Kayaking on Lake Cochituate South Pond - in Natick MA


Rating: One Star - From the launch, one goes thru "The Keyhole" to get to the southern pond of Cochituate. Shores mostly developed. Water skiers can be present. A nice refuge from the surrounding suburbia. This round trip paddle took me 1 hour and 15 minutes.

  Put in at John Sheridan Way
  in Natick MA.
Paddle thru
  "The Keyhole".
Paddle around Lake Cochituate
  South Pond and return.
Estimated round trip
  distance = 3.5+ miles
Natick
  Mall

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of this route for yourself.

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Kayaking on Lake Cochituate South Pond - in Natick MA

Other resources:
LakeLubbers: Lake Cochituate
Mass. Govt: Lake Cochituate Topography Map
Mass. Govt: Lake Cochituate Topography Map (cached copy)


Number of original photos on this page : 76
All photos in this website are original and copyrighted.



At John Sheridan Way off Route 9 in Natick MA.
Trip date is June 2014.


Less than a hundred feet into John Sheridan Way is a closed steel gate with the name "Camp Arrowhead".


The launch is to the left of the closed gate on a not-so-steep bank.


The Boston Kayaker just launched on Lake Cochituate from John Sheridan Way in Natick MA.


Paddling to my left, will follow the left bank.





Just past this Camp Arrowhead's swim area is a cove.


Just entered the cove to my left.


I can see "The Keyhole", the passage under the rail bridge to Lake Cochituate's South Pond.





About to enter "The Keyhole".


Inside "The Keyhole". At this water level, the opening is slightly wider than the length of my paddle.


Out of "The Keyhole" and into Lake Cochituate's South Pond.





Camp Arrowhead beach on my left.





Route 9 bridge over Lake Cochituate's South Pond.


Paddling under Route 9 bridge.


Now south of the Route 9 bridge.


From here, I will paddle Lake Cochituate's South Pond counter-clockwise by following the bank on my right.


That ripple on the water is actually a beaver swimming.











A boy fishing from waist-deep waters on Lake Cochituate's South Pond.


Continuing my counter-clockwise paddle and following the coast on my right.























A water skier on Lake Cochituate's South Pond.


Riffles from the water skier's boat.


I am now in the southernmost part of Lake Cochituate's South Pond where the rail abuts the lake.
That passage under the rail bridge will take you to Fiske Pond.


Now paddling eastwards with the south bank on my right.





A swan family on Lake Cochituate's South Pond.








In front of my is the southeast corner of Lake Cochituate's South Pond.


Now paddling northwards to this eastern-most cove.





The eastern-most cove. Decided not to explore this cove.


Turned to my left, I am now paddling westwards.








Lake Cochituate's South Pond clear waters.
































I can now see the Route 9 bridge.





Passing under the Route 9 bridge again, this time northwards.











Have to pass thru "The Keyhole" again.











Out of "The Keyhole", paddling to my right back to my launch spot.

















Landed. I was on the waters of Lake Cochituate's South Pond for 1 hour 15 minutes.