Dug Pond
Natick, Massachusetts · on Dug Pond
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $65
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Dug Pond
Dug Pond is a 48-acre natural pond in Natick, Massachusetts, home to Memorial Beach, one of the town's few official public places to swim. The town-run swimming hole operates seasonally with lifeguards, a bathhouse, diving areas, and a floating dock, and is regulated as a bathing beach with routine water-quality testing.
Dug Pond covers about 48 acres with a maximum depth of 45 feet (average 15 feet) and contains one wooded island near its western shore. Shores are mostly steep and dirt-banked except at the beach and boat-ramp areas; a wetland at the northeast corner is where the feeding stream enters, with outflow near the south boat ramp. The pond sits in a residential part of Natick just off Pond Street, parallel to Route 135.
Swimming at Dug Pond
Swimming is concentrated at the town-operated Memorial Beach, in marked, lifeguard-supervised swim areas with a floating dock and a separate diving platform ('dive only into the crib, off the back, or off the floating dock'). It suits families and casual swimmers given the supervised, regulated setting, swim lessons, and a swim-league program; children under 12 must be supervised by an adult per posted rules.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up official town beach with an on-site gated parking area; no trail or hike is needed to reach the water, just a short walk from the lot to the beach/bathhouse.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The lifeguard-supervised, marked swim area at Memorial Beach is set up for families (swim lessons, town swim league use), and children under 12 are required to be with an adult supervisor per posted rules. Outside the marked beach area the pond's shoreline is mostly steep/dirt-banked with a max depth of 45 ft, and a rocky sandbar near the pond's center reaches only about 3 ft deep before dropping off, so care is warranted beyond the roped-off swim zone. Inflatables, pool noodles, life rings, and rafts are banned (Coast Guard Type I-III lifejackets only), and the water slide operates only when a lifeguard is posted at its base.
Parking
Paid, Daily gate rate $10 resident adult/$15 non-resident adult (lower rates for kids/seniors); season passes $65-$95 adult also available
Memorial Beach is a gated town facility - the fee page describes gate entry fees collected "cash or card at gate," indicating an on-site gated parking lot rather than roadside/street parking. No separate street address or lot map was found.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse at Memorial Beach with showers, changing rooms, and restrooms (per prior enrichment sourced from natickma.gov).
Water clarity
Mostly clear
A MassWildlife pond survey describes the pond's water transparency as "relatively good" with sparse aquatic vegetation. No first-hand visitor water-clarity reports could be retrieved, so this rating rests on the survey-derived source only.
Hours
Open daily 10:30 AM-6:30 PM (subject to change for weather), 2026 season
On the water
Restrictions: Boat ramp on the pond's south side is sized for canoes and car-top boats only (no trailer-launched or larger motorized craft); it's also used by small fishing boats and the Natick High School Sailing Team fleet. Source language is "canoes and car-top boats," which likely covers kayaks in practice, but that wasn't stated explicitly so kayak is left off the confirmed list.
No mention found of jet skis, larger motorboats, or a no-wake designation; watercraft use appears to be car-top/human- or wind-powered craft via the boat ramp, separate from the swim-beach area.
Backstory
Local legend holds the pond was originally excavated as pastureland and later filled with rainwater, giving it the name 'Dug Pond.' A concrete foundation from an old icehouse on the northwest shore, known to Natick High School students as 'The Wall,' is a longstanding graffiti spot. 'Running the pond,' a 1.86-mile loop, is a traditional Natick High School athletic tryout exercise.
Dug Pond: FAQ
Does Dug Pond charge a fee?
2026 season passes: residents $65 (18-59), $50 (2-17), $21 (60+); non-residents $95/$70/$31. Daily gate rates: residents $10/$7/$5, non-residents $15/$12/$10 (cash or card at gate).
Is Dug Pond kid friendly?
The lifeguard-supervised, marked swim area at Memorial Beach is set up for families (swim lessons, town swim league use), and children under 12 are required to be with an adult supervisor per posted rules. Outside the marked beach area the pond's shoreline is mostly steep/dirt-banked with a max depth of 45 ft, and a rocky sandbar near the pond's center reaches only about 3 ft deep before dropping off, so care is warranted beyond the roped-off swim zone. Inflatables, pool noodles, life rings, and rafts are banned (Coast Guard Type I-III lifejackets only), and the water slide operates only when a lifeguard is posted at its base.
Do I need to hike to reach Dug Pond?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Dug Pond?
Memorial Beach is a gated town facility - the fee page describes gate entry fees collected "cash or card at gate," indicating an on-site gated parking lot rather than roadside/street parking. No separate street address or lot map was found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Dug Pond?
No mention found of jet skis, larger motorboats, or a no-wake designation; watercraft use appears to be car-top/human- or wind-powered craft via the boat ramp, separate from the swim-beach area.
When is the best time to visit Dug Pond?
Summer swim season (beach listed as 'open for the 2026 season'); daily hours 10:30 AM-6:30 PM, weather permitting.
What are the rules at Dug Pond?
Swim only in marked, lifeguard-supervised areas; diving restricted to the crib, back, or floating dock; Coast Guard Type I-III lifejackets permitted, inflatables banned; snorkels and masks prohibited; no fishing, alcohol, glass containers, smoking, or pets (except service animals) at the beach; children under 12 require adult supervision; bikes must use designated racks. Beach water is tested weekly for E. coli/enterococci under Board of Health bathing-beach rules.
What water body is Dug Pond on?
Dug Pond is on Dug Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.
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