Welcome to Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Holden Massachusetts

Tucked away in Holden, Massachusetts, Mass Audubon’s Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is a forested nature preserve that supports a variety of wildlife and is a quiet, scenic spot for beautiful nature views and hikes in all seasons. With a lake and small sandy beach, you can enjoy some of the best sunset skies and nature reflections in Worcester County, Massachusetts.

How to get to Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary |

Located on Causeway Street in Holden, you can drive to a (free) paved parking lot right above the sandy beach and volleyball area. Drive slowly as the road is really beat up. There are parking spaces for around 20 or slightly more vehicles.

What to see at Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

Whether you simply want to check out the serene lake views, hike in the woods or bird watch, Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful preserve for enjoying diverse nature. It’s likely there’ll be very few people when you visit, except on bright summer days.

Spring through fall, you can play volleyball, have a picnic in the woods overlooking the lake or sit on the benches and simply take in the views. The sandy shore is a great area for families with young kids as there is plenty of space to bring games., and you can bring a blanker or beach chairs to spend the afternoon.

The hiking trails are a great way to see the hearty, dense forest that protects wildlife: download a trail map.

For me, its all about the view. When the days are bright with clouds, the evening sky views and glistening reflections on the lake are beautiful and peaceful. Even as autumn transitions to winter, the sunset skies and reflections can be spectacular.

I like walking down on the sand all the way to the edge of lake shore for scenic views. Here’s what I saw on the evening of December 30, 2023.

I’ll be back in spring to share more images of the woods and wetlands you’ll see on the hiking trails

A final note about dog walking at Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. While Mass Audubon guidelines indicate service dogs are permitted, they also state no dog walking is allowed. I’ve seen folks walking their dogs here often and sharing this so you can make your own decision independently (I’m not saying you should bring your dog).

Have you visited Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary? Where in Central Massachusetts do you like to go for scenic nature views?