A large peninsula in South Pond is the site of the US Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC), and the eastern shore holds the trails of Pegan Cove Park.

Middle Pond is home to Cochituate State Park, which includes boat ramps and a picnic area.

The Cochituate Rail Trail runs along the lake on the former track's right-of-way, from downtown Natick to Saxonville, a section of Framingham.

In 2005, a severe thunderstorm occurred that produced a violent microburst that knocked down dozens of trees and injured some visitors, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Lake Cochituate was the first major water supply system built for the city, and replaced the previous usage of Jamaica Pond.