Bike Tour of the Neponset Trail and Mother Brook
10:00 am, Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mother Brook is the oldest industrial canal in North America. A tributary of the Neponset River, its headwaters were connected to the Charles River in Dedham in 1650, and the additional volume was used to power some of the earliest mills in Massachusetts. We'll start at the intersection of the Truman Parkway and Fairmount Ave. in Hyde Park, a bit downstream from the end of Mother Brook. First, we'll ride on part of the new section of the Neponset Trail which opened last summer. Then we'll head upstream through Readville and past one of the most beautiful old mills around Boston in East Dedham. We'll follow Mother Brook through Dedham, turning around at the dam on the Charles across the VFW Parkway from the Dedham Mall where Mother Brook has begun since 1650. On the way back to the starting point, we'll check out a possible rail trail in Dedham and use one of the lesser known paved paths through Stony Brook Reservation.

This ride is cosponsored by MassBike's MetroBoston chapter and the Boston Natural Areas Network. The ride is free. For ride details

Photos from [2007] [2009] [2010(this ride)]

References:
Historical Sketch of Mother Brook, Dedham, Mass., by Erastus Worthington (Dedham, Mass.: Press of C. G. Wheeler, 1900)
Mother Brook Blog, by Gary Roberts


Confluence of the Neponset River and Mother Brook

Details

  • Where: Meet at the northwest corner of Fairmount Ave. and the Truman Parkway in Hyde Park.
  • When: Departing at 10:00 am, Saturday, November 13, 2010
  • Distance: 14 miles.
  • Pace: Relaxed, probably 6-10 MPH.
  • Terrain: Some hills, but mostly flat.
  • Route: Mostly on-road.
  • Leader: Doug Mink

Maps and Cue sheet

 route map

Getting There

Bicycle

Ride south from Forest Hills on Hyde Park Ave. to Cleary Square, then turn left on River St. and continue straight on Fairmount Ave. when River St. turns left. Stop at the second light, just after crossing the Neponset River.

From Dorchester or Mattapan, continue south on River St. from Mattapan Square, avoiding the construction on the Truman Parkway. Turn left on Fairmount Ave. when River St. turns right toward Cleary Square.

MBTA

You can take your bike on T rapid transit lines and some bus lines, (none of which go near today's ride), for no extra charge. Details are on the MBTA website.

From Forest Hills (Orange Line):
Take Hyde Park Ave. to River St. at Cleary Square and turn left on River St., then go straight and over the river when River St. turns left.

Car

Take the Route 138 exit from Route 128/93N, and go north to the Neponset Valley Parkway. Turn left, then right on the Truman Parkway at the next light. Turn left at Fairmount Ave. and look for a parking space.

Bailout points

Not really.


Click for Google Maps


Neponset Trail in March 2010