Spring Along the Neponset River
10:00 am, Saturday, March 23, 2013

Starting at Paul's Bridge, on the northwest edge of the Blue Hills Reservation, we will take the bike lanes on Truman Parkway north along the Neponset River, cut through Milton along the river to the Neponset Trail, and follow that to Tenean Beach in Dorchester. The route of the future Dorchester Coast Trail will take us to Columbia Point, where we'll pick up the existing paved path along Boston Harbor past UMass/Boston, the Kennedy Library, and the Harbor Point Apartments to Carson Beach and Castle Island. Then we'll head back through Savin Hill to Dot. Ave. and Freeport St., which takes us back to the Neponset Trail in Port Norfolk. We'll cross the Neponset on the new bike lanes on the Hancock St. Bridge and wend our way through Quincy and Milton to a great view of the Neponset River Estuary from the top of Governor Hutchinson Field and a view of the Lower Mills mill pond from above the trolley on Eliot St. We'll cross back to Boston on Central Ave. and follow River St. to Mattapan Square, where we'll pick up the new trail and follow it south to the starting point, probably stopping for hot chocolate or coffee at Dunkin Donuts in Wolcott Square.

This ride is sponsored by the the Boston Natural Areas Network and its community-based Neponset River Greenway Council, which have been working with the DCR to connect parklands along the river since 1990.

Photos from [this year] [2012] [2011] [2010] [2009] [2008] [2007] [2003]


Last year, there were flowers

Details

  • Where: Meet at the parking lot at Paul's Bridge and Brush Hill Road at the edge of the Blue Hills just off the Neponset Valley Parkway.
  • When: Departing at 10:00 am, Saturday, March 19, 2011
  • Distance: about 31 miles.
  • Pace: Relaxed, probably 6-10 MPH.
  • Terrain: Mostly flat, with one significant hill.
  • Route: Mixture of on-road (70%) and shared-use path (30%).
  • Leader: Jessica Mink

Maps and Cue sheet

 route map

Getting There

Bicycle

Ride south from Forest Hills on Hyde Park Ave. to Readville, then turn left on the Neponset Valley Parkway to Brush Hill Rd. just after crossing the Neponset River. From the eastern part of Boston, get to Mattapan Square and follow Brush Hill Rd south.

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 Readville and turn left on the Neponset Valley Parkway to Paul's Bridge.

Car

Take the Route 138 exit from Route 128/93N, and go north to Brush Hill Rd. Turn left using a right turn through a jug handle.
Click for Google Maps

Bailout points

You can turn around at Mattapan Square or Dorchester Lower Mills. The closest T station to most of the ride is Ashmont on the Red Line, but it is a hike. We'll pass near the Andrew and UMass Red Line stations at the north end of the ride, and North Quincy, too.