Charles River Bicycle Fun-Ride

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Waltham, MA, US

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Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

24 mi.

319 ft.

26 Mile Easy Cyclo-cross/Hybrid Ride. Waltham-Boston-Waltham round trip. Sight seeing tour, easy day for the legs.... Perfect for the riding couple, or small group.

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Route Details

The **Charles River Fun Ride** is an all-time Favorite for many riders that have ridden this route. As an advanced-beginner ride, most bike riders will love the  route, as long as you can bike for 20 – 30 miles.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

Starting in @photo[Waltham Mass](1512249), this Waltham/Boston/Waltham loop is a great all day adventure for the cycle couple, or a small group.  Recommended for cycle-cross or hybrid bikes,or Mountain bikes. A road bike would be your last choice. Parking at Embassy public parking lot is a good choice, and $2.00 per day.

**About the Ride:** There is riding on both sides of the river for 90% of this ride.  Mostly paved bike trails with some dirt single-tracks adjacent.  This Ride is almost flat, as it is along a river. You are mostly in the woods the entire way, with a dozen street crossings each way.  (About 1 per mile) .

**Ride time** is 3-6 hours, because we expect once you get to the Esplanade you will probably take an extended break.  Often there are many charity events on the weekends. So prepare for large groups of walkers, but they only use a small part of the river.

The @photo[sights](1517552) on this ride are stunning.  You will be amazed how you exit the woods and find yourself in downtown Boston. There are lots of places on the river to put down a towel, for some sun or a nap. Camera is a must. Food is available everywhere.

This ride will take you through the towns of Waltham, Watertown, Cambridge, Boston, Brookline, and Newton.  Extend your day, and your adventure by riding to Boston Commons and to @poi[Castle Island](1874969).

**Viewing Sites:** Continuous View of the Lower Charles River for the entire ride. There are also 3 Charles River Dams with overview stops. (In-Order) @poi[Famous Moody Street Dam](1874965) -Waltham, @poi[River Street Dam](1874966), and @poi[Watertown Square Dam](1874967).  Assorted River Parklands, @photo[Memorial Drive-Cambridge](1512237) (view of Boston), @point[Head of the Charles River ](d,19659.7)(DAM) and @point[Cambridge Galleria](d,18914.72), @point[Esplanade Park](d,21353.13), World-Famous (Boston-Pops)@point[ Hatch Shell, Charles River Islands,](d,21821.2) {Exit here to expand your ride @poi[to Boston Commons](1874968)}

**Return Ride From the Esplanade:** There are @point[3-4 River-side parks](d,28872.13), before the Newton Stretch. Once you return to the Watertown Dam on the opposite side of the river, you will be just a few miles from where you started. Enjoy the afternoon.

Charles River Bicycle Fun-Ride

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