Boston-Emerald Necklace Bicycle Adventure

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Boston, 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

38 mi.

1,261 ft.

This a modified route almost the same as the Hub-On-Wheels Ride held every Fall. Almost all this riding is on Coastlines, Bike Paths and in small Parks of Boston.

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Route Details

**Emerald Necklace Boston Cycling Adventure:**
Known as the Emerald Necklace, this is **35 mile** road ride tour of the Boston Harbor Walk, Neponset Bike Paths, Arnold Arboretum, The Jamaica Way, and Boston’s Charles River parks.

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

As viewed from a color map, the greenery on this route looks like a necklace around Boston.

This is an advanced intermediate road ride, mostly because of the *crowded roadways* and other *traffic hazards* of a large city. This ride is 90% on pavement either Bike paths or streets. Some compressed dirt trail riding at some locations.

**About the Ride:** Starting at North Station MBTA train yard, this ride can really start anywhere in the cities limits, because it is a circular route.

Starting at North Station, you will start the tour with the @photo[North End](1896996) via @poi[Boston’s Harbor Walk](2309931).  Then you will be crossing over into South Boston and Castle Island, Carson beach, and the parks along the Neponset River.  Cutting through the Mattapan neighborhood till you arrive at the Forest Hills Cemeteries, then carry on to the Arnold Arboretum.  The Jamaica Way leads you along the Muddy River to the Charles River for the return trip to North Station.

**Ride Equipment:**  Cyclo-Cross, Hybrid, or a Road Bike is best.  Expect 3 – 4 hours for this ride with stops and views.  Food is optional, 70Oz Water is fine. Camera is a Must.

**IMPORTANT RIDE NOTE:** Boston is a Small City with a lot of People. During Peak Daytime Hours and tourist season, expect a lot of users on these paths and walkways. Early Morning, or off season riding is best.  Some exclusion’s at Castle Island.  Bikes are not permitted when there is heavy pedestrian traffic.  For Safety Concerns, please obey this restriction and reroute your ride accordingly.

**Riding the Route:**  Starting at North Station, head over to the first Harbor walk trail just a few hundred yards from the train station.  This will bring you directly to the Charles River and on the bike path to Boston’s North End.  From the water front, you will see the Navy Station in Charlestown, and the @poi[US Coast Guard](2309932) Station on your side of the river. This part of the Harbor Walk is made up of Piers and Sidewalks jetting out into the Harbor.  Boston’s is an active seaport and you will see lots of signs of this along the way.

Past the Aquarium and the grandiose buildings of @photo[Downtown Boston](1896997), the Harbor Walk will eventually lead you to South Boston where you pick up the Harbor Walk again at the Federal Courthouse.  This will take you across a harbor bridge into the heart of South Boston.  @poi[Castle Island](2309933) is next.  No Biking signs are present for your safety.  If there is lots of pedestrian traffic even walking the bike is difficult.  If you are there early in the morning or off-season… Go For It.

The @poi[Carson Beach](2309934) Harbor Walk leads you to the @photo[JFK Kennedy Building](1896999) on @poi[Columbia Point](2309935).  Leaving the Point area, brings you to (1) mile of tricky traffic.  You must cross a busy road and follow it over the river bridge till you re-establish access to the Bike path.

You will be on the @poi[Neponset River Bike path](2309938) for the next few miles before a (2) mile road ride to the @photo[Forest Hills Cemeteries](1897003).

The @poi[Forest Hills Cemeteries](2309936) are truly remarkable in the @photo[monuments](1897002) that have been erected.  You could spend an entire day just exploring these places.  They seem to be divided by ethnic background, so entire areas are Irish, German, Italian..ect…

Next is the @point[Arnold Arboretum](d,38539.55). I have selected routes that bring you to the top of the hills where you can overlook most of Boston.  The downhill rides from here are Fast, and will bring you to @photo[Jamaica Pond](1897004) on the Jamaica Way. This is a series of paths along the @photo[Muddy River](1897005) and through the Back Bay of Boston. Once you approach the @poi[Victory Gardens](2310556), I am sure you will take an extended look at the personal gardens of many local residents. These trails then will lead you to the @poi[Charles River](2310557).

Once on the @photo[Charles River](1897007) you are wrapping up your ride by following back to North Station after a stop at some @photo[seaside parks](1897009).

Enjoy your day.

Boston-Emerald Necklace Bicycle Adventure

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