Newton Conservators
 
 

Long Walk or Bike Ride

Along the Charles River Walkway
Loop from Watertown Square to Auburndale

 

This loop walk or bike ride is about 12 miles long. Almost all of the route is on the Riverwalk.

You can start the trip at any point along the loop. The description below starts from Bridge Street. Parking is available on the side streets parallel to Bridge Street.

See this page for descriptions of shorter walks along part of the same route.

     
 

Larger map

 Printable map  

Printable map and directions

     
Boston Globe map    
Begin at the corner of Bridge Street and California Street. Cross Bridge Street at the traffic light and walk west on the sidewalk of California Street.  
     
Enter the Riverwalk.  
     

Cross the Blue Heron Bridge, which opened in 2004.

  
     
When the path ends at Farwell Street, turn left on the sidewalk, cross the bridge, and then cross the street to rejoin the path on the Newton side of the river.  
     
A detour is needed when the path ends at Elm Street. Turn left.  
     
Turn right onto Pine Street.  
     
Turn right onto Cooper Street.  
     
Go onto the sidewalk that skirts the right side of the parking lot.  
     
If you want to make a side trip to the Charles River Museum of Industry, cross the footbridge to the right. If not, continue on the sidewalk.  
     
The sidewalk runs between the river and a parking garage. Continue on the sidewalk until you reach the stairs and ramp up to Moody Street.  
     
Refreshments and diversions of all kinds are available on Moody Street. Kids won't want to miss The Construction Site, right next to the bike path.  
     
The Riverwalk continues for a short while on the south (Newton) side of the river. But we won't be going this way. The north side offers a much nicer route.  
     

Instead, turn right and cross the Charles on the Moody Street bridge.

If you wish to turn back at this point, consult this guide.

 
     
Turn left onto the riverwalk on the far shore.  
     
When the path ends at Prospect Street, turn right and go a few feet to the entrance to Mt. Feake Cemetery, on the left side.  
     
Bear left at each intersection, keeping along the river.  
     
Go straight through two intersections with Swan Street to a "T" intersection. Turn right, then immediately left on Maynard. Follow Maynard past a right turn to another "T" intersection. Turn left.  
     
Approach the cemetery gate.  
     
A pathway goes to the right of the fence.  
     
Turn into the parking lot before the first big building on your left.  
     
Go past several Brandeis University buildings, and continue straight through the next intersection.  
     
Rejoin the Charles, on your left. You are now on Charles River Road.  
     
Turn left onto the sidewalk of (busy) South Street.  
     
Turn left on Norumbega Road.  
     

Pass Norumbega Tower.

The tower is no longer open to the public. Here's what the view from the top used to look like.

 
     
Bear left to avoid the ramp to I-95.  
     
Walk up the stairs at the end of the parking lot.  
     
Cross the bridge and go past Charles River Canoe and Kayak.  
     
Continue past the Marriott hotel.  
     
Pass the entrance to Norumbega Park. It is along the banks of the Charles, but does not lead to our destination.  
     
Enter Auburndale Park at Islington Road.  
     
Bear left when the path divides.  
     
Continue past the playground.  
     
The path goes back into the woods.  
     
Continue on the road through DCR's Forest Grove reservation.  
     
Continue straight, crossing Riverview Avenue.  
     
Pass the new DCR boat launch on Woerd Avenue.  
     
A pathway opened in 2006 begins at the end of the boat launch parking lot.  
     
The pathway ends at this parking lot.  
     
Continue along the left edge of the lot, along the river. The blue stripe marks the route.  
     
The pathway resumes for a moment at Prospect Street. Turn left onto Prospect Street, and cross the bridge.  
     
At the far side of the bridge, cross the street and enter the Riverwalk again.  
     
The path approaches the Moody Street bridge.  
     
Cross Moody Street, to where a new entrance to the Riverwalk is under construction.  
     
Proceed along the edge of the river to a footbridge.  
     
Turn left on the sidewalk that borders a parking lot. (You are now retracing the detour you took in the outbound direction.) At the end of the parking lot, continue up Cooper Street. Turn left on Pine Street.  
     
Turn left on Elm Street.  
     
Cross the street, and enter the Riverwalk.  
     
Cross Newton Street and continue on the Riverwalk.  
     
Cross the river on Farwell Street.  
     
Enter the Riverwalk again.  
     
Cross the Blue Heron Bridge.  
     
The path ends on California Street.  
     
Follow the heron footprints on the sidewalk, turning left across the Bridge Street bridge. Walk past the site of the Bemis Dam.  
     
Cross the street and enter the Riverwalk.  
     
If you have a longer trip in mind, you can follow the signs for the East Coast Greenway, which eventually will lead from Maine to Florida.  
     
Bear right onto a dirt path as the trail approaches a swimming pool.  
     

The walkway ends at Galen Street in Watertown Square. Turn right to cross the river.

If you're in the mood for more riding, the Paul Dudley White Bike Path extends from here to the Science Museum in downtown Boston.

 
     

Turn right onto the sidewalk of California Street.

 
     
Cross a footbridge over Laundry Brook.  
     
Continue along the edge of Allison Park.  
     
Walk past Post 440, the home of the Conservators annual meeting, and also of the Friday Newton farmers' market.  
     
Return to the starting point at Bridge Street.  

 

 
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