ALEWIFE BROOK GREENWAY:
ARLINGTON/CAMBRIDGE/SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 15, 2023
Length: Alewife Brook Greenway Loop; 3.7 miles
Alewife Brook Pathway; 0.5 mile Loop
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved, stone-dust & boardwalk trails.
Directions:
To start from Acorn Park Drive parking lot
in Cambridge for the Alewife Brook Greenway
[Southern End];
From
I-95, take exit 45 to Route 2 east to Alewife.
Or take the subways Red-Line to access the Alewife Station. See; MBTA for more information. For information about taking your bike on the subway. See; MBTA/BIKES .
North of Route 2; The Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section follows paths along both sides of Alewife Brook in the Alewife Reservation. Some of the paths are paved, others stone-dust or boardwalk. They connect the Mystic River Paths to the Minuteman Bikeway & Alewife T Station. South of Route 2; The Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section is located along both sides of Little River in the Alewife Reservation.
In Cambridge at Alewife T- Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston is a "Hub" for 5 Trails (plus interconnecting Trails).
Heading West the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont also known as the Fitchburg Cutoff, will eventually extend to Northampton.
Heading East the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont also known as the Red Line Linear Path which becomes the Somerville Community Path, will bring you to North Point Park in Cambridge, where you may connect to the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown and Charles River Bikeway .
Heading Northwest the Minuteman Bikeway brings you to Bedford, where you may connect to the Bedford Narrow Gauge Spur and Reformatory Branch Rail Trail.
Heading Northeast the Alewife Brook Greenway brings you to the Mystic River, where you may connect to the Mystic River Paths .
Heading South the Fresh Pond Bike Path brings you to Fresh Pond, where you can access the Fresh Pond Loop Trail and continue Southeast along the Watertown Branch Rail Trail to Watertown.
Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section; Northern Side:
Starting from the Acorn Park Drive parking lot in Cambridge; Map Board, informational signs, gardens, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and lots of bunnies.
Note; The paved Alewife Brook Greenway travels West along Acorn Park Dr past Acorn Park Pond and open & sports fields out to Acorn Park Dr at 0.1 miles. BLUEbikes location here, as well as, the Acorn Park Drive BIKE LANE. This Bike Lane runs from Route 2 along Acorn Park Dr and around Discovery Park back out to Route 2 after 0.7 miles. You can also travel through Discovery Park, which is a mix of residential and commercial.
Heading East along the paved Alewife Brook Greenway you'll pass lots of 911 Phone poles before emerging at the Alewife Station Access Rd. Head left on the narrow paved path alongside the access road. This will bring you to a crosswalk on your left, which takes over to the Alewife T- Station "Hub" and a wooden bridge on your right for the Fitchburg Cutoff, part of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont after 0.2 miles.
Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section; Southern Side:
Starting from the Alewife T- Station "Hub" in Cambridge; Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. Cross Acorn Park Dr and travel East over the old RR bridge along the Fitchburg Cutoff, part of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont . The shaded, paved trail follows alongside Alewife Reservation. Quickly come to an intersection on your left.
Note; This paved trail leads to Cambridge park Dr.
You'll come to the Alewife Brook Pathway; East Entrance on your right after 0.2 miles.
Alewife Brook Pathway:
Follow the stone-dust Alewife Brook Pathway to a boardwalk where you'll find wetlands filled with Lily Pads and giant water plants. The trail then turns to stone-dust, passing by another boardwalk that crosses the wetlands back to the Fitchburg Cutoff. Continuing straight you'll pass by a spur on your right that takes you to an overlook of the Little River. The trail then Loops around, returning you to the Fitchburg Cutoff and Alewife Brook Pathway; West Entrance. Map Board. Head West back along the Fitchburg Cutoff passing by Alewife Brook Pathway; East Entrance after a 0.5 mile Loop.
Return to the Alewife T- Station "Hub" after a 0.9 mile Loop.
Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section; Western Side:
Starting from the Alewife T- Station "Hub" in Cambridge; Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. Heading North along the Minuteman Bikeway alongside Alewife Station Access Rd you'll pass by a granite Marker on your right with either a C or G and 10 feet (unable to figure out its meaning) before crossing a bridge over the Little River (this river flows into Alewife Brook) and traveling underneath Route 2. On your right will be the start of the Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section after 0.2 miles. Travel Northeast through the marsh along the boardwalk and you'll come to a stone-dust path that runs along the Western Side of Alewife Brook. The brook resembles more of a canal at this point as it is cement lined. The path travels along the brook through a residential corridor. Reach Mass Ave at 0.7 miles where you'll find the small Arlington Bicentennial Park. You'll need to head right across the brook to reach a cross-light over Mass Ave before returning back over the brook and continuing north. Come to Cross St and head right over the brook, as St Paul's Cemetery blocks the way, into Somerville. Travel along the a wide paved path along the Eastern Side of Alewife Brook alongside Alewife Brook Pkwy. Cross Broadway at 1.2 mile and head left back across the brook where a boardwalk takes you north along the Western Side of Alewife Brook. This section consists of both stone-dust & boardwalks. Come to an intersection just before reaching the Mystic River Pkwy at 1.7 miles.
Note; Left will bring you to the small Decatur Street parking lot.
Note; From here you can access the Upper Mystic River Paths via a crosswalk over Mystic River Pkwy. This is where Alewife Brook drains into the Mystic River. See; Mystic River Paths .
Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section; Eastern Side:
[Continuing Mileage] Head right back across the brook where the wide paved Alewife Brook Greenway Loops South back along the Eastern Side of Alewife Brook alongside Alewife Brook Pkwy. Pass by Dilboy Memorial Stadium & Pool, sports fields and a playground before crossing Broadway at 2.4 miles and Mass Ave at 2.9 miles.
Note; As of 2023, there is no path past Mass Ave, although there is plenty of room for one.
Head right back over the brook and rejoin the stone-dust path as you retrace your way back to the Minuteman Bikeway at 3.5 miles. Then retrace your route back to the Alewife T- Station "Hub" for a 3.7 mile Loop.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT