BORDER to BOSTON TRAIL; SOUTHERN SECTION:

LYNN SHORE & NAHANT BEACH RESERVATION:

NAHANT HERITAGE TRAIL/NAHANT LOOP:

LYNN-NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS

NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL:

EVERETT-MALDEN-REVERE-SAUGUS-LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:      July 30, 2023

Length:                 Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation; 2.9 miles

                               Nahant Heritage Trail; 1.4 miles

                               Nahant Loop; 6.4 mile Loop

                               Northern Strand Community Trail; 10.1 miles.

Difficulty:             Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation; Easy. Flat paved trail. 

                               Nahant Heritage Trail; Moderate. Paved, hard packed dirt & grass trail with some small hills.

                               Nahant Loop; Moderate. Paved, hard packed dirt & grass trail, on-road sections and some small hills.

                                Northern Strand Community Trail; Easy. Flat paved rail trail. 

Directions:   

For the Northern End of the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation;

To Start from Humphrey & Redington Streets in Lynn [Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 1A/129/129A travel southeast on Route 129 to Humphrey St. On-street parking is available along the trail which travels along the seawall and begins near the intersection with Redington St. Heading South into Lynn the street becomes Lynn Shore Drive. Further south along Nahant Rd, parking lots are available [Parking Fee].   

For the Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail;

To start from the Gateway Center parking lot in Everett [Mystic River Path; North Side]; From the traffic circle and junction of Routes 16 & 99 follow Route 16 (Revere Beach Pkwy) west to a 2nd traffic circle. Take the Mystic View Rd exit alongside the Gateway Center. Take your second left into the Gateway Center parking lot and spot the reserved parking spots on your right for the trail. Green Map Board located here.

To start from the Encore Boston Harbor Casino in Everett [Mystic River Path; North Side]; From the traffic circle and junction of Routes 16 & 99 follow Route 99 (Broadway) south to the Casino. You can turn right into the Casino parking garage or left on Mystic St for exterior parking lots.

The Border to Boston Trail is an emerging 28-mile shared use trail linking eight communities from the New Hampshire border South to Boston’s North Shore. See; BORDER TO BOSTON TRAIL . 

The Border to Boston Trail; Northern Section starts from the NH border and travels South and consists of the Eastern Marsh Trail in Salisbury and the Clipper City Rail Trail in Newburyport, which are part of the Coastal Trails Network . A gap exists South from the Georgetown Rail Trail in Georgetown and Boxford Rail Trail in Boxford where the trail is mostly still undeveloped. They all follow the rail bed of the old Danvers & Georgetown RR which was chartered in 1851. In 1855 this line merged into the Newburyport RR and in 1860 it became part of the Boston & Maine RR/ Newburyport Branch. 

Note; From the future Georgetown Rail Trail, when complete, you'll be able to access an old Rail Spur Line that traveled Northwest that includes the Groveland Community Trail in Groveland & Bradford Rail Trail in Bradford. Also, across the Merrimack River, you can access the Brian S. Dempsey Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk in Haverhill.

The Border to Boston Trail; North Central Section continues South and consists of the Topsfield Linear Common in Topsfield, the Wenham Rail Trail in Wenham, the Danvers Rail Trail in Danvers & the Peabody Rail Trail in Peabody. They all follow the rail bed of the old Danvers & Georgetown RR which was chartered in 1851. In 1855 this line merged into the Newburyport RR and in 1860 it became part of the Boston & Maine RR/ Newburyport Branch. Also, in Peabody, the Border to Boston Trail utilizes the Eastern Section of the Independence Greenway as it travels Southeast. Currently a gap exists between Peabody and Salem.

Note; From the Topsfield Linear Common you can access the Grand Wenham Canal Loop Trail to the East and from the Danvers Rail Trail you can access an old Rail Spur Line that traveled Northwest that includes the Danvers Rail Trail; Northern Extension in Danvers & Middleton Rail Trail in Middleton. Also, from the Southern End of the Peabody Rail Trail in Peabody you can access the Western Section of the Independence Greenway as it travels Northwest.

The Border to Boston Trail; South Central Section continues South and consists of the Salem Bike Path in Salem and the Marblehead Rail Trail; Salem Spur in Marblehead which travels East. Then, traveling South, the Marblehead Rail Trail; Swampscott Spur & Swampscott Rail Trail in Swampscott. The Salem Bike Path & Marblehead Rail Trail; Salem Spur follow the rail bed of the old Eastern Railroad Company Line built in 1839. The Marblehead Rail Trail; Swampscott Spur & Swampscott Rail Trail follow the rail bed of the old Eastern Railroad Company Line built in 1873. Currently a gap exists South in South in Swampscott. 

The Border to Boston Trail; Southern Section continues Southwest and consists of the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation and traveling West, the Northern Strand Community Trail . 

The Border to Boston Trail is part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.

  Border to Boston Trail; Southern Section:

Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation:

The Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation is a paved path that travels from Swampscott through Lynn to Nahant atop the seawall that separates the road from the beach. It is part of the DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation). The Nahant Heritage Trail is a town-owned trail that links Short Beach to Bailey's Hill in Nahant. The Nahant Loop is a tour of this island I created that utilizes part of the Nahant Heritage Trail, as well as, on-road sections and other paths. This loop also connects to the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation path. For more information visit; LYNN SHORE/NAHANT BEACH & NAHANT HERITAGE TRAIL .

Starting from Swampscott [Northern End]; The Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation begins in Swampscott next to the Red Rock Bistro & Bar across from Redington St and travels Southwest between the seawall and Humphrey St following a double-wide sidewalk. You quickly cross into Lynn and travel between Lynn Shore Drive and King's Beach. There are 1/4 Mile Markers imbedded in the sidewalk and informational signs along the trail. Come to Red Rock Park after 0.7 miles and bear left following the seawall around the park and back between Lynn Shore Drive and Lynn Beach. After 1.4 miles you'll come to a rotary and cross-walk over Lynn Shore Drive.

Note; You can take a side trip from here to check out Waterfront Park and Lynn Heritage SP. Follow a series of cross-walks to a sidewalk and travel left alongside Lynnway. After 0.4 miles you'll pass by a pedestrian bridge that crosses Lynnway to Waterfront Park. Continue alongside Lynnway and follow the paved path right as it travels through North Shore Community College to Broad St. Turn right and follow the sidewalk to Washington St. Left, just up Washington St is the LYNN HERITAGE VISITOR CENTER on the right after 0.8 miles.

Continue South passing by the Nahant Beach parking lot, Nahant Playground & Ward Bath House before coming to an *Intersection at 1.6 miles.

Note; Right, the narrow paved trail brings you to and across Nahant Rd to O’Connor Athletic Field. This is where the future connection (construction in 2023) to the Northern Strand Community Trail will be. See; Map Below.

Past here the paved trail now travels alongside Nahant Beach. Watch for drifting sand on the trail! This section can be tricky with beach goers crossing the trail to the parking lots. Keep alert. Pass by the Halfway House at 2.4 miles. You come to the end of the paved trail at a parking lot after 2.9 miles next to Tides Restaurant. 

You can extend your trip around Nahant Island along the Nahant Loop, which utilizes the Nahant Heritage Trail and on-road sections.

Nahant Loop:

Continuing from the Southern End of the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation; [Continuing Mileage] Travel out past the Tides Restaurant to Nahant Rd and head left on-road. This will take you past Little Nahant Island. Just past the island you'll pick up the paved  Nahant Heritage Trail on your left at 3.2 miles, which travels between Nahant Rd and Short Beach. You'll pass by the Nahant Life Saving Station and turn off for Castle Rd before coming to an intersection at 3.6 miles. Left is an access path for Short Beach. Turn right and follow the cross-walk to a sign board in the Lowlands Park parking area (parking for permit holders only). Continue straight along the Nahant Heritage Trail which now consists of a hard packed dirt and grass surface as it weaves scrub and tall grasses. Bear left at the next intersection (arrows posted along the trail, as there are many side trails). Cross a culvert and bear right. You'll emerge at Flash Rd where a green cross-walk brings you to a narrow paved path.

Note; If hiking, the Nahant Heritage Trail follows the grass through the Flash Road Playground. 

If biking, your mostly done with the Nahant Heritage Trail. Travel right along this paved path or on-road along Flash Rd. Just past the Nahant Fire Dept turn left along a service road past the Public Works Dept, then right past the ball fields and left behind Johnson Elementary School. Follow this out to Castle Rd and head left on-road. Turn left on Gardner Rd, then right up and over Trimountain Rd. This will bring you down to Bass Point Rd where you'll turn left into Bailey's Hill Park at 4.6 miles.

Note; You can take a side trip up Bailey's Hill by heading right up the paved trail. This brings you to the top of the hill after 0.1 miles where the pavement ends.

Travel around the paved road where you'll pick up a dirt road. This will bring you to Willow Rd next to Kelly Greens Golf Course as you travel East along the Southern End of the island. Travel right on-road following Willow Rd out past Dorothy Cove. Travel past Marjoram Park and Tudor Wharf at 5.6 miles. A slight hill brings you up to Cliff St where you head left inland. Large old houses and the beautiful Nahant Village Church. Turn right along Vernon St, then left on Swallow Cave Rd. Look right to spot the steel doors for the underground battery built into the hill during the 2nd World War. After 6.5 miles you'll come to Nahant Rd and the entrance for Canoe Beach and the Northeastern University Marine Science Center. Turn right past the jagged coastline and gate for the Marine Center. Bear right past the buildings and travel straight through a narrow gap to a paved road. Turn left and head up past a sign for Lodge Park where a Loop road circles a grassy knoll with expansive views of the Mass Bay and rocky shore below. This is the Eastern End of the island. Return through the narrow gap and turn right along the road. Here you'll find a second battery "John B Murphy-1942", soon followed by a third battery. Exit the Marine Center grounds left after a 0.8 mile Loop. Turn right along Nahant Rd which affords wide open views of the Bay as you head Northwest. Just past an observation deck (with stairs leading down to a beach) the road turns inland. Just past the stone Nahant Public Library & Town Hall you'll find a convenience store. After passing by the Nahant PD & Greenlawn Cemetery you'll pick up a paved trail on your right along Short Beach. This brings you back to the Nahant Heritage Trail after 8.8 miles. Continue straight back along the trail, then on-road back to the Southern End of the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation for a 6.4 mile Loop.

Northern Strand Community Trail:

The Northern Strand Community Trail starts from the Mystic & Malden Rivers in Everett where it connects to the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side & Malden River Greenway; East Side next to the Gateway Center. You can park and start from the Gateway Center trail parking lot to the west or the Encore Boston Harbor Casino to the east. The trail travels North through Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus and Lynn. It follows the rail bed of the former Saugus Branch RR. In Lynn it will connect to the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation Trails For more information visit; NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL .

Starting from the Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail:

A. Starting from the Encore Boston Harbor Casino entrance at Horizon Way & Broadway below the Encore sign in Everett [Mystic River Path; North Side]; Parking is located in the Casino parking garage or across Broadway. North of here you'll find a BLUEbikes STATION. See; HARBORWALK; ENCORE BOSTON HARBOR .

The brick pavers Mystic River Path; North Side travels Southeast around the Casino. Travel around a Garden circle and keep straight at an intersection. Lots of greenery. Keep straight at the next intersection. Come to the Mystic River side of the casino [Walk Bike when crowded]. Pass by an entrance to the Casino, where you'll find a Water Taxi dock. They did a great job with plantings (artificial grass). Follow the inlet out to the Mystic River, past a gazebo and come to a BLUEbikes STATION . Straight ahead is a RR bridge. Left a piece of land juts out to the river.

The paved trail continues North,  past the casino, and traveling underneath the RR bridge to the rear of Gateway Center at 0.6 miles. Come to a tall blue sign where the Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail starts.

B. Starting from the Gateway Center parking lot in Everett [Mystic River Path; North Side]; Cross Mystic River Rd to an intersection and head left along the paved Lower Mystic River Path; North Side through Gateway Park. The path crosses back over Mystic River Rd where the trail travels right alongside the road. The trail then leaves the road and travels around an inlet to an intersection after 0.5 miles next to a tall blue sign. Left is the start of the Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail.

Starting from the Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail & the junction of the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side in Everett; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Tall blue sign. The wide, paved Northern Strand Community Trail travels North along the old rail bed between Gateway Center and the RR tracks. Pass by a Map Board as you leave the Gateway Center behind. Travel underneath the Route 16 bridge and come to Wellington Ave and another Map Board at 0.8 miles. Follow a residential/industrial corridor. You'll pass by tennis courts at Rosetti Park before coming to a Map Board & water fountain at 1.3 miles. BLUEbikes STATION located just up the trail. Across Air Force Rd on your left is Rivergreen Park parking lot.

Note; You can access the Malden River Greenway; East Side in Rivergreen Park. 

Continuing you cross into Malden and pass by Bell Rock Cemetery before coming to Medford St at 1.9 miles where you'll need to turn left to reach a cross-light. The trail travels alongside Canal St, where you'll find another Map Board and information about the EAST COAST GREENWAY . The trail veers Northeast and brings you to Main St at 1.6 miles. Turn left to access a cross-light. The urban trail now travels through Malden. At Ferry St, again turn left to access a cross-light. A series of cross-lights will take you left over Route 60 where the trail continues to your right along an open industrial corridor. Several small street crossings. Pass by a community garden at 3.2 miles. Cross Broadway at 4 miles and a side trail on your right leads to a CVS. Cross Beach Street at 4.8 miles where you'll pass by a parking lot. Cross Lynn and Wesley streets at 5 miles where you travel along the open Revere Section. Travel underneath Route 1 and your rewarded with scenic views of Rumney Marsh. Cross Salem St at 5.7 miles as the trail turns North. Travel past a Map Board and into a residential, tree lined corridor. You enter Saugus next to a spur to Laurel St at 6 miles. Cross Eustis St and spot the old 1853 Cliftondale RR Station on your right. Pass by Parker Playground before a series of cross-walks take you over Essex & School Streets. Cross Adams Ave at 6.7 miles and as you pass by the playing fields of Belmonte Saugus Middle School look right to spot an old cement RR Whistle marker. After crossing Denver St pass an old RR Mileage Marker that has an R on it (Revere?). The trail turns East before crossing Central St, where you can access shops. The trail follows the Shute Brook along your right then travels along a causeway between the Shute Brook floodplain on your right and the Saugus River floodplain to your left. Very scenic. Cross a red iron arched bridge (replaced the old RR bridge) over the Saugus River before crossing Lincoln St at 8.5 miles. Marshview Park is on your right and overlooks the Saugus River floodplain. Flight path for Logan Airport here. Map Board. Blue signs indicate the street your crossing. The trail crosses into Lynn along another causeway next to the Saugus River on your right and Beaver Brook to your left. Nice overlook here. Cross light over Summer St followed by Cottage St at 9.4 miles where you'll find a very cool playground built along the trail. Community garden just before crossing Spencer St. Come to *Western Ave at 9.7 miles.

Note; Future construction in 2023 from *Western Ave will extend the trail 2 miles through Lynn to Nahant Beach where you'll be able to connect to the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation Trails . See; Lynn Spur Below.

The trail follows the old rail bed South, crossing Summer St, where a berm brings you up to the end of the trail at 10.1 miles. Here, an old double RR bridge crossed Bennett St, where the old RR joined an active RR line.

Lynn Spur:

[The project would build new two-way, curb-separated bike lanes along the south side of the Market Square roundabout (pictured above), the Lynn Common, and Market St]

Current Detour along the Lynn Spur; Starting from *Western Ave; You'll need to travel left on-road along Western Ave to the Market Square roundabout. Take your second right on Market Square to Common St (Lynn Common is located between North & South Common Streets which are one-way). Here you can follow the paved Lynn Common Path which travels East along both the North and South Sides of the greenspace and starts at the beginning of the Common at 0.2 miles. The Path follows South Common St heading east. Pass by a gazebo and restrooms before crossing Hannify Square where the Common narrows. Look right to spot the old brick Lynn Armory. After 0.8 miles you'll exit the Common. Pick up a BIKE LANE along S Common St at 0.8 miles. Turn right along Market St where the BIKE LANE continues. Come to Broad St after 1.2 miles. Past here it's on-road until construction begins. Come to the Lynnway and head left on-road (sidewalk available). You'll pass by Lynn Heritage State Park at 1.4 miles. Come to the Lynn Shore Dr/Nahant Rd Rotary. Follow around to Lynn Beach where you'll pick up the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation Trails after 1.9 miles.

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CLICK HERE FOR NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL MAP

CLICK HERE FOR LYNN SHORE & NAHANT BEACH RESERVATION MAP

CLICK HERE FOR NAHANT HERITAGE TRAIL MAP

CLICK HERE FOR NAHANT LOOP MAP

CLICK HERE FOR BORDERS TO BOSTON MAP

CLICK HERE FOR REGIONAL BIKEWAYS

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