In Cambridge at Alewife T- Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston is a "Hub" for 5 Trails (plus interconnecting Trails). 

Length:                Fresh Pond Bike Path; 0.9 miles. 

                               Fresh Pond Loop Trail; 2.3 miles.

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, paved surface.

To start from Alewife T-Station in Cambridge [Northern End]; Take Boston's Red-Line to access this station. See; MBTA for more information. For information about taking your bike on the subway. See; MBTA/BIKES . From I-95, take exit 45A to Route 2 east to Alewife. Take the exit for Alewife Station Access Road and park at the T-station's parking garage.

To start from the Cambridge Water Works in Cambridge [Southern End]; From I-95, take exit 45A to Route 2 east to Alewife. Follow to the end and keep right to Alewife Brook Parkway (Routes 3 S & 16 W). Follow to Concord Ave (traffic circle) and head left to another traffic circle. Keep right on Fresh Pond Parkway. Fresh Pond is on your right. Turn right into the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot on the right.

Fresh Pond Reservation consists of the 155 acre kettle-hole Lake called Fresh Pond and 162 acres of surrounding land. In the mid 1800's the Pond was privately owned and the site of a flourishing ice industry, its clean water producing high quality ice that was shipped as far away as Europe, China and India. The Pond became the City's drinking water supply in 1852 and is now part of the reservoir system for the City of Cambridge. The Fresh Pond Bike Trail travels South, from Alewife T-Station to Fresh Pond, where the Fresh Pond Loop Trail encircles the pond. For more information visit;  FRESH POND .

Starting from the Alewife T-Station "Hub" in Cambridge [Northern End]; Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. 

Note; This is also the start for the Minuteman Bikeway , which travels North, passing by the start of the Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section , which travels Northeast. The Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont also crosses here traveling East-West. 

To reach the Fresh Pond Bike Path & Loop Trail, head East, along the Red Line Linear Path (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail) via a cantilevered boardwalk next to Yates Pond. Cross Alewife Station Access Rd to the rear of Alewife T-Station and parking garage. 

Note; Left, East, takes you underneath Alewife Brook Pkwy along the Red Line Linear Path (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont). 

Continue straight, along the rear of Alewife T-Station which will take you out to and across Cambridge Park Drive. The trail then takes you along the West Side of Alewife Brook Pkwy, where the paved Fresh Pond Bike Path travels South, up & over Alewife Brook Bridge, which crosses over some active rail lines. 

Note; A paved trail also travels along the East Side of Alewife Brook Pkwy.

After passing by the Fresh Pond Mall you come to a traffic rotary. Bear right on Concord Ave to a cross-light that takes you over to the start of the paved Watertown Branch Rail Trail after 0.9 miles. See; Below.

Note; Straight, South, takes you to a section of the Fresh Pond Loop Trail.

Head left, along the Watertown Branch Rail Trail, which travels alongside Concord Ave, before turning South, alongside Fresh Pond Pkwy, before coming to the entrance for the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot. BLUEbikes STATION . 

Note: Straight, South, the Watertown Branch Rail Trail continues. See Below. 

Travel right, between the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot and Water Works building to reach the Fresh Pond Loop Trail after 1.3 miles. You'll find a water fountain here, as well as, restrooms and a BIKE STATION (air pump & tools) at the Water Works building.

Starting from the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot in Cambridge; Travel right past the Water Works building to reach the start of the Fresh Pond Loop Trail. Head right, North, along the Fresh Pond Loop Trail with Fresh Pond on your left. This wide, paved trail is a bit rough in spots, as it utilizes an old road. There are more pedestrians and dogs that utilize this trail so use stay alert. The trail Loops around the pond which is enclosed in a chain linked fence (watch out for the poison ivy growing up it). The trail turns West and after 0.3 miles you'll pass by a Spur on your right out to Concord Ave and the Watertown Branch Rail Trail. Come to an *Intersection at 0.4 miles. 

After checking out Lusitania Meadow, continue straight, alongside the pond. Pass by the Western End of the Lusitania Meadow Loop, before coming to an Intersection at 0.6 miles.

Continuing Northwest, alongside the pond, you'll pass by sign board and Emergency Call Box, before passing by the Blacks Nook Spur, where the trail turns West. Travel alongside the Fresh Pond Golf Course and the trail turns South, passing Little Fresh Pond. Come to another intersection at 1.5 miles.

Note; Straight leads to the Fresh Pond Golf Course parking lot and Glacken Sports Fields. 

The trail turns East and after 1.8 miles, you encounter a short stone-dust section. The trail then turns Northeast, paralleling the Watertown Branch Rail Trail along your right. You then return to the paved trail. Come to an intersection at 2 miles. 

Note; Left, North, the hard packed dirt Kingsley Park Outer Loop [Southern Exit] takes you around Kingsley Park, alongside the pond, before returning to the Fresh Pond Loop Trail after 0.4 miles.

Continuing straight brings you to Cambridge Water Works South parking lot.

Note; Straight will bring you to the Watertown Branch Rail Trail. See Below. 

Bare left, past the parking lot, to another intersection at 2.2 miles, where you'll find a Map Board and water fountain. 

Note; Left, West, the paved Kingsley Park Inner Loop [Southern Exit] takes you up a small knoll into Kingsley Park to a shaded area, with two stone overlooks. It then Loops East, back to the Fresh Pond Loop Trail after 0.3 miles.

Continuing past the parking lot and restrooms, pass by the Northern Exit of the Kingsley Park Inner Loop, before passing by Northern Exit of the Kingsley Park Outer Loop. The trail then travels around the Cambridge Water Works back to the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot after a 2.3 mile Loop.

Last Updated:      April 28, 2025

Length:                Watertown Branch Rail Trail; 3.1 miles

                               Watertown Linear Park Trail; 0.3 miles (0.3 mile on-road connection)    

                               Watertown Branch Rail Trail on-road connection to the Charles River Bikeway; 0.3 miles

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, paved trail.                            

Directions:

To start from the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot in Cambridge [Northern End]; From I-95, take exit 45A to Route 2 east to Alewife. Follow to the end and keep right to Alewife Brook Parkway (Routes 3 S & 16 W). Follow to Concord Ave (traffic circle) and head left to another traffic circle. Keep right on Fresh Pond Parkway. Fresh Pond is on your right. Turn right into the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot on the right.

The Watertown Branch Rail Trail was a branch loop of the Fitchburg Railroad that served the town of Watertown & the Watertown Arsenal. The railroad was chartered in 1846 and a second company, the Waltham & Watertown Railroad, was chartered to extend the line to the neighborhood just Southeast, of downtown Waltham. In order to keep it out of the hands of its rivals, the Fitchburg took control of both companies before any track was laid and merged them into the Watertown Branch. The Watertown Branch Rail Trail begins from Fresh Pond in Cambridge and travels Southwest, through Watertown. You can then connect on-road, to the Charles River Bikeway . From its Northern End, you can connect to the Fresh Pond Loop Trail and Fresh Pond Bike Path. For more information visit; WATERTOWN BRANCH RAIL TRAIL .

The paved Watertown Branch Rail Trail begins from Concord Ave & Alewife Brook Pkwy and the Southern End of the Fresh Pond Bike Path; Travel East, alongside Concord Ave, before turning South, alongside Fresh Pond Pkwy, before coming to the entrance for the Cambridge Water Works North parking lot at 0.5 miles. BLUEbikes STATION . 

Note: Right, you can access the Fresh Pond Loop Trail. See Above. 

Continuing Southwest, the trail passes by the Cambridge Water Works and travels underneath a bridge. Briefly parallel the Fresh Pond Loop Trail up on your right, before traveling underneath Huron Ave. Here the trail travels below grade. Pass a spur up to Holworthy St, before another tunnel takes you underneath Belmont & Mt Auburn Streets at 1.2 miles where the trail is at grade as you enter East Watertown. Travel under the Grove St bridge and come to Arlington St. Cross light over Arlington and Nichols Streets returns you to the trail at 1.8 miles.

Note; Heading left, South, on-road (sidewalks available) down Arlington St will bring you to Filippello Park on your left. Here a 0.3 mile paved trail circles the park (sports field & playground). Another 0.3 mile paved trail heads East, past a Splash Park, sport fields and Dog Park out to Grove St.

You follow a commercial corridor through East Watertown. Pass by a Spur Trail on your left at 1.5 miles.

Note; This Spur Trail travels South, past the Watertown Mall to Arsenal St. 

Come to School St at 2.5 miles. A granite pillar here contains a Map. Head left down to Arsenal St. Across the street is the massive brick US Army Materials Technology Laboratory building. The paved trail now travels West, alongside Arsenal St (The old rail trail is North of here, but has been consumed by buildings) before ending at Irving St after 3.1 miles. 

Note; Right up Irving St brings you to Union Market Community Garden on your left with picnic tables. This was built on the old rail bed. 

Note; You may access the Charles River Bikeway from here via a short on-road connector. Travel West, on-road (BIKE SHARROWS) along Arsenal St, which merges with N Beacon St, bringing you to ^Watertown Square. Follow the crosswalk left over N Beacon St and Charles River Rd and you'll come to the Charles River Bikeway after 0.3 miles.

Note; Another short section of the trail can be accessed on-road from ^Watertown Square. Head North, on-road, along Main St a short distance, then turn right up Church St. Turn left on Winter St and you'll come to a sharp right after 0.3 miles. On your left will be Saltonstall Park. Here you'll find the start of the Watertown Linear Park Trail. A sidewalk that travels along the Northern Edge of the park. Cross Whites Ave (Caution No Crosswalk) to a paved trail through the Watertown Linear Park. This brings you to Waverly Ave after 0.6 miles. Across the crosswalk is Moxley Field & Playground.