Length:                 Upper Mystic River Path; 4.7 miles.

                                Upper Mystic River Path Loop; 2.2 miles.

                                Mystic Riverbend Park Spur Trail; 1.1 mile Loop.

                                Lower Mystic River Paths North Side; 1.5 miles. 

                                Lower Mystic River Paths South Side; 2.6 miles

                                Wellington Greenway/Malden River Greenway-West Side; 1.6 miles

                                Malden River Greenway-East Side/Lower Mystic River Paths North Side; 4 miles (with on-road sections)

                                Spot Pond Brook Greenway; 1.1 miles

 Difficulty:            Upper Mystic River Paths; Easy. Flat, paved or stone-dust surface plus some hard packed dirt surfaces.

                                Lower Mystic River Paths; Easy. Flat, paved or stone-dust surface.

                                Malden River Greenway; Easy. Relatively flat paved trail.

                                Spot Pond Brook Greenway; Easy. Flat, paved trail. 

Directions:

The Upper Mystic River Paths are accessible from the Northern terminus of the Alewife Brook Greenway where you'll also find a small parking lot. From the junction of Alewife Brook Pkwy ( Route 16) and the Mystic Valley Pkwy ( Route 16) head west on the Mystic Valley Pkwy. You quickly cross Alewife Brook and pass by the trailhead to the Alewife Brook Greenway. Take your first left to a small parking lot next to the trail.

To Start from the Mystic Riverbend Park parking lot for the Lower Mystic River Paths; From I-93 southbound take exit 31 to the Mystic Valley Pkwy (Route 16) and cross over the Mystic River. Immediately turn left on Locust St then left again towards Hormel Stadium. Come to a stop sign. The Trail Circle is on your left. Park in the first parking lot straight ahead. Start from the Trail Circle.

To start from Macdonald Park for the Lower Mystic River Paths; From the junction of Routes 16 & 28, take Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) west and immediately turn left into McDonald Park. The State Police building is straight. Turn right for the parking lot.

To start from Gateway Center trail parking lot for the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East 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 Encore Boston Harbor Casino for the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East 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 to exterior parking lots.

The Upper Mystic River Reservation [West of I-93] connects 4 Parks (Clippership Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Dugger Park & Mystic Lakes State Park) via Paths alongside the Mystic River (Medford North side of river & Arlington South side of river). At it's Northern End you can access the Tri-Community Greenway in Winchester. At its Center you can access the Alewife Brook Greenway  in Arlington.

The Lower Mystic River Reservation [East of I-93] connects 8 Parks (Drane Park, Mystic Riverbend Park, Torbert Macdonald Park, Station Landing Park, Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park, Draw Seven State Park, Ryan Playground & Mary O'Malley Park via Paths alongside the Mystic River (Medford, Everett & Chelsea North side of river & Medford, Somerville & Charlestown South side of river). At its Center you can access the Malden River Greenway in Medford. At it's Southern End you can access the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown in Cambridge.

The parks are run by the Metropolitan District Commission and admission to the reservation and its parks is free. For more information visit; MYSTIC RIVER 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 (also known as the Fitchburg Cutoff) will eventually extend to Northampton.

• Heading East the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge (also known as the Red Line Linear Path which becomes the Somerville Community Path) will eventually 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 future 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).

The Upper Mystic River Reservation [West of I-93] Paths may be accessed from the Northern End of the Alewife Brook Greenway, as well as, a parking lot off Mystic Valley Pkwy. The Northern Section only travels along the Southern Side of the river (Mystic Lakes), while the Southern Section is almost exclusively along the Northern side of the river. 

Note; From here you can elect to Loop back to the Alewife Brook Greenway. Head right (South) along the hard packed narrow dirt path alongside the Mystic River. After passing through Dugger Park you'll cross over Harvard Ave where the trail continues south. Come to the Boston Ave Bridge after 0.8 miles. Head right back over the river to Mystic Valley Pkwy and continue right along the paved path. Cross over Alewife Brook and you'll return to the Alewife Brook Greenway after a 2.2 mile Loop.

Note; Straight brings you to the intersection of Winthrop St & Mystic Valley Pkwy.

A cross-walk takes you over to a paved path that runs back alongside the Mystic River. The path turns to stone-dust as it passes by the Condon Band Shell and a canoe put-in before passing by the Condon Band Shell Park parking lot and returning to the Mystic Valley Pkwy at 1.3 miles. Turn right following the paved path alongside the road to a cross-light. 

Note; The paved path to your right is a spur out to South St.

Cross the Mystic Valley Pkwy and you'll come to a pedestrian bridge on your left.

Note; This pedestrian bridge travels over the river and brings you to High St in Medford. 

Continue straight along the paved trail and you'll come to Main St at 1.5 miles. Utilize the crosswalk and then turn left up Main St along the sidewalk. This brings you to Clippership Drive on your right where you'll find a sidewalk and bike lane. A narrow greenway along your right constitutes Clippership Park where you'll find an informational sign and benches overlooking the river. Come to Riverside Ave at 1.8 miles. 

Note; Currently, as of 2021, a gap exits between the Upper and Lower Mystic River Paths. Plans are underway for the gap, called the Clippership Connection to connect the two sections in 2022.

Note; If you travel right on-road along Riverside Ave (sidewalk available) you'll come to the entrance to Andrews & McGlynn Middle Schools (Freedom Way) at 2.3 miles. Turn right down Freedom Way and bear right past the school. This brings you to the Mystic Riverbend Park Spur Trail. See; Lower Mystic River Paths Below.

Starting from Mystic Riverbend Park Trail Circle; The Trail Circle is where the paved trail travels around a small granite circle embedded in the path. A Map Board is located here next to some granite benches, as well as, informational signs that continue along the trail.

Note; Right leads to McGlynn Middle School.

Next you’ll come to the 2nd Trail Circle at 0.3 miles.

Note; Right the paved trail leads Drane Park.

Keep left on the stone-dust trail along the river. Come to Medford Dog Park. 

Note; Right the paved trail leads Drane Park.

Continue straight. The trail is paved again and then turns inland at about 0.5 miles. 

Note; Currently, as of 2021, a gap exits between the Upper and Lower Mystic River Paths. Plans are underway for the gap, called the Clippership Connection to connect the two sections in 2022 from here.

This brings you to Andrews Middle School after 0.6 miles. 

Note; To access the Upper Mystic River Paths continue straight out to Riverside Ave and travel left on-road (sidewalk available). See; Upper Mystic River Paths above.

To Loop back to the Trail Circle turn right and travel behind the school. Bear left at the fork to Drane Park and travel past the Drane Park parking lot to an intersection. Continue straight past the Community Garden and this will bring you behind McGlynn Elementary School (playground) back to the 2nd Trail Circle at 0.8 miles. Turn left and return to the Trail Circle after a 1.1 mile Loop.

Continue left along the wide paved trail as it travels South alongside the river through Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park. A couple of overlooks, dock, playground and outdoor amphitheatre. Lots of places to eat in Assembly Square. Come to Artisan Way and head left past the Winter Hill Yacht Club and underneath the subways “Orange” T-Line. This brings you to the Craddock Locks at the Amelia Earhart Dam*** and Draw 7 Park at 1.9 miles. Nice views of the Encore Boston Casino across the river. You'll find a picnic pavilion, benches and fishing pier here. You can also see the Bunker Hill Monument from here. Travel underneath a railroad bridge at 2.2 miles. I haven't checked out this next section yet. The Charlestown Seawall Trail continues alongside the river through the MBTA’s Charlestown Yards before bringing you to the Route 99 Bridge at 2.6 miles. Across Route 99 is Ryan Playground in Charlestown and a short section of the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown, however, their is no direct access across this busy road.

Note; To Loop back to the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side and Encore Boston Harbor Casino head right along a BIKE LANE on Alford St South. You'll come to a bridge over Route 99 which contains a BIKE LANE, however, this is a One-Way (wrong way) Lane. Instead continue along the Alford St South BIKE LANE to Maffa Way where a BIKE LANE left takes you over Route 99 to the Alford St North BIKE LANE and head left. Cross the Route 99 Bridge over the Mystic River to Everett. After 1.2 miles you'll come to the Encore Boston Harbor Casino entrance at Horizon Way & Broadway below the Encore sign and start of the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side.

Note; To access Ryan Playground and the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown head right along a BIKE LANE on Alford St South. You'll come to a bridge over Route 99 which contains a BIKE LANE, however, this is a One-Way (wrong way) Lane. Instead continue along the Alford St South BIKE LANE to Maffa Way where a BIKE LANE left takes you over Route 99 to the Alford St North BIKE LANE and head left. This will bring you past the Ryan Playground parking lot on your right. Continue to the next entrance and turn right then immediately left along the gravel road. This returns you to the Mystic River where you'll pick up the cement Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown after a 0.6 mile detour.

The cement Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown continues east between the river and Ryan Playground. You then pass a pier and boat ramp before the trail ends after 0.5 miles. A sidewalk then turn inland out to Medford St. 

Note; To access more of the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown you'll need to travel left (east) along Medford St. See; Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown .

Starting from Fellsway Wellington (Route 28) Bridge; Travel east along the paved Wellington Greenway through Station Landing Park before coming to a boat launch and the Mystic Wellington Yacht Club. The trail continues alongside the Mystic River, traveling underneath a RR Trestle before bringing you to the mouth of the Malden River and an Overlook at 0.5 miles. The Overlook sits at the end of the peninsula and includes a circular granite seating area with views of the Mystic & Malden Rivers and the Amelia Earhart Dam. The Malden River Greenway; West Side then continues north between the Malden River and RR tracks to the Wellington Station parking lot where the trail currently ends after 0.6 miles. Future plans call for continuing the trail northward along the Malden River to the Revere Beach Pkwy ( Route 16) Bridge and connecting into the existing path which travels underneath the Route 16 Bridge to the Rivers Edge Trail.  

Detour; Travel through the parking lot past the MBTA’s Wellington T-Station. For more information visit; BIKES ON MBTA . Bear right out to Route 16 where a paved trail takes you underneath the Revere Beach Pkwy ( Route 16) Bridge to the Rivers Edge Trail at 0.9 miles.

Note; You may also access the Malden River Greenway; East Side from here. Head left to a wide sidewalk that takes you across the Route 16 Bridge over the river. You'll pick up the paved Village Landing Park Trail on your left. See Below.

The wide paved Rivers Edge Trail continues north above the west side of the Malden River. Enter the Park at Rivers Edge where the trail includes pedestrian only stone-dust paths alongside the river, informational signs and William Shoemaker Boathouse. The trail then loops around an open area out to Commercial St at 1.6 miles.  

Note; Future plans will continue the trail north alongside the river to Medford Street.

Note; From Medford St you can cross the Malden River to access the Malden River Greenway; East Side & Northern Strand Community Trail. See Below.

Starting from the Encore Boston Harbor Casino entrance at Horizon Way & Broadway below the Encore sign; 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 .

Note; A gap exists to the final section of the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side located in Mary O'Malley State Park east of here along the Mystic & Island End Rivers. See; Mary O'Malley State Park Below.

The brick pavers Lower Mystic River Path; North Side travels south in front of the Casino. Travel around a Garden circle and keep straight at an intersection. Lots of greenery. Keep straight at the next intersection.

Note; Right you'll find a bike rack if you wish to check out the inside of the Casino.

Come to the 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 where a gazebo sits. BLUEbikes STATION . You then travel west where the paved trail continues north, traveling underneath the RR bridge to the rear of Gateway Center at 0.6 miles.

Note; On your right the extension of the Northern Strand Community Trail is under construction in 2022.

The trail continues out to and across Mystic View Rd bringing you to an overlook of the Craddock Locks at the Amelia Earhart Dam***. Here the Malden River meets the Mystic River. This is the start of the paved Malden River Greenway; East Side which travels north alongside the Malden River. Come to an intersection after 1 mile for Gateway Park. 

Note; Right leads up to and across Mystic River Rd where you'll find the Gateway Center trail parking lot and Map Board.

Continue left through Gateway Park where the trail splits (either path is fine) as you travel through open woods and back out to Mystic View Rd. Turn left and follow the sidewalk out along Route 16. Before the river you'll pick up the paved trail on your left at 1.5 miles that takes you down and under the Revere Beach Pkwy (Route 16) Bridge to an intersection. 

Note; Straight brings you back up to Route 16. Head left to connect to the Northern Strand Community Trail or right across the Revere Beach Pkwy ( Route 16) Bridge to connect to the Malden River Greenway; West Side.

Heading left takes you along the Village Landing Park Trail which travels north along the east side of the Malden River. The trail currently ends at a parking lot after 1.8 miles. 

Note; A gap currently exists, as of May 2021, north to the next section, Rivergreen Park Trail, which travels around Rivergreen Park. 

To access the next section you'll need to travel right through the parking lot out to Santilli Hwy. Turn left following the BIKE LANE, then left again on Air Force Rd (low traffic). This will bring you to Rivergreen Drive and the Rivergreen Park parking lot after 2.3 miles. 

Note; Right, across the road, you can access the Northern Strand Community Trail along with a BLUEbikes STATION . 

The wide, paved Rivergreen Park Trail starts on your left. The trail follows alongside Rivergreen Drive before bearing left around the edge of the park above a stream. Come to the Malden River at 2.6 miles.

Note; This is where the trail will connect south to the Village Landing Park Trail in the future.

The trail heads north along the river passing by an overlook on your left and a pavilion on your right. The trail then continues around the park (sports fields, sports courts, playground and trails throughout) curving right out to the Northern Strand Community Trail after 3.3 miles.

Note; On your right you can access Everett Parkland which has a 0.3 mile paved figure 8 Loop Trail around a grassy knoll. A Dog Park is also located here.

Note; A gap currently exists, as of May 2021, north alongside the river to the next section at Medford St.

You can utilize the paved Northern Strand Community Trail to reach the next section by following it north to Medford Street. Cross Medford St and head left. Just before the bridge over the river you'll pick up the Malden River Greenway; East Side on your right at 3.8 miles. The open, stone-dust trail continues north along the river bringing you out to Canal St after 4 miles.

Note; Future plans call for continuing the trail north to Charles St, where the river is underground. Plans possibly include uncovering the Malden River and extending the trail to Centre St.

Note; Future plans also call for a connection the Spot Pond Brook Greenway, which is partially built, north of her. See Blow.

The first of 2 completed sections of this trail start from Mountain Ave.

Note; Future plans call for continuing the Spot Pond Brook Greenway south along a narrow corridor to Florence & Dartmouth Streets, where it will travel underneath Florence St and on-road along Dartmouth St to Pleasant St. Here a BIKE LANE west along one-way Pleasant St (Exchange St one-way east if coming from the south) will bring you to Commercial St. A future BIKE LANE will travel south along Commercial St to Centre St where you'll connect to the future section of the Malden River Greenway; East Side.

Starting from Mountain Ave; The Spot Pond Brook Greenway travels north 0.1 miles through Coytemore Lea Park (Pool, sports courts, playground) to Clifton St. 

Note; A gap exists, as of May 2021, to the next completed section north at Winter St.

Detour; Turn left on-road along Clifton St (residential), then right up Linden Ave (residential) and right again on Clinton St (residential). Take your first left through an industrial corridor out to Winter St after 0.5 miles. The paved trail picks up across the St next to Banks Pl.

From Winter Street; The paved Spot Pond Brook Greenway continues north alongside Banks Pl. Spot Pond Brook is along your right. Pass by Oak Grove East T-Station on your left before coming to a pedestrian bridge across Spot Pond Brook at 0.7 miles. 

Note; This bridge leads to Fairlawn St.

Continue north alongside Banks Pl where you'll encounter a 2nd bridge. Take this across the brook to a narrow paved trail at 0.9 miles.

Note; Right takes you south alongside Spot Pond Brook to Windsor at Oak Grove Dog Park where the trail ends after only 0.1 miles.

Continue north alongside Spot Pond Brook passing by a green space over the brook with a picnic table. Emerge on Banks Pl after 1.1 miles and the end of the trail.

Note; Right along Banks Pl will quickly bring you to Main St. Across the street is the Pine Banks Park parking lot. 

Starting from the Encore Boston Harbor Casino entrance at Horizon Way & Broadway below the Encore sign; To connect to the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side-Mary O'Malley SP & Island End River Trail from here you'll need to travel on-road. Head left (north) on Broadway utilizing a BIKE LANE. Turn right on Beacham St at 0.3 miles and head east along another BIKE LANE which ends at 0.9 miles. Continue on-road around a sharp bend. Pass Market St and a boat yard before turning right on Justin Dr (may not be a street sign) after 1.2 miles. This road follows alongside the boat yard to a boardwalk, however, you are unable to access the boardwalk here. Follow the boardwalk to the Marina at Admirals Hill at 1.3 miles. Here you can access the Island End River Trail. 

Note; Right the Island End River Trail follows a boardwalk along Island End River out to Island End Park at 0.1 miles where you'll find a small gazebo, picnic tables and informational signs. Dead End. 

Heading left (south) along the narrow, pavers Island End River Trail you travel past the Marina at Admirals Hill and Seaport Academy before coming to Mary O'Malley State Park at 0.3 miles. Here you'll pick up the wide paved Lower Mystic River Path; North Side as it travels through the wide open park alongside the Mystic River. Tennis courts, playground, picnic tables and pavilions. You pass by a long pier before the trail ends at Commandants Way after 0.9 miles. Straight ahead is the Tobin Memorial Bridge. A sidewalk follows Commandants Way left (west) past Mary O'Malley State Park where you'll find parking.