NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY:
DORCHESTER-HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: April 30, 2025
Length: Neponset River Greenway; 7.6 miles
Pope Park Loop Trail; 1.4 miles
Senator Joseph Finnegan Park Loop Trail; 0.5 mile loop
Connection to the Quincy Neponset Riverwalk; 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved trail.
Directions:
To start from Pope Paul Park in Dorchester [Northeastern End];
From I-93 Northbound, take exit 11A to Granite Ave. Bear right off the ramp on Granite Ave. to your second set of lights. Turn right on Gallivan Blvd. and you'll see the park entrance just after Walgreen's on your right.
From I-93 Southbound, take exit 12 to Gallivan Blvd and look right for a sign into the park.
To start from the Blue Hills Reservation; Brush Hill Road parking lot in Milton [Southwestern End]; From I-93 take exit 2B to Route 138 (Washington St) north. Turn left onto Neponset Valley Pkwy and follow to the intersection with Brush Hill Rd. On your left is a small dirt parking lot with a signboard for the Blue Hills Reservation.
The Neponset River Greenway follows the rail bed of the former Granite Railroad along the shore of the Neponset River and Neponset River Marshes. Operating from 1826-1870, this was the first incorporated commercial railroad in the US. It was built to transport granite from the Quincy Quarries to Gulliver's Creek Wharf on the Neponset River. This granite was used to build the Bunker Hill Monument. Starting from Milton, the Neponset River Greenway travels North, into Hyde Park, then Northeast, back through Milton. Briefly passes through Mattapan, before continuing through Dorchester to Pope John Paul II Park. In Pope Park a Loop Trail traverses the park. Finally the trail travels North, where it connects to the Boston Harborwalk . You can also access the Quincy Neponset Riverwalk from Pope Park just East, across the river. For more information visit; NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY .
A study is underway on a plan to connect the Neponset River Greenway to Blue Hills Reservation. See; Maps Below.
Blue Hills Reservation Study Area
Starting from the Blue Hills Reservation; Brush Hill Road parking lot in Milton [Southern End]; Follow the dirt trail out of the parking lot left, North, along Brush Hill Rd & Neponset Valley Pkwy to Paul's Bridge. Paul's Bridge is an historic bridge over the Neponset River. The bridge was built in 1849, replacing wooden bridges that had been on the site since the early 1700s. It had a major rebuilding in 1932, when it was widened. Most of the original stone was reused.
Note; A paved trail is across Neponset Valley Pkwy, however, there is no crosswalk or cross light to access it.
Continue West, alongside Neponset Valley Pkwy (sidewalk and dirt path) to the intersection with Truman Pkwy in Hyde Park. Cross the Neponset Valley Pkwy followed by the Truman Pkwy via two cross-lights. The wide, paved Neponset River Greenway, travels North, alongside the Western Side of the Truman Pkwy. A BIKE LANE also follows the Truman Pkwy. Cross over the Neponset River and enter Hyde Park. Just past a shopping plaza, after 0.7 miles, you'll come to Martini Shell at Hyde Park. You can travel through the park, which has picnic tables and fronts the Neponset River or continue straight on the trail alongside Truman Pkwy. Past here the BIKE LANE only travels South. The trail parallels the parkway on the right and RR tracks along the left. You come to Dana Ave at 1.3 miles.
Note; The next 0.5 miles of trail consists of a narrow sidewalk. I'm not sure if there are any plans to widen this section. The BIKE LANE only travels South.
You travel through a residential area along both sides and rejoin the paved trail at 1.8 miles. Here you lose the houses along your left as you both ascend and descend a small hill, crossing into Milton. You'll catch glimpses of the river, but this section of trail is not overly scenic. At 3.1 miles you may detour left, along a stone-dust trail, to an overlook of the river in Neponset River Esplanade Park. Picnic tables here as well. The trail then comes to Blue Hills Pkwy where a crosswalk gets you over this busy road. Head left over the Neponset River to Mattapan Square at 3.4 miles. To your right is the Mattapan Trolley T-station. The trail continues right past a brick building with murals next to the river. Here a boardwalk travels between the river and the Trolley Station taking you over the tracks into the woods alongside the river where the trail is paved. Come to the large iron arched Harvest River Bridge on your right at 4 miles.
Note; Left brings you to Ryan Playground, where a 0.3 mile paved trail circles a field.
Cross the Harvest River Bridge, over the Neponset River, back to Milton and the trail continues left, East, between the RR tracks and river. Exit the woods and cross Central Ave after 4.7 miles.
Note; Left, North, up Central Ave, across the river is the 0.25 mile Neponset Riverwalk, a short paved trail that travels along the Northern Side of the Neponset River, then right, West, over Mill Pond via a converted RR bridge, connecting back to the Neponset River Greenway. An informational board and canoe launch are located here as well.
The Neponset River is to your left and the Mattapan Trolley Line is on your right as you continue East. You'll see many of the colorful "one car" trolleys as you travel down the trail, with several stations located along the route. Just down the trail to your left is an old RR bridge that crosses the river to the Neponset Riverwalk. A Map Board is located here. Continuing along the trail notice the artistic murals painted on the retaining walls to your right. There are many other murals painted along the trail. You come to the old Bakers Chocolate factory buildings. Here, the river was dammed for power. You cross over the Neponset River Gorge at 5.1 miles via an old RR bridge and enter Dorchester, as the trail turns Northeast. Pass by the Butler Station for the trolley line. Map Board located here. Pass through a concrete tunnel underneath the trolley line. You'll travel along the river and marsh before coming to the Granite Ave Drawbridge at 5.9 miles. To your left is the Granite Ave parking lot. Map Board located here. A cross-light will take you over to Neponset II Park parking lot.
Note; Neponset II Park provides access to the Neponset River Salt Marsh, one of the few remaining extensive salt marshes within the Boston area. Amenities include a dock for non-motorized boats, benches, interpretive signage, splash-park for children, drinking fountain, and landscaping. There are parking spaces for visitors and public restrooms in season. A stone-dust trail Loops 0.25 miles around the park as well.
Continuing along the trail you cross Hallet St and then travel through a tunnel underneath I-93, where you enter Pope Paul II Park and come to an intersection.
Note; Right, South, is part of the Pope Park Loop Trail. See Below.
Head left, North
and you'll pass by a
playground and the Pope Paul II Park parking lot before coming to a Map
Board at 6.7 miles. There are some portable
toilets here as well.
Note; The figure 8 Pope Park Loop Trail starts here. From the Map Board head right, South, out along the river along the North Loop. The trail splits, keep left. The trail then turns inland, West, bringing you to an *Intersection. Head left, South, across Davenport Creek to another intersection.
Note; Right, West, brings you to the Hallet Street/Pope Paul II Park parking lot.
Continue straight to another **Intersection and the South Loop. Continue left, South, along the creek and river. The trail then Loops North, inland taking you past the Hallet Street/Pope Paul II Park parking lot at a mile. Return to the **Intersection and head left, North, back across Davenport Creek to the *Intersection and the North Loop. Head left, North, rejoining the Neponset River Greenway. Continue straight and you'll return to the Map Board at the Pope Paul II Park parking lot after a 1.4 mile Loop.
Continuing Northeast, you travel underneath the Neponset Ave Bridge (Route 3A).
Note; From here you can access the Quincy Neponset Riverwalk, which is located across the Neponset River. Look left to spot a large granite tiered block. A path past this marker will take you underneath Route 3A to Quincy Shore Dr. Follow the road left, Northwest, to Neponset Ave. Here you can access a pedestrian path along the North Side of the Neponset Bridge, and travel Southeast, across the river to Quincy. To your left a RR bridge runs parallel. You'll come to a ramp on your left, that will bring you down to Hancock St and the Quincy Neponset Riverwalk after 0.5 miles.
Continuing Northeast, you pass by a Boston Harborwalk sign (According to the website the Boston Harborwalk utilizes this section of the trail). After traveling underneath a railroad trestle you come to a stone jetty called "Flounder Fleet". There are benches here and granite markers inscribed with local lore. You can spot all the old pilings was Flounder Wharf. The trail then turns North, passing by an entrance for Senator Joseph Finnegan Park.
Note; The 0.5 mile paved Finnegan Park Trail Loops around this wide open, grass and wildflower park with great views of the river.
Come to Taylor St where the trail heads right. At 7.1 miles you come to another entrance for the Senator Joseph Finnegan Park and the end of the paved trail. Across the street is the Taylor Street parking lot. An on-road section along Water St (residential) takes you West. There are green metal signposts that will help direct you along the detour. Follow Water St to its end and turn right, then bear left to the paved trail alongside Conley St. This brings you to Tenean Beach, where you can chose between two paved trails that travel through the park (The trail next to the beach tends to be sand covered). Pass by sports courts, a playground, picnic tables and the Tenean Beach parking lot. The paved trail exits the park at 7.6 miles. Gap, as of 2025.
This is the start of the on-road connector to the Dorchester Bay section of the Boston Harborwalk;
Note; Construction is underway in 2025 to extend the trail another 0.75 miles, along this Gap and will include a paved trail and boardwalk along this section. The route creates two new shared-use pathways along Conley St, near Tenean Beach and on Victory Road near Victory Park. In between Conley St and Victory Rd, there will be a new greenway running along the Western Embankment of the expressway. North, of Victory Rd, the greenway climbs along the I-93 off ramp to Morrissey Boulevard to a new boardwalk that ends near the Beades Drawbridge. See; Map Below.
After traveling through the
park, you travel underneath I-93 following a sidewalk. Take a right, North,
on-road, along Tenean
St,
which will then parallel Morrissey Blvd. Bear right along Freeport St, which travels
below I-93.
Cross Victory Rd. You then meet up with
Morrissey Blvd
again and take a right underneath I-93 via a sidewalk. When you approach
an off-ramp there is a crosswalk, but use extra caution here. A sidewalk then
takes you up and over Beades Memorial Drawbridge at 8.8 miles, with nice
views of Dorchester
Bay
and the colorful Boston Gas Tank. The tank, decorated with giant
rainbow-colored stripes, is the world's largest copyrighted artwork. The
sidewalk here is a bit old and narrow as it parallels Morrissey Blvd.
You'll pass by the Dorchester Shore Reservation entrance on
the opposite side of the Blvd before coming to a cross-light across the Blvd at
8.9 miles.
Note; Use this cross-light to access the Dorchester Shore Reservation parking lot where you'll also find a ½ mile paved Path which follows crescent-shaped Malibu Beach around a small saltwater bay.
A narrow paved path continues North, alongside Morrissey Blvd and is the start of the completed section of the Boston Harborwalk .
HH
CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY & QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY & QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK MAP
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