NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL:
EVERETT-MALDEN-REVERE-SAUGUS-LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 4, 2022
Length: Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East Side to Northern Strand Community Trail: 1.2 to 2.2 miles.
Northern Strand Community Trail; 9.3 miles.
Difficulty: Malden River Greenway; East Side: Easy. Flat paved trail & sidewalk. Short on-road section to connect to the Northern Strand Community Trail.
Northern Strand Community Trail; Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Directions:
To start from Gateway Center trail parking lot in Everett for the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East Side [Southern End]; 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 in Everett for the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East Side [Southern End]; 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 Northern Strand Community Trail will start (south section under construction in 2022) 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 will travel north through Everett to Wellington Ave (trail complete here). It then passes through Malden, Revere, Saugus and Lynn. It follows the rail bed of the former Saugus Branch RR. For more information visit; NORTHERN STRAND COMMUNITY TRAIL .
The Northern Strand Community 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.
Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East Side:
A. Starting from the Encore Boston Harbor Casino entrance at Horizon Way & Broadway below the Encore sign in Everett [Southern End]; 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 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; The Southern End of the Northern Strand Community Trail will start here. 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. See B. Below.
Note; Right leads up to and across Mystic River Rd where you'll find the Gateway Center trail parking lot and Map Board.
B. Starting from the Gateway Center trail parking lot in Everett [Southern End]; Cross Mystic River Rd to an intersection and head right 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 0.5 miles that takes you down and under the Revere Beach Pkwy (Route 16) Bridge to an intersection.
Note; Left the Malden River Greenway; East Side continues.
Continue straight back up to Route 16. Head left along the sidewalk to Santilli Hwy where you'll pick up a paved trail alongside the frontage Rd. Quickly come to Kelvin St and turn left. Travel north on-road (residential) and take your 2nd right on Wellington Ave. This will bring you to the start of the Northern Strand Community Trail after 1.2 miles. You'll find a Map Board located here.
Note; In 2022 the trail will be extended south where it will connect to the Lower Mystic River Path; North Side/Malden River Greenway; East Side.
Northern Strand Community Trail:
Starting from Wellington Ave in Everett [Southern End]; The paved Northern Strand Community Trail [Re-zeroing Mileage] heads north along the old rail bed through a residential/industrial corridor. You'll pass by a rink and tennis courts at Rosetti Park at 0.5 miles. Across Air Force Rd on your left is Rivergreen Park parking lot. Map Board and BLUEbikes STATION located here.
Note; You can access the Malden River Greenway; East Side in Rivergreen Park.
Continuing north you cross into Malden and pass by Bell Rock Cemetery before coming to Medford St at 1.1 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 2.4 miles. Cross Broadway at 3.2 miles and a side trail on your right leads to a CVS. Cross Beach Street at 4 miles where you'll pass by a parking lot. Cross Lynn and Wesley streets at 4.2 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 4.9 miles. Travel past a Map Board and into a residential, tree lined corridor. You enter Saugus next to a spur to Laurel St at 5.2 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 5.9 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 another old RR marker that has an R on it (Revere?). Cross-walk over 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 7.7 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 alongside 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 8.6 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 8.9 miles.
Note; See; Nahant Beach Spur Below.
Finally cross Summer St where a berm brings you up to the end of the trail where an old double RR bridge crosses Bennett St after 9.3 miles.
Nahant Beach Spur:
Note; Future construction (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 Below.
[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]
Starting from *Western Ave; Currently you'll need to travel north 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 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.
HH
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