QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK:

QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:       August 15, 2024

Length:                 Quincy Neponset Riverwalk; 2.6 miles

Difficulty:             Easy. Flat trail with multiple surfaces. Paved, stone-dust, loose gravel and hard packed dirt. 

Directions:     

From I-93 Northbound take exit 11 to Granite Ave and continue straight. Cross over the river and take your first right on Hilltop St which turns into Hallet St. Turn right on Route 203 (Gallivan St). See below:

From I-93 Southbound take exit 12 to Route 203 (Gallivan St). See below:

Turn right on Route 3A and cross back over the river. Keep left for Quincy Shore Drive. Cross over the RR tracks and take your first right to Commander Shea Blvd. Head right. After you cross a causeway over an inlet take your first right on Seaport Drive. Turn left on Victory Rd and follow to its end. Turn left and come to an intersection. Continue straight to the Squantum Point parking lot. Turn right and right again to the small parking lot. The trail starts from the Northern End of the parking lot.

The Quincy Neponset RiverWalk, part of the Neponset River Reservation, travels along the Eastern Side of the Neponset River Estuary in North Quincy, from the Gazebo at Adams Inn, North, to Squantum Point Park. Squantum Point Park was originally used as a Naval airfield. It was also once the home of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, which built destroyers for the Navy. It maintains both its bird habitat and the traces of its aviation history. The Quincy Neponset RiverWalk is directly connected via the Neponset Bridge to Pope John Paul II Park and the Neponset River Greenway trail in Dorchester, which are also part of the Neponset River Reservation. See; QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK & SQUANTUM POINT PARK for more information.

Starting from Squantum Point Park; The stone-dust Quincy Neponset RiverWalk leads from the end of the parking lot out to a dock jutting out into the Squantum Channel. 

Note; I haven't checked this out yet. On your right is the Marina Bay Boardwalk, which follows the shoreline East, around a Marina.

Note; On your left is a shelter for the MARINA BAY FERRY which is accessed from the dock.

Continue left, West, along the hard packed gravel trail, with open views of Squantum Channel. The trail turns inland bringing you to an *Intersection after 0.4 miles. A set of parallel paved paths represent the old runway from Harvard Aviation Field. The Quincy Neponset RiverWalk continues straight, along a Spur Trail that connects the North & South Runway Paths.

Note; To extend your trip, head left, Southeast, along the North Runway Path, passing by informational granite markers that tell the history of the site. Spur Trails along the way connect to the South Runway Path. When you reach the 4th Spur Trail, head right, South, over to the South Runway Path.

Note; Continuing straight brings you to the Southern End of the Squantum Point Park parking lot. You can then turn right, Northwest, to the South Runway Path, where you'll find another informational marker. However this section contains stairs.

Follow the South Path right, Northwest. This will take you to the Quincy Neponset RiverWalk on your left.

Note; Right, the 1st Spur Trail will take you North, back to the *Intersection. Straight brings you out to an overlook of Squantum Channel and the outflow of the Neponset River. Great views of the Boston skyline, as well as, the rainbow tower in Dorchester. Airplanes fly overhead as they come into Logan Airport.

Continuing South, along the hard packed gravel Quincy Neponset RiverWalk, you travel through a small tree and shrub corridor. Isolated. After 1.1 miles you cross a small bridge to a loose gravel trail that skirts the Boston Scientific property and a seawall along the Neponset River. Very tough biking this short section. Loose gravel not compacted. Finally at 1.4 miles the trail turns inland, East, where it becomes stone-dust as you pass by a salt marsh, before coming to the Commander Shea Blvd parking lot at 1.6 miles. Sign board located here. Use Caution crossing the road over to a paved trail as there is no cross-walk. Head right, South, where the paved trail travels alongside the Blvd, crossing a causeway over an inlet. The paved trail ends at 2.2 miles. Cross over the Blvd, where the paved trail continues Northwest, along a salt marsh. The trail then turns left, South, as it reaches the Neponset River and travels underneath the RR bridge. Pass by Neponset Landing Park and you'll come to a Map Board at 2.4 miles just below the Neponset Bridge (Route 3A).

Note; From here you can access the Neponset River Greenway which is located across the river. Take the ramp up to the Neponset Bridge ( Route 3A) and head right, Northwest, across the river along the pedestrian path. When you reach the intersection at the end of the bridge, turn right and follow Quincy Shore Drive, on-road, back towards the river and underneath Route 3A. Spot a small path that will take you out to the Neponset River Greenway after 0.5 miles. Right, South, takes you to Pope John Paul II Park.

Continue underneath the Neponset Bridge and you'll come to the Adams Inn and a stone-dust trail at 2.5 miles.

Note; Bikes are not allowed past this point as it utilizes the Inn's property. The trail currently ends on the other side of the Inn at a boardwalk gazebo at 2.6 miles.

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CLICK HERE FOR QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK MAP

CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY MAP

CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY & QUINCY NEPONSET RIVERWALK MAP

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