ARNOLD ARBORETUM LETTERBOX:

JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted:               August 31, 2003

Length:                Arborway Gate to Letterbox; 2 miles

                              Bussey Hill Spur; ¼ mile

                              Walter Street Gate to Letterbox; 0.4 miles

Difficulty:            Moderate for biking. Paved trail with some steep hills. Tough for kids on bikes.

Directions:

On street parking only, no parking lots. From I-95/Route 128 take exit 20A to Route 9 east. Follow for 7 miles and turn right at signs for Jamaicaway (Route 1). Follow Route 1 south for 1.8 miles to the second traffic circle, and then take the Arborway (Route 203) east for a tenth of a mile to the Arborway Gate entrance, on the right. For the Walter Street Gate entrance, take Centre Street (Route 1) from the second traffic circle to Walter Street on the Left. There are a total of 9 Gates at which you may enter the arboretum from the street. Check the map below or online.

You may also access the Arboretum from the subways Orange Line via the Forest Hills Station. Bikes are allowed on the Orange , Blue and Red Lines all day on weekends. For more information about taking your bike on the subway visit;  MBTA-BIKE  .

Note; Arboretum open daily from sunrise to sunset. There is no fee.                                                                                                     

The arboretum contains 3 ½ miles of gated, paved roads for biking. Biking is not permitted on unpaved trails. Founded in 1872, the 265 acre park contains 6,000 kinds of woody plants. Maps of the roads and tree types are stationed at various points throughout the park or are obtainable at the Hunnewell Visitor Center located near the Arborway Gate or web site. For more information check out;  ARNOLD ARBORETUM  .

There are a total of three Bike It or Hike It Letterboxes located in this area. See also; Franklin Park Letterbox and Southwest Corridor Greenway Letterbox (which is actually hidden in Arnold Arboretum). Check out this link for directions to Franklin Park , Southwest Corridor Greenway or the Charles River Bikeway, all located along the Emerald Necklace Greenway . Starting from the Charles River , the Emerald Necklace is a series of interconnecting parks and parkways created by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1891 that pass from Boston through Brookline to Jamaica Plain. The Muddy River  Bikeway, Jamaicaway Bikeway and Arborway connect the Charles River Bikeway in the north to the Southwest Corridor Bikeway in the south as well as Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park .

Starting from the Arborway Gate; Proceed past the Hunnewell Visitors Center along Meadow Road . You come to a T intersection after a ½ mile. Left takes you to the Forest Hills Gate, turn right up Bussey Hill Road . You come to another intersection.

Note; Left takes you a ¼ mile to the top of Bussey Hill.

After checking out the hill, continue straight for 0.3 miles, passing by the Centre Street Gate, down Valley Road to another intersection.

Note; Left takes you to the South Street Gate and the Blackwell Path (see clues for Southwest Corridor Greenway Letterbox).

Turn right up Hemlock Hill Road and pass by the Walter Street Gate on your right to the Bussey Street Gate. Here you must cross the road to Peters Hill Gate and proceed up Peters Hill Road . You then come to another T intersection that forms a loop around Peters Hill. Turn right up the steep road and follow to the top, where a cemetery is on your right and the turnoff to Peters Hill is on your left. You will pass through two granite posts and come to a granite slab. Here you have a picturesque view of the Boston skyline. Proceed to your right past a second granite slab to a third granite slab next to the woods. From the top of the slab spot an Oak tree next to the woods at 100 degrees. You'll spot a faint path heading down into the woods. When you see the double White Birch tree, take a compass reading of 112 degrees. You'll spot another Oak tree with a fallen log at its base. Go around the right side of the Oak to its backside to find the Arnold Arboretum Letterbox underneath the log. Please recover with leaves and sticks. Leaving Peters Hill, turn left down Peters Hill Road . You'll pass by the Mendum Street Gate and then the right turn for the Poplar Gate before completing the loop back to Peters Hill Gate.

HH

CLICK HERE FOR ARNOLD ARBORETUM MAP

CLICK HERE FOR BOSTON BIKE MAP

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

JUNE 21, 2009

TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION

CLICK HERE

BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER

BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING

HOME PAGE