Length:                  Mystic River Loop; 2.9 miles

                                Mystic River Loop & all Spur Trails; 7.8 miles    

 Difficulty:             Easy. Flat, paved surface.

To start from McDonald Park; From the junction of Routes 16 & 28, take Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) west and immediately turn left into McDonald Park .

Alewife T-Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston is a hub for four trails that radiate from it, as well as, another proposed future trail. From the northwest, the Minuteman Trail terminates here. See; Minuteman Bikeway Letterbox . Head south for the Fresh Pond Trail.  See; Fresh Pond Letterbox and a future spur from Fresh Pond that will connect to the Charles River Bikeway called the Watertown Branch Rail Trail. See; Watertown Branch Rail Trail .West takes you along the Fitchburg Cutoff, a short trail that is part of the larger Mass Central Rail Trail and still a work in progress. See; Fitchburg Cutoff . East takes you along the Red Line Linear Path which turns into the Somerville Community Path, both of which are part of the larger Mass Central Rail Trail. See; Somerville Community Path . A proposed trail heading northeast called the Alewife Brook Trail would connect to the Mystic River and the Mystic River Paths. For more information visit; MYSTIC RIVER RESERVATION .

The Mystic River Reservation is made up of our four parks and runs through Medford, Somerville and Everett. The Mary O'Malley Park has a boat landing and tennis courts. The Torbert McDonald Park offers many natural sites and trails. Draw Seven Park has two soccer fields next to the dam. The park area called Mystic Lakes is a popular summer spot with its combination of beach facilities and natural shady areas. The parks are run by the Metropolitan District Commission and admission to the reservation and its parks is free. The bike trail runs along both sides of the river with the Route 16 Bridge acting as a crossing link.

Starting from McDonald Park; There is a signboard located here next to the parking lot. Head west (keeping Mystic Valley Parkway along your right) and you’ll immediately come to an intersection. Left takes you out to Route 28, but this is part of your return loop. Instead, continue straight as the trail briefly travels alongside Mystic Valley Parkway, past a platform overlooking an inlet. Turn left, away from the road and follow the outside trail, keeping left, as you pass by inner connecting trails through the park. The trail takes you down along the river, where, at 0.4 miles you’ll come to a platform overlooking the Mystic River. The trail then changes briefly to stone-dust and heads back inland and is paved again. Keep to your left as you pass by more inter connecting trails and this will bring you to a wooden observation tower at ¾ miles. This tower overlooks marsh between you and the river and affords you views of downtown Boston. The trail continues out alongside the parkway and takes you to the Route 16 Bridge at a mile.

Note; A Spur Trail is accessible by turning left and traveling underneath the Route 16 Bridge to the other side. This brings you to Mystic Riverbend Park. A map board is located here next to some granite benches, as well as, informational signs that continue along the trail. When you come to an intersection, continue straight. Next you’ll come to a traffic circle where the paved trail heads right. Keep left along the river on the stone-dust trail. The trail becomes paved again and then turns inland at about ¾ miles. This brings you to a school. Left accesses Riverside Ave so turn right and travel behind the school. Bear left at the fork and this will bring you to another school. Turn right and travel behind the school, past the playground staying straight. This will bring you back to the trail along the river. Turn left and you’ll eventually travel back underneath the Route 16 Bridge to your starting point after a 1 ½ mile loop.

Cross over the Route 16 Bridge to Somerville and turn left. Continue straight at the intersection, as left only takes you underneath the bridge to the opposite side. The trail takes you between the river and I-93 until you come to a parking lot for the Boys & Girls Club at 1.9 miles. There are benches and picnic tables located here. The trail then travels alongside Shore Drive and brings you to Route 28 at 2 ¼ miles. Left takes you over the Wellington Bridge.

Note; Another Spur Trail take will take you down along the river to Draw 7 Park. Turn right and follow the sidewalk down to a cross-light that will get you over busy Route 28. Then turn left and head back towards the bridge, where you’ll pick up the trail on the right. The trail follows along the river and brings you to the first of two platforms overlooking the river. You pass by a Yacht Club after ¾ miles and travel underneath Boston s “orange” T-Line. This brings you to Draw 7 Park and the Craddock Locks at the Amelia Earhart Dam*. There is a picnic pavilion and benches overlooking the river. You can also see the Bunker Hill Monument from here. The trail currently ends after a mile underneath a railroad bridge. Future plans call for continuing the trail along the river through the MBTA’s Charlestown Yards and connecting to the Charlestown Harborwalk that currently ends next to the Route 99 Bridge at the Schrafft Center. See; BOSTON HARBORWALK and Boston Harborwalk; JFK Letterbox . Return to the Wellington Bridge for a 2 mile loop.

Cross over the ¼ mile Wellington Bridge (pedestrian walkways on both sides) and you’ll be back in Medford.

Note; Another Spur Trail takes you east down along the Mystic River from here to the confluence of the Malden River. Turn right along the paved trail and you’ll pass through a small park and come to a boat launch at the end of Constitution Way. If you head up Constitution Way you can access the MBTA’s Wellington T-Station on the Orange-Line. For more information visit; MBTA or BIKES ON MBTA . After passing by the Mystic Dock to your left and  the MBTA’s Wellington Rail Yard on your left, the trail becomes broken up from tree roots. A ½ mile brings you alongside the tracks, then underneath them to the mouth of the Malden River and the current end of the trail at 0.7 miles. Future plans call for continuing the trail northward along the Malden River as part of the Harborwalk or Malden River Paths. Return to the Wellington Bridge for a 1.4 mile loop.

After crossing over the Wellington Bridge, continue straight along Route 28 to a cross-light that will take you over this very busy road. Turn left and head back towards the bridge. Turn right and follow the trail over a wooden bridge. The trail is very overgrown and a bit narrow. Keep to your left and you’ll eventually return to the parking lot at McDonald Park after 2.9 miles. If you rode all of the Spur Trails your total is 7.8 miles.

*Extensive salt marsh lined the banks of the Mystic River until 1909, when the first dam was built across the river (Craddock Locks), converting salt marsh to freshwater marsh and enabling development. Today's dam, named for Amelia Earhart, was built in 1966. It converted the Malden River to freshwater non-tidal. This dam was more sophisticated than the simple iron gates of the Craddock Locks.  It is a permanent concrete structure with three passages to allow boats to pass through. There is a tower where workers observe incoming boats and open the lock accordingly. The dam is equipped with a pump, and is able to pump freshwater downstream even during high tide to prevent flooding. The river flows backwards at times depending on the dam. It was modeled after the Charles River Dam, which is very similar in structure and purpose. Fish passage has been a problem, as there is no working fish ladder there, but workers do leave the locks open at times to allow fish to pass. Currently, there is no pedestrian access to the dam, although many people are pushing to allow access.