NEPONSET TRAIL

NEPONSET TRAIL:

DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted: NO LETTERBOX PLANTED AT THIS TIME

Length: Neponset Trail; 2.3 miles completed.

Connector Trail to the completed Boston HarborWalk (JFK/Umass entrance); 2.2 miles

Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved trail.

Directions:

To start from Pope Paul Park; 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 trailhead in Milton; 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 left onto Gallivan Blvd. and take to Dorchester Ave, where you turn left. At the junction of Adams Street and Washington Street, turn right up Washington Street and then bear left onto River Street. At the junction of River Street and Sturbridge Street will be a Brooks Pharmacy parking lot. This is where I parked. The trailhead starts across the bridge and before the railroad tracks on the left. From I-93 southbound, take exit 12 to Gallivan Blvd. After you exit the ramp, you must head east to a left turn lane that will take you west on Gallivan Blvd. Pass by Granite Ave and turn left when you reach Dorchester Ave. See above for directions.

The Neponset Trail 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. Currently completed from Taylor Street to Milton, future plans call for continuing the trail westward out to Mattapan and northward to the trails along Dorchester Bay. The wide paved trail is well done with granite posts naming the street crossings and signboards all along the route. For more information visit; NEPONSET TRAIL

Starting from the Neponset trailhead in Milton ; The Neponset River is to your left and the Mattapan Trolley Line is on your right as you begin your journey. 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 trestle crossing the river. 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 after a ¼ mile. Here, the river was dammed for power. You cross over the river at 0.4 miles on an old rail bridge and pass through a concrete tunnel below the trolley line at 0.8 miles. This brings you to a short stone-dust section of the trail as it passes along the river and marsh. You come to the Granite Ave Drawbridge at 1.2 miles. A cross-light will take you over to the new Neponset II Park. Designed through a community process, the new Neponset II Park will provide access to the Neponset River Salt Marsh, one of the few remaining extensive salt marshes within the Boston area. Just north of Granite Avenue , three cleaned up former industrial/commercial properties acquired by the Department of Conservation and Recreation are the site for the new Neponset II Park. The new park will provide direct access to the Nep onset River for non-motorized boats. 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. After passing through a tunnel you enter Pope Paul II Park. You must turn left at the intersection, as the trail right is a pedestrian only trail through the park. You'll come to a playground and parking lot just short of 2 miles. There are some portable toilets here as well.

Note; There are no bikes allowed on the trails that loop through the park.

The trail then passes beneath the Neponset Ave Bridge (Route 3A) and a railroad trestle as you come to a stone jetty called "Flounder Fleet". There are benches here and granite markers inscribed with local lore. The trail currently ends at Taylor Street after 2.3 miles. There is another signboard here with a map of the on-road section.

This is the start of the on-road connector to the Dorchester Bay section and the completed section of the Boston HarborWalk. There are green metal signposts that will help direct you along the connector. Head right down Taylor Street and follow it around and straight through the intersection on Water Street . These are residential streets. Take a right and then a quick left following the signs. This brings you to Tenean Beach at 2.7 miles, where there are several paved trails through the park. There is a playground here, as well as picnic tables. After traveling through the park, you pass beneath I-93 following a sidewalk. Take a right on Tenean Street which will then parallel Morrissey Blvd. This is on-road. Bear right along Freeport Street , which travels alongside I-93. 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 3.8 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. At 4.1 miles you come to the Dorchester Shore Reservation entrance on the opposite side of the Blvd.

Note; There is parking available there, as well as, a ½ mile paved path which follows crescent-shaped Malibu Beach around a small saltwater bay. However, if you wish to check it out, continue up the trail to a cross-light across this busy road.

Continuing down the sidewalk, you'll come to a path on your right leading to the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A must visit, as a path from the memorial leads you up to bench area overlooking the bay. You come to the Umass Boston/JFK Library entrance at 4 ½ miles. This is the start of the completed section of the Boston HarborWalk. See; Boston Harborwalk-JFK Letterbox .

CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET MAP

BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER

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