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 .
HH
CLICK HERE FOR NEPONSET MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND
DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
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