MassTrails features 10 trails across Massachusetts each year toward its goal of getting more people active outside. One of the selections in this second year is between the Alewife Brook and Mystic River greenways, a 7-mile route between the MBTA red line stop at Alewife and the orange line stop at Wellington.
MassTrails creates custom webpages for each path that show how to get to them and the attractions, artwork, wildlife and history along them. For the Alewife Brook to Mystic River greenways route it features the Alewife Reservation Constructed Wetland, Middlesex Canal Marker and Torbert Macdonald Park, as well as off-trail attractions Davis Square, the Old Powder House and Amelia Earhart Dam.
The trail webpage goes in depth on the history of the trails and the area, including the brick industry of Somerville and North Cambridge, how the Mystic River was moved to build Interstate 93 and the history of Old Powder House and Nathan Tufts Park.
The Alewife Brook to Mystic River greenways trail’s final section, the Clippership Connector in Medford, opened last summer. The Mystic River Watershed Association helped advocate for completing the trail.
“The Alewife Brook and Mystic River Greenways are cherished assets of our watershed, helping community members to walk, bike and roll for recreation and day-to-day activities,” said Karl Alexander, greenways program senior manager at MyRWA. “We are grateful for the work of the MassTrails program in profiling greenways throughout the commonwealth in an effort to make them more accessible to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.”
MyRWA also helped bring about the Shore Drive Greenway, which is expected to open in 2027 across the Mystic River from Torbert MacDonald Park.
Getting to the trail
In addition to having red and orange line T station bookends, the trail is a 7-minute bicycle ride along Boston Avenue from the green line E branch at Medford/Tufts. Bikes are allowed on the red and orange lines on weekends all day and on weekdays outside of peak hours. Alewife and Wellington have car parking spaces for a small fee.
Bus service crosses the trail at several points, particularly in Medford Square and at Alewife and Wellington. Read more about using the bus bike racks on the MBTA website.
Several community paths intersect the Alewife Brook Greenway at Alewife: the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway to the south, the Minuteman Bikeway to the north, the Fitchburg Cutoff path to the west (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail), and the Cambridge Linear Park (currently under renovation) and Somerville Community Path to the east.
Near Wellington is the Northern Strand Trail that runs north to the Lynn waterfront. It is possible today to use Fellsway to cross the Mystic River and connect to Assembly Square. The Mystic River Crossing breaks ground this year to make this connection possible for more people and is expected to open by the end of 2029.
MassTrails also promotes the trails on social media. Most posts reached roughly 30,000 views, according to a state Department of Conservation and Recreation spokesperson.
Bike activities calendar
Queers on Wheels Shannon Beach Picnic Ride. Meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in Davis Square for a chill picnic ride to Shannon Beach. All queers welcome. Free. Register online.
Boston Cafe Bikers. Boston Cafe Bikers rides 10 a.m. Sunday from Powder House Square to Intelligentsia for coffee. Free.
Cambridge On Road Skills Workshop. Designed for adults who know how to ride but want to build confidence for safety on city streets. At 10 a.m. Thursday at Sennott Park, Broadway at Norfolk Street, near Central Square, Cambridge. The final workshop date listed is July 11. Free.
Intro to Bluebikes Group Ride. The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative has a short demo followed by a beginner-friendly group ride around the neighborhood. Pizza, helmets and Bluebikes coupons are free at 11 a.m. July 11 at the Herter Park Bluebikes station in Brighton. Free, but register.
Family Bike Ride. This sixth annual event is 9:30 a.m. July 12 with community, a safe, curated ride, playground, ice cream, crafts stations, face painting, nail painting, bubbles and outdoor play equipment. Parents must accompany children at all times. Donations encouraged.
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