Mystic River Basin Trails

Both banks of the lower Mystic River have paved trails, allowing for a short and a long loop along the water. The short loop is a two mile trail with no road crossings. The long loop adds side-trips out to Draw Seven Park and the MBTA yard at Wellington Station, but crosses the six lanes of Route 28 twice.

Related website: Lower Mystic Basin Trails

Author: Dan Foster

1. 205A (Overlook)
   Concrete platform looking out onto the Mystic. While you take in the view, try not to think about the fact that you're standing on top of MWRA Wet Water Discharge Outflow #205A
2. ASSEMBLYSQ (Shopping Mall)
   Assembly Square Mall
3. BLESSING (Boat Launch)
   The Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, now run by the Somerville Boys and Girls Club. A dock with small boats for the children of Somerville. Check out the Mystic River mural at the intersection of Shore Drive and Rt 16!
4. BLOCK 1 (Overlook)
   Concrete platform looking out onto the Mystic
5. CROSSWALK1 (Crosswalk)
   Crosswalk
6. CROSSWALK2 (Crosswalk)
   Crosswalk
7. DRAW 7 (Bridge)
   Draw Seven Bridge
8. DRAW7PK (Park)
   Draw Seven Park
9. EARHARTDAM (Dam)
   Amelia Earhart Dam
10. FISH DOCK (Dock)
    A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
11. LOOP (Junction)
    Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
12. MEADOWGLEN (Shopping Mall)
    Meadow Glen Mall
13. OBS TOWER (Tower)
    Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park. There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
14. PARKING (Parking)
    Parking Lot
15. RT 16 (Bridge)
    General Lawrence Bridge. Route 16 crosses the Mystic River. The bike path continues under the bridge on the east side of the river, but is currently torn up by construction near Hormel Stadium.
16. RT 28 (Bridge)
    Wellington Bridge Route 28 crosses the Mystic River on this 6 lane bridge. Pedestrian walkways on both sides. Access to the Assembly Square mall is at the south end of the bridge.
17. ST POLICE (Building)
    State Police Barracks
18. THE BEACH (Beach)
    The "Somerville Beach" People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
19. TUFTS PARK (Park)
    Tufts Park
20. WELL YACHT (Boat Launch)
    Mystic Wellington Yacht Club
21. WELLING PT (Dead End)
    Wellington Point The bike trail is unpaved beyond this point. A dirt road continues under the railroad bridge. Continue at your own risk...
22. WELLINGTON (Station)
    Wellington
23. YACHT CLUB (Boat Launch)
    Winter Hill Yacht Club

LONG LOOP (Route 1)

Mystic Riverfront Walking Tour
The long loop around the Mystic River, with stops at Draw Seven Park and the MBTA yard at Wellington Station (Orange Line). Crosses Route 28 twice

1. LOOP - Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
   Along Route 93 The bike path heads south, parallel Route 93. The first stretch is sheltered by a spit of land, but once you pass it the wind hits you head-on.
   
   
2. THE BEACH - The "Somerville Beach" People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
   
   
   
3. BLESSING - The Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, now run by the Somerville Boys and Girls Club. A dock with small boats for the children of Somerville. Check out the Mystic River mural at the intersection of Shore Drive and Rt 16!
   Shore Drive The path winds along Shore Drive, and dumps you out on Route 28. There's a crosswalk a half block south, so you don't have to cross six lanes of traffic.
   
   
4. CROSSWALK1 - Crosswalk
   Behind Assembly Square Mall The path resumes on the East side of Route 28. Shopping carts from the mall like to swim in the river along this part of the trail...
   
   
5. YACHT CLUB - Winter Hill Yacht Club
   Draw Seven Park Watch for pedestrians as you take the blind turn under the Wellington bridge...
   
   
6. DRAW7PK - Draw Seven Park
   
   
   
7. EARHARTDAM - Amelia Earhart Dam
   
   
   
8. BLOCK 1 - Concrete platform looking out onto the Mystic
   
   
   
9. RT 28 - Wellington Bridge Route 28 crosses the Mystic River on this 6 lane bridge. Pedestrian walkways on both sides. Access to the Assembly Square mall is at the south end of the bridge.
   
   
   
10. WELL YACHT - Mystic Wellington Yacht Club
    Wellington MBTA Climb up the grassy slope for a good look into the Wellington MBTA station and car shops. Past Wellington, the asphalt trail is torn up by tree roots, and ends under the bridge.
    
    
11. WELLING PT - Wellington Point The bike trail is unpaved beyond this point. A dirt road continues under the railroad bridge. Continue at your own risk...
    
    
    
12. WELL YACHT - Mystic Wellington Yacht Club
    The Officepark There's usually a few Canada Geese on the lawn outside the office buildings.
    
    
13. CROSSWALK2 - Crosswalk
    The Marshlands The trail through the marsh is criss-crossed with paths through the tall grass. Keep to the center of the trail and watch out for men exiting the bushes.
    
    
14. PARKING - Parking Lot
    Torbert McDonald Park This section of the trail along the water is popular with joggers and dog-walkers.
    
    
15. FISH DOCK - A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
    Torbert McDonald Park 2 The river path changes to gravel after the fishing dock
    
    
16. OBS TOWER - Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park. There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
    Route 16 Leaving the park, the trail joins Route 16 opposite the Meadow Glen mall.
    
    
17. RT 16 - General Lawrence Bridge. Route 16 crosses the Mystic River. The bike path continues under the bridge on the east side of the river, but is currently torn up by construction near Hormel Stadium.
    General Lowrance Bridge For some reason, there's always a strong headwind crossing this bridge to the finish...
    
    
18. LOOP - Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
    
    
    

SHORT LOOP (Route 3)

Short Mystic River loop. This loop circles the portion of the Mystic River enclosed by Routes 93, 16, and 28. It's short, but you can do the entire loop without crossing any roads.

1. LOOP - Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
   
   
   
2. THE BEACH - The "Somerville Beach" People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
   
   
   
3. BLESSING - The Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, now run by the Somerville Boys and Girls Club. A dock with small boats for the children of Somerville. Check out the Mystic River mural at the intersection of Shore Drive and Rt 16!
   
   
   
4. RT 28 - Wellington Bridge Route 28 crosses the Mystic River on this 6 lane bridge. Pedestrian walkways on both sides. Access to the Assembly Square mall is at the south end of the bridge.
   
   
   
5. FISH DOCK - A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
   
   
   
6. OBS TOWER - Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park. There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
   
   
   
7. RT 16 - General Lawrence Bridge. Route 16 crosses the Mystic River. The bike path continues under the bridge on the east side of the river, but is currently torn up by construction near Hormel Stadium.
   
   
   
8. LOOP - Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
   
   
   

LONG TRACK (Track 2)

Tracklog from Long Loop

SHORT TRACK (Track 4)

Lower Mystic Basin Trail
Bike path along the Mystic River in Medford. The trail runs along Interstate 93 to Shore Road. It then crosses the Mystic on the Route 38 bridge near the Assembly Square mall. After the bridge, the trail cuts through the high meadow grass behind the State Police barracks, and enters Torbert McDonald Park. Leaving the park, the trail passes the Meadow Glen mall before crossing back over the Mystic on the Rt 16 bridge.

TUFTS CONNECT (Track 5)

Connecting route from Tufts Park to beginning of Mystic Basin loop trail.

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