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.
Dan Foster
Lower Mystic Basin Trails
mystic river, medford, tufts, biking, trail, draw seven park, wellington, amelia earhart dam

CSO 205A
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
Overlook

ASSEMBLYSQ
ASSEMBLY SQUARE MALL
Assembly Square Mall
Shopping Mall

BLESSING
BLESSING OF THE BAY
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!
Boat-building on the Mystic River
Boat Launch

BLOCK 1
Concrete platform looking out onto the Mystic
Overlook

CROSSWALK
Crosswalk

Crosswalk

DRAW 7
DRAW SEVEN BRIDGE
Draw Seven Bridge
Bridge

DRAW SEVEN PARK
Draw Seven Park
Park

EARHARTDAM
AMELIA EARHART DAM
Amelia Earhart Dam
Dam

FISH DOCK
FISHING DOCK
A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
Dock

LOOP
STARTING POINT FOR LOOP TRAILS
Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
Junction

MEADOWGLEN
MEADOW GLEN MALL
Meadow Glen Mall
Shopping Mall

OBS TOWER
OBSERVATION TOWER
Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park.
There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
Tower

PARKING
PARKING LOT
Parking Lot
Parking

RT 16
LAWRENCE 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.
Bridge

RT 28
WELLINGTON 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.
Bridge

ST POLICE
STATE POLICE
State Police Barracks
Building

THE BEACH
SOMERVILLE BEACH
The "Somerville Beach"
People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
Beach

TUFTS PARK
Tufts Park
Tufts Park Redesign
Park

WELL YACHT
WELLINGTON YACHT CLUB
Mystic Wellington Yacht Club
Boat Launch

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...
Dead End

WELLINGTON
Wellington
Wellington MBTA Schedule
Station

YACHT CLUB
WINTER HILL YACHT CLUB
Winter Hill Yacht Club
Boat Launch

LONG LOOP
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
Mystic Riverfront Walking Tour
LOOP
STARTING POINT FOR LOOP TRAILS
Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
Junction
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.
THE BEACH
SOMERVILLE BEACH
The "Somerville Beach"
People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
Beach
BLESSING
BLESSING OF THE BAY
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!
Boat-building on the Mystic River
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.
CROSSWALK
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...
YACHT CLUB
WINTER HILL YACHT CLUB
Winter Hill Yacht Club
Draw Seven Park
Watch for pedestrians as you take the blind turn under the Wellington bridge...
DRAW SEVEN PARK
Park
EARHARTDAM
AMELIA EARHART DAM
Amelia Earhart Dam
Dam
BLOCK 1
Concrete platform looking out onto the Mystic
Overlook
RT 28
WELLINGTON 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.
WELL YACHT
WELLINGTON YACHT CLUB
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.
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...
Dead End
The Officepark
There's usually a few Canada Geese on the lawn outside the office buildings.
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.
PARKING
PARKING LOT
Parking Lot
Parking
Torbert McDonald Park
This section of the trail along the water is popular with joggers and dog-walkers.
FISH DOCK
FISHING DOCK
A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
Dock
Torbert McDonald Park 2
The river path changes to gravel after the fishing dock
OBS TOWER
OBSERVATION TOWER
Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park.
There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
Tower
Route 16
Leaving the park, the trail joins Route 16 opposite the Meadow Glen mall.
LAWRENCE 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.
General Lowrance Bridge
For some reason, there's always a strong headwind crossing this bridge to the finish...

SHORT LOOP
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.
LOOP
STARTING POINT FOR LOOP TRAILS
Starting point for the Mystic River loop trails.
Junction
THE BEACH
SOMERVILLE BEACH
The "Somerville Beach"
People actually used to swim here. Now only shopping carts do.
Beach
BLESSING
BLESSING OF THE BAY
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!
Boat-building on the Mystic River
WELLINGTON 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.
FISH DOCK
FISHING DOCK
A wooden fishing dock along the Mystic River in the middle of Torbert McDonald Park.
Dock
OBS TOWER
OBSERVATION TOWER
Observation Tower in Torbert McDonald Park.
There are good views of the river from atop the wooden observation tower.
Tower
LAWRENCE 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.

LONG TRACK
Tracklog from Long Loop

SHORT TRACK
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.
Lower Mystic Basin Trail

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