ALEWIFE BROOK GREENWAY:

ARLINGTON/CAMBRIDGE/SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:      May 1, 2025

Length:                Alewife Brook Greenway Loop; 3.7 miles

                              Alewife Brook Pathway; 0.5 mile Loop

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, paved, stone-dust & boardwalk trails. 

Directions:     

To start from Acorn Park Drive parking lot in Cambridge for the Alewife Brook Greenway [Southern End]; From I-95, take exit 45 to Route 2 east to Alewife. Take the exit for Alewife Station Access Rd and take your first right onto Acorn Park Dr. Parking lot on your left.

Or take the subways Red-Line to access the Alewife Station. See; MBTA for more information. For information about taking your bike on the subway. See; MBTA/BIKES . 

North of Route 2: The Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section follows paths along both the Eastern & Western Sides of Alewife Brook in the Alewife Reservation. Some of the paths are paved, others stone-dust or boardwalk. They connect the Mystic River Paths at the Northern End to the Minuteman Bikeway & Alewife T Station at the Southern End.

South of Route 2: The Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section follows along both the Northern & Southern Sides  of Little River in the Alewife Reservation.

Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section:

Northern Side:

Starting from the Acorn Park Drive parking lot in Cambridge [Eastern End]; Map Board, informational signs, gardens, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and lots of bunnies.

Heading West; The paved Alewife Brook Greenway travels West, along Acorn Park Dr, past Acorn Park Pond and open & sports fields out to Acorn Park Dr at 0.1 miles. BLUEbikes location here, as well as, the Acorn Park Drive BIKE LANE. This BIKE LANE runs from Route 2 West, along Acorn Park Dr and around Discovery Park back out to Route 2 after 0.7 miles. You can also travel through Discovery Park, which is a mix of residential and commercial. 

Heading East; The paved Alewife Brook Greenway passes lots of 911 Phone poles before emerging at the Alewife Station Access Rd. Head left, South, along the narrow paved path alongside the access road. This will bring you to a crosswalk after 0.2 miles. Across the road is the Alewife T- Station "Hub". On your right is a wooden bridge and the start of the Fitchburg Cutoff, part of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont . 

Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section:

Southern Side:

Starting from the Alewife T- Station "Hub" in Cambridge [Eastern End]; Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. Cross the Alewife Station Access Rd and travel East, over the old RR bridge, along the Fitchburg Cutoff, part of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont . The shaded, paved trail follows alongside Alewife Reservation. Quickly come to an intersection on your left. 

Alewife Brook Pathway:

Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section:

Western Side:

Starting from the Alewife T- Station "Hub" in Cambridge; Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. Heading North, along the Minuteman Bikeway alongside Alewife Station Access Rd, you'll pass by a granite Marker on your right with either a C or G and 10 feet (unable to figure out its meaning) before crossing a bridge over the Little River (this river flows into Alewife Brook) and traveling underneath Route 2. On your right will be the start of the Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section after 0.2 miles. Travel Northeast, through the marsh along the boardwalk and you'll come to a stone-dust path that runs along the Western Side of Alewife Brook. The brook resembles more of a canal at this point as it is cement lined. The path travels along the brook through a residential corridor. Reach Mass Ave at 0.7 miles where you'll find the small Arlington Bicentennial Park. You'll need to head right across the brook to reach a cross-light over Mass Ave before returning back over the brook and continuing North. Come to Cross St and head right, over the brook, as St Paul's Cemetery blocks the way, into Somerville. Travel along the a wide paved path along the Eastern Side of Alewife Brook alongside Alewife Brook Pkwy. Cross Broadway at 1.2 mile and head left back across the brook where a boardwalk takes you North, along the Western Side of Alewife Brook. This section consists of both stone-dust & boardwalks. Come to an intersection just before reaching the *Mystic River Pkwy at 1.7 miles.

Note; Left will bring you to the small Decatur Street parking lot.

Note; From here you can access the Upper Mystic River Paths via a crosswalk over Mystic River Pkwy. This is where Alewife Brook drains into the Mystic River. See; Mystic River Paths .

Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section:

Eastern Side:

Continuing from the *Mystic River Pkwy in Arlington [Continuing Mileage] Head right, East, across Alewife Brook to Somerville, where the wide paved Alewife Brook Greenway now travels South, back along the Eastern Side of Alewife Brook and alongside Alewife Brook Pkwy. Pass by  Dilboy Memorial Stadium & Pool, sports fields and a playground before crossing Broadway at 2.4 miles and Mass Ave at 2.9 miles. 

Note; As of 2024, there is no path past Mass Ave, although there is plenty of room for one.

Head right, back over the brook and rejoin the stone-dust path as you continue left, South, along the Western Side of Alewife Brook. This will return you to the Minuteman Bikeway at 3.5 miles. Then retrace your route South, back to the Alewife T- Station "Hub" after a 3.7 mile Loop.

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