COCHITUATE AQUEDUCT TRAIL:
NATICK-WELLESLEY-NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: September 10, 2025
Length: Cochituate Aqueduct Trail; Natick/Wellesley Sections; 7.3 miles
Cochituate Aqueduct Trail; Newton Section; Northern Section; 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Cochituate Aqueduct Trail; Natick Section; Moderate. Narrow dirt & grass trail w/tree roots. Mt bike recommended.
Cochituate Aqueduct Trail; Wellesley Section; Easy. Wide hard packed dirt trail w/some on-road sections, including downtown area.
Cochituate Aqueduct Trail; Newton Section; The Western Section is very fragmented and not worth the effort. The Northern Section consists of a hard packed dirt surface.
Directions:
Starting from Huron Drive in Natick [Western End]; From I-90 take exit 117 to Route 30 E. Take your first right on Speen St and follow to Route 9 E. Travel 2.2 miles and turn left on Oak St. Follow for 0.7 miles and turn left on Erie Dr. Take your next left on Huron Dr. Pass by the 2nd industrial building on your left, where you can access the trail down the driveway. Park along Huron Dr.
Starting from Route 9 in Wellesley [Northwestern End]; From I-90 take exit 117 to Route 30 E. Take your first right on Speen St and follow to Route 9 E. Travel 2.9 miles and turn right into a large parking lot (across from Lexington Rd). Then follow the narrow paved path west a short distance along Route 9 to access the trailhead.
The Aqueduct Trail System is an ongoing collaboration between the Mass Water Resources Authority and Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The focus is to identify and develop a connected trail system along the four Aqueducts (Cochituate, Sudbury, Wachusett, Weston). Starting from Berlin, the Wachusett Aqueduct Trail travels South, through Northborough, then East, to the Sudbury Reservoir in Southborough. The Weston Aqueduct Trail begins in Framingham and travels East, to the Weston Reservoir in Weston. The Sudbury Aqueduct Trail begins from the Sudbury River Reservoir in Framingham and travels East, to Newton. The Cochituate Aqueduct Trail starts from Natick and travels East, to Newton. See; Cochituate Aqueduct Trail , Sudbury Aqueduct Trail , Wachusett Aqueduct Trail & Weston Aqueduct Trail . For more information visit; AQUEDUCT TRAILS .
The Cochituate Aqueduct Trail follows the path of the Cochituate Aqueduct. Opened in 1851, the now closed 14 mile long Aqueduct traveled from Lake Cochituate in Natick to Brookline Reservoir in Brookline. The Cochituate Aqueduct Trail utilizes part of this route. From Lake Cochituate, East, the Aqueduct followed the route along Snake Brook in Natick, before crossing I-90 and turning Southeast, through a development. None of this route is accessible. The Cochituate Aqueduct Trail starts from Huron Dr in Natick and travels Southeast, to Wellesley, then Northeast, to Newton, where there is a Gap. In Newton, the trail travels East, to Cold Spring Park, where the trail continues North.
COCHITUATE AQUEDUCT TRAIL:
Natick East to Newton:
Natick-Wellesley Section:
Starting from Huron Drive in Natick [Western End]; From Erie Dr, pass by the 2nd industrial building on your left, where you can access the Cochituate Aqueduct Trail at the end of the driveway. Come to an intersection.
Note; Straight, South, leads to the Pickerel Pond Trail (See Map Below).
Note; Heading right, Northwest, the Trail is inaccessible.
The narrow, dirt & tree root, Cochituate Aqueduct Trail travels left, Southeast. This trail follows the Cochituate Aqueduct alongside the marsh of Pickerel Pond. Emerge onto Erie Dr and head right, out to Oak St, where you'll come to the Oak Street BIKE LANE.
Note; The 1.2 mile Oak Street BIKE LANE starts from Route 9 and travels North, to Winter St.
Follow this BIKE LANE right (narrow sidewalk is available) and you'll quickly come to Rathbun Rd on your left. (Caution no crosswalk). Follow Rathbun Rd a short distance, until it turns left. The Aqueduct continues straight ahead. Again, a narrow dirt & tree root trail, which follows a ridgeline. You then travel through wetlands w/some boardwalks before crossing Oxford St, followed by Overbrook Dr at 1 mile. Here the trail crosses into Wellesley. The trail emerges at Route 9 after 1.2 miles. The Aqueduct continues across the road, however, you'll need to detour to cross this busy road. Travel right, West, on-road (wide shoulder/narrow paved path available) to Overbrook Rd, where you'll find a cross-light. Then head left, East, back along Route 9 (wide shoulder/narrow paved path available) to the trail head on your right at 1.6 miles. [0.4 mile Detour]
Note; This section of the Cochituate Aqueduct is also part of the Wellesley Trails Crosstown Trail.
Continuing from Route 9 (Worcester St) in Wellesley; [Continuing Mileage] The hard packed dirt and grass Cochituate Aqueduct Trail/Crosstown Trail heads into the woods Southeast, along the Cochituate Aqueduct, passes by an old brick Aqueduct Pump House and travels alongside Morses Pond. You pass by Pine Point, where a Pine grove overlooks along the pond. The trail crosses Russell Rd at 2.1 miles and passes through a parking area where the trail widens. After 2.5 miles you cross Turner Rd and come to a Map Board.
Note; You can check out the Morses Pond Loop Trail from here. See Wellesley Trails .
The Crosstown Trail heads East, back along the Cochituate Aqueduct through Wellesley College's "North 40". You emerge onto Weston Rd after passing by an electrical station. Turn right for cross-light, then right again over Linden St and travel left on-road down Linden St. Turn right when you reach Crest Rd, travel over the RR tracks and you'll pass by the Wellesley Square Station before coming to Central St. Places to eat & shop here. Turn left and travel past a small park to a Map Board at Grove & Central streets. Head left, on Grove St towards the Post Office. Just past Wakelyn Way will be a narrow paved path. Follow this path through Morton Park, with it's benches and picnic tables up to Wellesley Town Hall. This is an impressive old stone building with turrets and stone balcony's. Travel around the right side to the front which overlooks a memorial and the Wellesley Library below. The old town hall bell is located here. Continue straight down the entrance and over a wooden bridge. Turn left right after the bridge along a woodchip path along a small pond. When you come to a bench the trail turns right and travels up a grassy hill to a small paved path. Head right out to Washington St. A quick right will bring you to a cross-light. Head left, along Washington St to State St and turn right. State St becomes Smith St. This will bring you to the Crosstown Trail/Brook Path on your left. The Wellesley High School Stadium parking lot is located here. Another Map Board is located here.
Note; The Brook Path crosses here. See Wellesley Trails .
Head left, past the parking lot and a Map Board to an intersection at 4.2 miles.
Note; The Brook Path continues straight.
The Crosstown Trail turns left, Northeast, over a small bridge and along a dirt trail. This brings you back up to the Cochituate Aqueduct, where you turn right and follow the wide berm through Hunnewell Fields. Cross Rice St to a single track dirt trail. Cross Forest St and come to Laurel St. Head left, on-road out to Washington St and head right, on-road along Washington St (no shoulder/sidewalk available), passing by the Wellesley Hills Station on your left. If you get a chance, check out the old brownstone station, especially the train platform. Just past the train station is Cliff Rd. Head left, on-road along Cliff Rd (no shoulder/narrow paved path available) crossing over the RR tracks and underneath Route 9. Come to Garden Rd on your right and turn right. This residential road also has a narrow paved path available. Bear right along Colburn Rd (residential/narrow paved path available) and follow to Woodlawn Ave. Head right, on-road (no shoulder/sidewalk available) crossing back over the RR tracks. Come to Fuller Rd on your left and spot a Map Board at 5.9 miles. Stairs lead down to the Crosstown Trail (Cochituate Aqueduct), but if your biking you'll notice a "bike rail" along the left side of the stairs. This allows you to place your bike wheels inside the rail and walk your bike down the stairs. The Cochituate Aqueduct is a wide, hard packed dirt trail that travels through a gully and past an old granite Aqueduct Gatehouse. Cross Croton St and you travel East, along a ridge through Indian Springs Park. When you come to Washington St, take a quick right to access a cross-light, then back down to the trail past Warren Park and a parking lot. When you reach Walnut St you'll pick up the Walnut Street Trail .
Note; The wide, paved Walnut Street Trail starts from the Route 16 BIKE LANE and travels Northeast, 0.9 miles to the Charles River.
Head left, along the wide, paved Walnut Street Trail to the intersection of River & Cedar Streets. Cross Walnut St, then Cedar St, where the Crosstown Trail (Cochituate Aqueduct) continues on the left. An 1848 block of granite sits next to the trail here. Head East, up a grass & dirt trail which then heads back down to the intersection of the Charles River Path after 7.3 miles.
Note; The Cochituate Aqueduct continues straight, East, across an old stone Aqueduct Bridge over the river to I-95. Possible future crossing for the Cochituate Aqueduct Trail into Newton.
Note; To connect to the Cochituate Aqueduct & Cochituate Aqueduct Trail in Newton you'll have to Detour, as the Aqueduct continues straight ahead, across an old Aqueduct Bridge over the Charles River and is blocked on the opposite side by I-95. Heading left, North, along the hard packed dirt & grass Charles River Path, 0.2 miles brings you out to Walnut St. Head right, across the Charles River to Quinobequin Road. Next you'll need to head right on-road (Not recommended for novice bikers), crossing an on-ramp for I-95. Come to *East Quinobequin Road in Newton on your left after 0.6 miles. Spot the brick Aqueduct Pump House. This is where the Aqueduct was pumped uphill.
Newton Section:
I haven't checked out this section yet. Starting from *East Quinobequin Road in Newton; [Western End] Spot the brick Aqueduct Pump House. This is where the Aqueduct was pumped uphill. Not sure how well the trail is marked. See; Cochituate & Sudbury Aqueduct Loop Trail for route. The Cochituate Aqueduct Trail travels East, through Waban, to the Southern Side of the Waban MBTA Station, where the trail is blocked by the tracks. The trail up to here is very fragmented and not worth the effort. Not sure of the mileage.
From Wyman St, on the Northern Side of the Waban MBTA Station, the trail travels East, 0.4 miles to Upland Road, but is very fragmented and not worth the effort.
From Upland Road, the wider trail appears to be fairly easy to navigate, as it continues East, to Cold Spring Park, where it turns North, to Carthay Circle, just shy of Beacon St, another 1.1 miles. From here you can access the Sudbury Aqueduct Trail. See; Cochituate & Sudbury Aqueduct Loop Trail for route.
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CLICK HERE FOR AQUEDUCT TRAIL SYSTEM MAP
CLICK HERE FOR COCHITUATE AQUEDUCT TRAIL; NATICK SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR COCHITUATE AQUEDUCT TRAIL; WELLESLEY SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR NATICK PICKEREL POND TRAIL MAP
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