East Boston Greenway Rail Trail, MA

• 5-star trail
• 2.0 miles each way
• Easy difficulty | Easy elevation
• Boston, MA | Greater Boston
• Driving Directions: Marked ⬤ on map


Stunning street art.

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Well, color us surprised. Boston's Logan Airport wouldn't have been our first choice for a bicycle ride, but the East Boston Greenway is now one of our firm favorites and we'd recommend it to anyone. Beginning at the golden sands of Constitution Beach by a large free parking lot, this protected walking and biking trail traces the outskirts of the airport past salt marshes and green parkland before concluding at the piers of Boston Harbor.

Aside from a single traffic light controlled pedestrian junction around the half-way point, this former railroad route is now a completely flat trail and fully segregated from the dangers of any motorized traffic, making it ideal for a bike ride with the kids. If you can tear them away from the beach, or from the large playground and spray-park of Bremen Street Community Park. Commissioned street art brightens the walls of the bridges as you pass under the roads of Eastie, and a bright blue caboose marks trail's end.

Asphalt, Live Rail, Historic. Expand ↓ Map

East Boston Greenway 4★
2 mi each way, Easy, Nominal elevation.
Trailspotting Map: AllTrails
Trailspotting Map: GPX Download
Trailspotting Map: Google Earth KMZ

There's still more to explore along the waterfront. We've marked on our map the bike friendly areas of East Boston's sections of harborwalk including the 0.6 mile section that stretches from Prozio Park to the Skyline Monument where the views of downtown Boston are debossed in concrete as an interpretative guide to the city. West of the port's working shipyard and past Piers Park, new construction is spreading out over disused piers, including new parkland, viewpoints and what looks to be the fitting out of incoming new cafes and restaurants.

Several extant restauraunts, a cider house and an outdoor cafe can be found at the shipyard and marina, and adjacent to the Institute of Conteporary Art's Watershed extension. This art museum's buildings span the Boston Harbor, and a ticket to the museum includes a return boat ride across the harbor.

Water taxis can also be arranged from several points along the East Boston waterfront (marked on our map), though expect to pay at least $15 per person one way. Also, Maverick subway station is located less than 400 feet from the rail trail and downtown Boston (Aquarium station) is just one stop away on the blue line. The MBTA subway allows bikes outside commuting hours on weekdays and at any time on weekends. Folding bikes are welcome any time, though rules about ebikes appear less clear.


Riding Southbound, alongside the commuter rail line.

Note that the North half of the trail is gated and closed between dusk and dawn. We were also surprised to realize that anyone can walk or bike a quarter-mile sidewalk route from the West end of Logan Airport's Terminal A directly to the waterfront harborwalk if you have to while away some time before your next flight. Or if you're leaving the airport, the Ferry Terminal is next to the Hyatt Regency hotel from where you can take a water taxi downtown.

Trail Conditions:
Flat, smooth asphalt. Only one road junction to cross. Trail gets busy at times.

Views from the Boston Harborwalk at rail trail's end.


Planes and trains, but few automobiles on this trail.

Tangents:
• External Links: Public Map at AllTrails, TrailLink, Boston Harborwalk
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Nearby Trails:
• Show on map: All nearby rail trails

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