The 10 Best Bike Paths for Families in Boston

Whether you’re new to bike riding or a veteran peddler, these paths are perfect for a family day of fun.

Summer and fall are the best times to get out and explore all the natural beauty that surrounds Boston. Whether you’re towing your little ones in a trailer or teaching them to ride on their own, a family bike day is a great way to connect with nature and get lots of healthy exercise.

Luckily Boston and the surrounding towns are full of bike paths that are smooth and family-friendly. Whether you want to bike along the ocean or through the woods, these 10 bike paths will provide a fun day out. It’s worth noting that while these paths are great for bike riding, they’re also perfect for walking, pushing strollers, or even rollerblading. Whatever your activity of choice is, these bike paths will help any parent, babysitter, or nanny explore easily and safely with their adventurous kids.

The Esplanade

Address: 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02108
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Isaac Wedin

You can’t talk about biking in Boston without mentioning the Charles River Esplanade. The 3-mile-long park stretches along the Charles River from Boston University to the Museum of Science. The Esplanade has paved bike paths, playgrounds, and plenty of places to picnic. Kids will love watching the sailboats along the river and keeping an eye out for wildlife, like ducklings.

The Esplanade paths are paved and well-maintained, making them a great place to ride. However, it’s worth noting that this popular spot does get very busy, especially on sunny weekend days. Like many places in the city it can be tricky to find parking, so taking the T may be a good option. For easy access take the Red line to Charles/MGH and cross the footbridge to the park.

The Arnold Arboretum

Address: 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130
Hours:

Arnold Arboretum Park: Open daily, sunrise – sunset
Visitor Center & Restrooms: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Phone: 617- 524- 1718

Image via Flickr/Greater Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

When you think of bike paths, Harvard University’s Arboretum might not be the first place that springs to mind, but it should be! The 280-acres arboretum has a 5-mile bike loop, as well as smaller trails throughout the park. Plus, there are restrooms available during the day and plenty of friendly people willing to give directions or lend a hand.

If you’re looking to make your trip last all day, be sure to swing by the Visitor Center and check out a Discovery Pack. The free packs, which you borrow for the time you’re visiting, are full of educational activities for kids and families. The arboretum has plenty of other kid-friendly activities, including wildlife bingo and guided walks for kids. Best of all, activities are free, although donations are welcome.

East Boston Greenway

Address: 95 Marginal St., Boston, MA 02128
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Ed Lyons

The East Boston Greenway runs along the waterfront in East Boston, one of many rail trails in New England that are transforming old railway lines into recreational parks. The trail offers great views of the city skyline and the bustling harbor. Kids will love watching planes landing and taking off from nearby Logan Airport. (Although, if your little one is sensitive, she may not appreciate the noise.) There’s one path for bikes and one for pedestrians, so you don’t have to worry about blocking traffic if your child is just learning.

To bike on the Greenway, head to Piers Park. Although there’s no biking allowed in the park, this is the easiest place to access the trail. From the park, turn left onto Marginal Street, following it for about a quarter of a mile until it turns into the greenway. The greenway is just over 2 miles long, but there are plans to extend it, adding a snack bar and more, so be sure to keep your eye on this space!

Southwest Corridor Park

Address: 38 New Heath St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (Headquarters)
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Connie

The Southwest Corridor Park runs through the South End, Back Bay, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain. The flat, paved surface is perfect for biking, and along the trail there is plenty for little ones to do, including two splash pads and 11 toddler-friendly playgrounds. With 6 miles of bike trails, you can choose whether to cover lots of ground or find a quiet spot to let your little one learn to ride.

There is a sweet story behind the park, which was opened after neighborhood residents protested against a highway being built through their area of the city. Their voices were heard, and the park was put in instead of the freeway. To get to the park on public transit, take the Orange Line to any stop between Back Bay and Forest Hills.

Upper Charles River Reservation

Address: Charles River Greenway, Watertown, MA 02472
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/MJSawyer

Much fuss is made about the Esplanade, but further upstream on the Charles River there are parks that are just as beautiful and well worth exploring. Here, life along the river is less about looking for boats and admiring the reflected buildings and more about lilypads, fish, and frogs, all of which will delight your kids when they need a break from biking.

One of the best places to access the Upper Charles River Reservation is in Watertown Square. From there, you can follow a paved path along the river all the way to Waltham. Kids will love looking at the river and even seeing a fish ladder at the Watertown Dam. Parents will like that this trail gets you up close to nature, but once you’ve peddled up an appetite, you can head into nearby Waterdown Square for food, shopping, and entertainment.

Stony Brook Reservation

Address: Turtle Pond Parkway, Hyde Park, MA 02136
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Lee Toma

At Stony Brook Reservation, you’ll feel as if you’ve really escaped the city without spending ages in the car. In fact, you don’t need a car at all because the reservation is easily accessible by taking the Orange Line to Forest Hills Station. Once you’re at Stony Brook Reservation, there are 12 miles of biking trails to explore — enough to keep a family occupied all day.

When you need a break from biking, the reservation offers plenty of opportunities to connect with nature. At Turtle Pond, kids can drop a line or just enjoy feeding the ducks and sunfish near the pier. The trees are great for playing hide and seek, and plenty of rocky outcropping will give your little explorers places to climb. After a day at the reservation, you’re sure to have sleepy children!

Lower Neponset River Trail

Address: Neponset Circle and Hallet Street, Dorchester, MA 02124
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Ornoth

Not too long ago, Dorchester was separated from the Neponset River by a landfill, a railroad and other barriers that were anything but kid-friendly. Thanks to land reclamation projects, however, the banks of the Neponset River are now bustling with families looking to burn some energy and reconnect with nature. Biking along the Lower Neponset River Trail is the perfect way to do both!

Families should start and end their biking at Pope John Paul II Park. There’s plenty of parking there, and kids will love playing on the playground — if they’re not too tired from peddling. As you bike through the marshlands, be sure to look for birds and other wildlife. If you’d like to ride farther than the 2 miles of the Neponset River Trail, connect with the nearby Quincy Riverwalk to keep peddling.

Mystic River State Reservation

Address: 4253 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Yelp.com/Christina O

The banks of the Mystic River were once salt marshes, but today they are beautiful parklands, perfect for riding bikes. The Mystic River State Reservation stretches for miles, but we recommend heading to the Torbert Macdonald State Park in Medford to bike with your family. The park was built after Interstate 93 was constructed, but the award-winning landscaping will make you forget you’re near the highway.

Here, you’ll find meandering bikes paths that are perfect for families looking to go slow and enjoy the scenery. Kids will love playing in the grassy areas when they’re not peddling. There are usually plenty of families out enjoying the sunshine, so you may even make new friends along the way!

Blue Hills Reservation

Address: 840 Hillside St., Milton, MA 02186
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Bill Ilott

While most city parks have paths that are perfect for low-key biking, Blue Hills Reservation provides something a bit more adventurous: the chance to mountain bike just outside the city. The trails aren’t paved, so you’ll want to save this bike path for older kids or more confident riders. However, there are plenty of safe spots to introduce younger riders to off-roading.

If your kids are able to bike at Blue Hills Reservation, you’ll all be rewarded with outstanding views of the city and an adventure experience that will leave you craving more. Before you go, be sure to check the park’s mountain bike guidelines, as biking is only allowed in certain areas of the park in order to protect fragile environments.

Millennium Park

Address: 398 Gardner St., West Roxbury, MA 02132
Hours: Open daily, dawn – dusk

Image via Flickr/Don Kelloway

Millennium Park in West Roxbury is the perfect size for exploring with little ones who want to bike a bit but then need other activities to keep them engaged. The park has 6 miles of paved bike trails, giving you plenty of area to explore. There’s also access to the Charles River and — most importantly — a great playground.

The park is built on a former landfill, which isn’t the most glamorous idea, but once you see the views from the top of the park, you’ll forget all about that. From up there, you can see into the city and to the nearby Blue Hills. As an added bonus for families, there’s plenty of nearby parking and the park is dog-friendly.