Neponset River Greenway

A paved path of about 9 miles along the Neponset River, from Dorchester Bay to the Milton line in Hyde Park. People ride and walk it for river and marsh views, and the Mattapan trolley runs beside much of it.

Length
9 mi
river path
Surface
Paved
the whole way
Get on at
8 places
on the map

From Morrissey Boulevard boardwalk to Paul's Bridge

Parking at 3 of the 8 places to get on · See where

Train back from Fairmount station · Next trains

Notice: Path closed next to Boston Bowl for DCR's Morrissey Boulevard stormwater pump station project., northern extension between Tenean Beach and Victory Road, behind 818 Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester.
Directions to the trail

Where to get on

Numbers match the list; P has parking.

Download the GPX

For Ride with GPS, Strava, Komoot or a bike computer.

  1. Morrissey Boulevard boardwalk (north end)

    Northern end of the newest section, opened in 2025. A 670-foot boardwalk crosses the salt marsh to a large overlook deck with views of the bay and Boston. The path keeps going north along Morrissey Boulevard toward the Boston Harborwalk. There is a crosswalk at Victory Road just south of here.

    Savin Hill station (Red Line) is about half a mile away.
    Directions

  2. Tenean Beach (Conley Street)

    Beach, playground and tennis courts. DCR lists the beach restrooms as closed. The path next to Boston Bowl, just north of here, was closed for pump station work this year (see closures). South of the beach the route uses Tenean Street and Water Street in Port Norfolk for about a quarter mile.

    Bus 201 at Freeport Street and Morrissey Boulevard, about 400 m away. Buses 202 and 210 on Neponset Avenue, about 500 m away.
    Beach parking lot (DCR).
    Directions

  3. Pope John Paul II Park (Hallet Street)

    Large riverside park with paved loop paths, fields, a playground and restrooms (DCR). Good for bird watching.

    Bus 202 at Hilltop Street and Hallet Street. Bus 201 on Hallet Street.
    Free parking. The DCR lot is at the end of Hallet Street, about 150 m from this point.
    Directions

  4. Butler station (Lower Mills)

    From here to Mattapan the path runs between the river and the trolley line.

    Butler station (Mattapan Line trolley). Take the Red Line to Ashmont and change to the trolley.
    DCR lists parking at Butler Station and on Myrtlebank Avenue.
    Directions

  5. Central Avenue (Milton)

    The path crosses Central Avenue here. Milton is across the river.

    Central Avenue station (Mattapan Line). Bus 240 at the station. Buses 15 and 24 on River Street, about 170 m away.
    Directions

  6. Mattapan Square

    Here the path leaves the riverbank and follows Truman Parkway southwest. Ryan Playground and the Harvest River Bridge are just east, along the path.

    Mattapan station: Mattapan Line and buses 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 245 and 716. Blue Hill Avenue commuter rail station (Fairmount Line) is about a third of a mile away.
    Directions

  7. Truman Parkway at Fairmount Avenue (Hyde Park)

    Gap in the path. For about half a mile here, up to Dana Avenue, the route is a narrow sidewalk on Truman Parkway, and you cross Fairmount Avenue and Dana Avenue at street crossings.

    Fairmount station (Fairmount Line, also some Franklin/Foxboro trains), about 80 m away. Bus 24 at Fairmount Avenue and Truman Parkway.
    Directions

  8. Paul's Bridge, Neponset Valley Parkway (south end)

    Southern end, at the Milton line. Martini Shell Park, with its outdoor stage, is just north along the path.

    Readville station (Fairmount, Franklin/Foxboro and Providence/Stoughton lines) is about half a mile west. Bus 24 on Truman Parkway and bus 32 on Hyde Park Avenue stop near Martini Shell Park, about 1 km north.
    Directions

Getting there

By transit
Very easy without a car. The Mattapan Line trolley (Red Line to Ashmont, then the trolley) runs right beside the path, with stops at Butler, Milton, Central Avenue, Valley Road, Capen Street and Mattapan. Fairmount Line commuter rail stops at Blue Hill Avenue, Fairmount and Readville, near the southern half. Many buses meet at Mattapan Square. For the north end, use Savin Hill on the Red Line, about half a mile away.
Bike share

Near Morrissey Boulevard boardwalk, right now

  • Beach St at Freeport St7 min walk · 8 bikes
Parking
Free DCR parking at Pope John Paul II Park (lot at the end of Hallet Street) and at Tenean Beach.
More

DCR also lists parking on Myrtlebank Avenue and at Butler Station.

Ride out, train home

Ride the trail one way and take the Commuter Rail back. Fairmount station is right on the trail.

Keep going

The Neponset River Greenway joins other paths and protected bike lanes. Pick a direction to see it on the map.

This trail Where you can keep going Other bike paths

About the Neponset River Greenway

Surface
Paved almost the whole way (asphalt, with some concrete). There are short wooden boardwalks and bridges near Mattapan, and a 670-foot boardwalk over the salt marsh at the north end. Two short links are not path: about a quarter mile on Tenean Street and Water Street in Port Norfolk, and about half a mile of narrow sidewalk on Truman Parkway in Hyde Park.
Rules
Open dawn to dusk. Dogs allowed (DCR Neponset River Reservation and Pope John Paul II Park pages). Tenean Beach is open sunrise to sunset and bans alcohol and littering (DCR).
Restrooms
Restrooms at Pope John Paul II Park and at Ryan Playground near Mattapan. The Tenean Beach restrooms are closed.
Water
A water fountain at the Hallet Street lot at Pope John Paul II Park.
Who looks after it
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as part of the Neponset River Reservation. MassDOT helped build the northern extension.
Also called
Neponset Greenway, Neponset River Trail, Neponset Trail, Neponset Greenway Trail, Neponset River bike path

Notices

Work and changes along the trail, with the way around where there is one.

  • Path closed next to Boston Bowl for DCR's Morrissey Boulevard stormwater pump station project.

    Northern extension between Tenean Beach and Victory Road, behind 818 Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester.

    DCR expected to reopen the path in September 2026 and has not yet posted that it is open. The whole project should be done in spring 2027. Follow the signed detour around the work zone.

    Source

More about the trail

Where these facts come fromChecked Oct 21, 2026