Guided Walks
Each spring and fall, the Conservators sponsor a series of guided walks in Newton parks and conservation areas.
Newton Conservators Trail Guide
Walking Trails in Newton’s Parks & Conservation Lands is a 70-page booklet by the Newton Conservators, with detailed maps and descriptions of things to see and do in 30 Newton conservation areas.
Walking Routes: Long Walks in Newton
Each map marker represents a trailhead or entrance to one of the routes. Click a marker to read a brief description. Then click the title or “read more” link to get the full details. View an annotated list of these routes.
Routes by Location
Charles River: North Side of Newton
- Four different walks and bike rides, ranging from 3 to 8 miles, along the Charles in Newton, Watertown, and Waltham. See this area on a WalkBoston map.
Charles River: West Side of Newton
- All-year and winter-only walks along the Charles near Riverside Park and the Martin Golf Course.
- A 4-mile loop that walks the Upper Falls Greenway, and also covers several unofficial connecting trails.
Charles River:Â South Side of Newton
- A 4-mile walk near the Charles, including Brook Farm and Millennium Park.
East-West Routes through Newton
- A 4.5-mile, one-way hike from Waban to Chestnut Hill along the aqueduct and through several parks. Return is by MBTA trolley.
- An 8-mile loop along the Cochituate and Sudbury Aqueducts, starting and ending in Newton Centre. Shorter hikes are also possible.
A South-to-North Route through Newton
- A 7-mile one-way hike from the Charles River in South Newton to Newton Centre.
Walking Routes: Other Sources of Information
AMC Massachusetts Trail Guide
This book describes hiking trails in Cutler Park and Webster Conservation Area.
WalkBoston: Walking Tours of Boston’s Unique Neighborhoods
This book describes walking tours in Boston and many surrounding communities, including three trips in Newton:
- The Fields of Newton
- Newton Upper Falls (including Hemlock Gorge)
- The Upper Charles River Reservation (including Charles River Path).
Hammond Pond Walk
An AMC book, Exploring in and around Boston on Bike and Foot, describes a 2-mile walk in Webster Conservation Area.
Hemlock Gorge Walk
Another AMC book, More Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts, describes an easy 1-mile walk in Hemlock Gorge.
Historic Walk Brochures
The Newton Planning Department publishes a series of brochures describing historic walks through Newton neighborhoods.
Charles River Link Trail
A 16-mile trail, completed in 2009, begins at the Fyffe Footbridge in Newton Lower Falls and extends through Wellesley, Needham, Natick, Dover, and Medfield. A northern extension into Newton has been proposed.
Internet Resources
Bike Trips
A Loop Along the Aqueducts
A description, with photos, of an 8-mile ride along the Cochituate and Sudbury Aqueducts, starting and ending in Newton Centre.
Bicycle Tour de Newton
An 18-mile trip that starts and ends at Nahanton Park.
Cutler-Millennium Park Loop
A 10-mile-loop on both sides of the Charles through parks in Needham, Dedham, Boston, and Newton.
Charles River Bike Path
A 13-mile loop along the Charles River Path from Watertown Square to Auburndale.
A 24-mile round trip, mostly on the Charles River Bike Path, from Moody Street in Waltham to the Museum of Science in Boston. The route is described in the book, Bike Paths of Massachusetts, and also on a website.
Newton-Brookline Tours
A 19-mile trip (14 miles without the Brookline extension) that starts and ends at the Riverside MBTA station. The trip is contained in the book, Short Bike Rides in Eastern Massachusetts.
A similar 17-mile trip, also from the Riverside MBTA station, is included in the AMC book, Exploring in and around Boston on Bike and Foot.
Canoe Routes
An AMC book, Exploring the Hidden Charles, gives information about canoeing the Charles River.
The Charles River is an out-of-print book, available from online sellers. It also provides information about canoeing the Charles River and hiking near its banks. It includes USGS maps of the entire length of the Charles.
Newton Canoe and Kayak Launch Sites
Paddle Boston (formerly Charles River Canoe & Kayak) rental locations
Paddling.com guide to canoe launch sites
