Minuteman Trail

InLine Skating in Greater Boston

Terrain

Flat

Surface

Smooth with some gravel and tree-root exposure

Scenery

Trees, brooks, shops, and people

Auto Traffic

The occasional motorcycle cop.

Pedestrian Traffic

Moderate to heavy

Distance

Approximately 6 miles from Alewife to Lexington; 11 miles from Alewife to Bedford.

Somerville/Cambridge/Arlington/Lexington

The Minuteman Bike Trail, the nation’s 500th rail-trail, is one of the newest and best bike trails in Massachusetts. The eleven miles of shaded, 12 foot wide trail, follows the route of the old Boston - Maine Railroad line that was first laid down in 1846 and then completed in 1874. It also roughly parallels the route taken by Paul Revere more than 215 years ago. Today, the bike trail travels from the Alewife T station in Cambridge to the towns of Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford. (An extension called the Linear Pathway connects Alewife to Davis Square in Somerville.) Over $2.7 million dollars have been invested in its development by the state, and transportation experts estimate that on a sunny day as many as 6,000 to 9,000 people use it. There is even a llama that periodically makes a guest appearance. For those of you interested in a nice long skate, the trail is 21 miles round trip with frequent opportunities to stop and eat.

How to Get There

If you live in Boston, simply take the Red Line. As you exit the station, head north toward Spy Pond. Behind the parking garage is a trail that will take you to Russell Field. Russell Field sits directly behind Alewife Station. If you are driving, you can either park at the station or you may find parking at Thorndike Park, next door to Alewife Station. Thorndike Park can be reached by traveling north on Massachusetts Ave. from Rte. 16 to Arlington. At Lake St., just before the Capitol movie theater, turn left. Proceed down Lake St. to Margaret St., about two tenths of a mile on the left. Thorndike Park is at the end of Margaret Street. If you would like to start from Lexington, take Rtes. 4/225 exit (Exit 31 off Rte. 128) and head towards Lexington. Just beyond Lexington Green is a series of shops on the left. Behind the shops is a public parking lot that is right next to the Minuteman Bike Trail. You can also start from the Bedford end of the trail. Take Rte. 4/225 N from Rte. 128, past the large shopping mall with the Purity and Marshalls. At the CVS on your left, angle off to the left on Loomis Street. The trail starts where Loomis intersects South Street, across from The Bikeway Source.

Where to Skate

The best place to start is the Alewife T Station. (You might also consider starting at Davis Square.) Leaving Alewife, the early sections of the trail in Arlington are scenic and tree lined. To the left you pass Spy Pond, which was once used to supply ice for much of Boston. At Arlington Center, there is a break in the trail where you must cross Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant/Mystic Streets. Use caution here, as this can be a busy intersection. If you are already hungry, there are several places to stop for ice cream or pizza or to refill a water bottle. After the intersection, the trail continues north toward Lexington Center. As you proceed north, you pass Arlington High School on the left and then several bridges. Lexington Center has a nice covered walkway and a parking lot on the right. Again there are several stores for water, food, or ice cream. You might also take a spin around Lexington Green. As you proceed north, you will enter a residential area and eventually cross Rte. 4/225. The trail begins a slight decline as you head toward Rte. 128. One of the most exciting places to stop and rest is the bridge that crosses Rte. 128. Here you can look down on traffic as it speeds by. As you continue north towards Bedford, you will cross several streets including Hartwell Ave. When you reach Bedford, there are soda machines at The Bikeway Source.

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