Towns in the Mystic River Watershed:
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Arlington
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Belmont
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Boston
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Burlington
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Cambridge
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Chelsea
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Everett
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Lexington
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Malden
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Medford
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Melrose
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Reading
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Revere
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Somerville
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Stoneham
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Wakefield
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Watertown
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Wilmington
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Winchester
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Winthrop
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Woburn
Major Tributaries:
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Alewife Brook
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​Chelsea Creek
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​Malden River
Organizations working in the Mystic River Watershed:
Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh
GreenRoots Chelsea
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Aberjona River
Mystic River Activities
Swimming
Walk, Hike, Bike
Paddling
Boating & Sailing
Fishing
Swimming
It is safe to swim in the Mystic Lakes, although it is not safe up to 48 hours after a storm. Many areas of the Mystic Watershed are not safe to swim in due to high levels of bacteria. To check daily safety, click here.
Swimming locations:
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Reservoir Beach (Arlington). Open from 10 am to 7:30pm June 11 to August 24 with lifeguards on duty and two picnic areas. The water is both filtered and chlorinated. Click here to purchase season swim passes. Click here to purchase a day pass. Parking available at 250 Lowell St.
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Directions: Take the Red Line all the way to Alewife, then catch the 62 bus headed for Bedford, MA. Get off at Mass Ave at Paul Revere Road. It’s a 10 minute walk.
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Walk, Hike, Bike
Walking, hiking, biking locations:
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Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (Chelsea) Boston's only remaining salt marsh
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Mill Creek Riverwalk (Chelsea)
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Brooks Estate (Medford)
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Torbert Macdonald State Park (Medford). State park with a picnic area and paved trails, good for biking and walking. Free parking​.
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Medford Dog Park (Medford). This is a fenced-in, off-leash dog park that overlooks the Mystic River.
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Station Landing Park (Medford) Paved paths along the Mystic.
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Mystic River Path (Medford). This path travels alongside Upper Mystic Lake, breaks off while next to Lower Mystic Lake, and then restarts for around a mile along the Mystic.
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Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park (Somerville). This park includes trails, a boardwalk and a playground alongside the Mystic River.
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Mary O'Malley Park (Chelsea). This park provides views of the Boston Skyline and the Tobin Bridge. There are tennis courts, playgrounds, bathrooms, parking, and paved paths.
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Rivergreen Park (Everett) Part of the larger Malden River Greenway, this park offers riverfront access and a 0.5 mile walking trail.
Other parks without trails:
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Paddling
See the Mystic River Recreation Map for many paddling locations >>
Paddling locations:
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Shannon Beach (Winchester)
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Bacow Sailing Pavilion (Medford). This boathouse belongs to the Tufts' sailing team but it is open to the public.​
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481 Mystic Valley Pkwy
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12 parking spots. No fee.
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Medford Boat Club (Arlington). To use this facility, you must be a member (click here to apply). There is a deep water swim dock that is staffed by Red Cross Lifeguards, a sandy beach, a fishing dock, umbrella tables, a shady grove for picnicking, and a snack bar. The club also offers sailing lessons for different skill levels.
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Mystic Valley Parkway (public entrance)
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There are 8 parking spots and no fee.
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Fisherman’s Boat Ramp (Medford). Access to Upper Mystic Lake.
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Directions: North of Rt 60 in Medford. Look for the Medford Boat Club and Fisherman’s Boat access sign.
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Condon Shell (Medford) is run by Paddle Boston. Rent a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak and paddle the full seven miles of the Mystic River. Reserve a boat or board >>
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Mystic River Rd & Harvard Ave (Medford). Grassy banks, unload and then park near courts on Harvard Ave
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Next to Mystic Riverbend Park and near Hormel Stadium (Medford) has a canoe launch and parking.
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Public Boat Ramp (Medford)
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2 hour parking.
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Blessing of the Bay (Somerville) is run by Paddle Boston. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Click here to reserve a boat. There is walk-in access to the water. Paddle Boston also offers shuttled river trips (click here for more information).
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Limited parking and no trailer parking.
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Schrafft Center (Charlestown) near Sullivan Square. Offers public boat mooring and parking, no trailer access. River is tidal here with large ships, use caution.
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Little Mystic Access Area (Charlestown). Grassy area with boat ramp, be careful for tidal rips under bridge.
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Gentle Giant Rowing Club (Somerville). This club is a non-for-profit that provides opportunities to learn and practice rowing on the Mystic. See membership rates >>
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Location: 23 Shore Dr​ive.
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Boating & Sailing
There are many places to canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or even row on the Mystic River! For paddling put-ins, click on here.
Fishing
There is a fish advisory for the Lower Mystic (saltwater section) warning children under 12 or pregnant women to avoid consuming fish from that area. Everyone else can consume the bluefish and striped bass ONLY. Other fish are contaminated with PCBs, Chlordane, DDT. More info >>
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Fish caught in the freshwater sections of the Mystic are generally safe to consume.
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Fishing locations:
Upper Mystic (upstream of Amelia Earhart Dam) - fishing is catch and release only!
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​Draw Seven State Park (Somerville). Public fishing pier.
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Mary O'Malley Park (Chelsea) Public fishing pier.
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Spy Pond (Arlington)
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Horn Pond (Woburn)
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