Pleasant Walk on Boston's Emerald Necklace

The Emerald Necklace is Olmsted's chain of connected parks threading through Boston — a continuous green walk along ponds, streams and shaded paths from the Fens to Jamaica Pond.

Boston · Walk · about 1 hr 15 min · 3.5 miles · Pleasantness: Very High

Why this route is pleasant

• An unbroken chain of Olmsted-designed parks
• Follows the Muddy River and a string of ponds
• Mature trees and meadow the whole way
• Almost entirely separated from traffic
• Ends at the wide, calm Jamaica Pond

What you'll see

• The Back Bay Fens and its community gardens
• The wooded Riverway along the Muddy River
• Olmsted Park's ponds
• Jamaica Pond, ringed by a 1.5-mile loop

Best time to go

Mid-October for the fall color along the Riverway, or any spring morning.

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