After exiting Franklin Park, use the crosswalk to get on a somewhat discrete Canterbury Street. Be mindful of your behavior here, as there is a correctional facility that doesn’t appreciate tomfoolery 😉

After navigating through the backroads, hidden woods, and gradual hills of Hyde Park – you will enter into the forest near a private day-camp.  At the end of this short segment, you will reach an interstate crossing. Be careful because  motorists may not be expecting people on bikes.

Eventually you dip back into the Blue Hills, which follows a sandy pipeline trail towards a pedestrian bridge. The riding turns a bit technical but quickly eases up into a long section of gravel around Ponkapoag Pond. Keep an eye out for the DCR pavilion after crossing over to the Houghton Pond area. You will need that water for a tough gravel climb over the next section of the hills.

After traversing the steep and gravely Blue Hills segment, you eventually descend down into the woods over an abandoned highway. Once you’ve cleared the decaying interchange pavement, it’s a straight ride through the swampy Neponset River Reservation.  

The final leg of the route takes you through the scenic Stonybrook Reservation – complete with beautiful gravel and a picturesque swimming hole. Keep an eye out for fun singletrack off-shoots if you’re looking for a more technical adventure. After Stonybrook, you’ll roll over some hills back into Jamaica Plain over some hills and through the Arboretum.

**Special Note (6/1/20)

The DCR bath house pavilion is closed due to COVID-19. Bathrooms and water are inaccessible at this time.