top of page
Top of Charles
water-3221448_1920 (2).jpg
map of Charles River watershed

Towns in the Charles River Watershed:

​​

  • Arlington

  • Ashland

  • Bellingham

  • Belmont

  • Boston

  • Brookline

  • Cambridge

  • Dedham

  • Dover

  • Foxbourgh

  • Franklin

  • Holliston

  • Hopedale

  • Hopkinton

  • Lexington

  • Lincoln

  • Medfield

  • Medway

  • Mendon

  • Milford

  • Millis

  • Natick

  • Needham

  • Newton

  • Norfolk

  • Sherborn

  • Somerville

  • Walpole

  • Waltham

  • Watertow

  • Wayland

  • Wellesley

  • Weston

  • Westwood

  • Wrentham​

Major Tributaries:

  • Muddy River

  • Stony Brook

  • Faneuil Brook

  • Tannery Brook

  • Laundry Brook

  • Village Brook

What's happening on the Charles River watershed?

Click here to find out! 

Recreation Sundays on Memorial Drive  - road closed to traffic between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge on Sundays from late spring to fall.

Organizations working in the Charles River Watershed:

​

Charles River Watershed Association

Charles River Conservancy

The Esplanade Association

Muddy Water Initiative

What Are People Saying?

On why rivers are important: "I managed one of the water quality units in the EPA and I spent my professional career for over 40 years protecting river flow and river water quality. They’re sort of a lifeblood in the landscape in terms of being corridors for migratory fish, birds, and waterfowl. Growing up in Pittsburgh, I saw how rivers were horribly abused with all the steel mills.

​

On hopes for the future: "With all that’s going on in the country right now, we are realizing as an environmental organization that we need to do a better job of getting people to the river, using the river, and enjoying the river than we’ve done in the past. I would really like to see our organization make the Charles more accessible to people. I think we have done that in terms of physical boat ramps, but if you can’t get to the boat ramp from where you live, that’s not good. That’s something that’s truly important."

​

- Ralph Abele (Board Member, Charles River Watershed Association)

"I visited the Charles River Gateway in Medfield, located next to the Medfield State Hospital Campus (established in 1892 and operating through the mid-20th century, it is now on the National Register of Historic Places). The first view of the Charles that I came upon was at The Promontory. As I walked down a narrow dirt path, I could see two kayakers making their way downstream where the canoe drop-off and landing sites are. Following their lead, I headed towards the Charles River Link Trail, a sixteen-mile trail that passes through six towns. The dirt trail is several feet wide with a variety of plants and trees lining both sides (note: poison ivy can be found very close to the trail, so be careful of your footing). As someone who enjoys spending time up in Maine every summer, I was pleasantly surprised by the familiar feeling of walking through sun-splotched trails and passing by friendly faces and smiley dogs."

​

- Rachel, Mass Rivers Alliance Intern

Beautiful view of the charles river at night with skyline
Charles River Activities
Person swimming graphic
Swimming
Person walking graphic
person kayaking graphic
Walk, Hike, Bike
Paddling
sailboat graphic
Boating & Sailing
fishing graphic
Fishing

Looking for transportation options? Click here!
 

Screen Shot 2021-05-16 at 11.40.15 AM.pn

Swimming

Swimming

There are no swimming beaches along the river, though there are some lakes with beaches in the watershed (Crystal Lake in Newton and Morse's Pond in Wellesley). For the most part, swimming in the Charles is prohibited, so be sure to double-check if it is permitted in your area.

​

Want to make the Charles swimmable? Check out the Charles River Conservancy's Swimming Initiative >>

​

For more on Charles River water quality, read the 2020 Charles River report card >>

Transportation Options

Untitled design - 2021-05-14T111017.816.

Hike, Walk, Bike

Hike, Walk, Run

Walking, hiking, and biking locations:​

​

  • Landry Park Charles River Reservation, located at Moody St/Carter St. (Waltham, MA)

​

  • Charles River Bikeway/Paul Dudley White Bike Path (Boston, Waltham) 

    • Asphalt, concrete, and dirt paths with playgrounds, including public exercise equipment.

    • There are several overpasses that cross Storrow Drive in Boston with bike path access:

      • Behind Boston University’s Marsh Plaza next to the “BU Beach” - Stairs only.

      • Silber Way Overpass is located at the intersection of Back St. and Silber Way. This one is handicapped accessible and is also bike-friendly.

      • Ramp connected to the eastern side of Massachusetts Ave (Harvard Bridge). It is handicapped accessible and bike-friendly.

      • Overpass located at the intersection of Back St. and Fairfield St. It is handicapped accessible and bike-friendly.

      • Overpass located at the intersection of Back St. and Dartmouth St. It is handicapped accessible and bike-friendly.

      • The Arthur Fiedler Footbridge is located at the intersection of Beacon St. and Arlington St. It is handicapped accessible and bike-friendly, however it is closed for summer 2021. 

 

​

​​

​

Running map: https://greatruns.com/boston-the-charles-river-paths/ 

​

More walking locations >>

Transportation Options

Screen Shot 2020-01-13 at 3.19.03 PM.png

Paddling

Paddling

Before you paddle, check water quality. CRWA uses a red flag system to track real-time water quality. Avoid contact with water on red flag days! 

​

Info taken from CRWA’s Charles River Canoe and Kayak Guide. Please consider purchasing the full Guide, which includes detailed maps of the river and is both easily-transportable and waterproof!

​

Paddling locations:

  • Maple St. Launch (Bellingham). On river left downstream from the Maple St. bridge behind the factory building.

    • Parking in factory lot.

​

  • Populatic St./Walker St (Medway)

    • Roadside parking on river side of Walker St. near intersection with Populatic St.; carry boat down easy path to river.

​

  • Populatic Pond Launch (Norfolk)

    • Roadside parking and small boat ramp at intersection of Priscilla Ave. and Lakeshore Drive. Can accommodate small trailers.

​

  • River Rd. Launch (Norfolk). Carry boat down steep bank to river.

    • Roadside parking where the Mill River meets the Charles.

  • Route 115 Bridge Launch (Norfolk/Millis line). Informal launch site.

    • Roadside parking available at the bridge. ​

​​

  • Cedariver Launch (Millis)

    • Parking lot off Forest Rd.

​

  • Millis/Medfield line: Forest Rd. Launch

    • Roadside parking at the bridge.

​

  • Dwight St. Launch (Medfield)

    • Parking lot off Dwight St.

​

  • Causeway St. Launch (Medfield). Boat must be carried down to river.

    • Roadside parking where Causeway St. crosses the Stop River; paddle down the Stop River to the Charles (mileage includes 0.2 miles on Stop River).

​

  • Dover Rd./West St. Launch (Medfield). Short carry down path to river. Launch downstream of bridge by railroad tracks near Wastewater Treatment Facility.​

    • ​Off-road parking on northwest side of the bridge.

​

  • South End Pond Launch (Millis). Caution: Bogastow Brook may not be navigable when water is low. Paddle through the pond to where Bogastow Brook exits the pond and goes into the Charles.

    • Parking on a gravel road off Route 115 leading to the pond.

​

  • Dover/Sherborn line: Farm Rd./Bridge St. Launch. Maintained launch site with short carry to river, and flat beach area for launching/landing.

    • Easy parking along street and in launch parking lot.

​

  • Grove Park Launch (South Natick). Maintained launch site (no trailer access). Picnic tables are available in park.

    • Roadside parking lot on Pleasant St. or Mill Ln.

​

  • Wellesley/Dover line: Elm Bank Reservation Launch. Enter from Route 16 and proceed through the reservation on one way loop road. Carry boats down path to river.

    • Small parking lot on right near river’s edge​.

​

  • Central Ave. Launch (Needham). Informal launch.

    • Limited parking in a gravel pull-off.

​

  • Redwing Bay Launch (Needham). Maintained site. 

    • Parking lot at launch site off Fisher St.

​

  • Mill St. Launch (Dover)

    • Roadside parking at difficult access site below the dam on Mill St. (rapids downstream).

  • South St. Launch (Needham). Informal launch site.

    • Parking at small dirt pull-off just east of intersection of South St. and Dedham Ave. (Route 135).

​

  • Needham/Dedham Line: Great Plain Ave./Needham St. Launch. Short carry to river.

    • Roadside parking on small dirt pull-off where street runs close to river.

​​

  • Town Landing (Dedham)

    • Off Bullard Street, within easy walking distance of Dedham Square with its variety of eateries and shops.​

​

  • Dolan Rec. Center Launch (Dedham)

    •  Common Street. Dedham's most popular canoe/kayak/ paddleboard launch site.

​

  • Ames St. Launch (Dedham). Informal launch site.

    • Parking along Pleasant St. at intersection with Ames St.

​

  • Riverdale Park Launch (Dedham)

    • Roadside parking along Riverside Dr.; carry boat through park to river’s edge.

​

  • Millennium Park Launch (West Roxbury, Boston)

    • Bear left and follow road to river side to parking lot area. Short carry to launch from lot.

​

  • Nahanton Park Launch (Newton). Caution: Be aware when paddling downstream, there are hazardous dams two miles away.

    • Parking at Nahanton Park off Kendrick St.

​

  • Riverside Park Launch (Weston)

    • Parking lot at park off Recreation Rd/Route 128 northbound. Carry boat through park to river’s edge.

​

  • Norumbega Duck Viewing Area (Weston). Informal launch site.

    • Parking lot off Norumbega Rd.

​

  • Charles River Canoe & Kayak Launch (Newton). Restrooms, drinking water and canoe rentals available seasonally.

    • Parking at Duck Viewing Area across river.

​

  • Forest Grove Park (Waltham)

    • Parking in lot off Forest Grove Rd. Nice shallow beach area for landing/launching.

​

  • Woerd Ave. Launch (Waltham). Handicapped accessible launch site, can accommodate trailers.

    • Parking at boat launch on Woerd Ave.

​

  • California St. Launch (Watertown). Launch site downstream of Watertown Dam.

    • Roadside parking along California St. (rapids upstream).

​

  • DCR Boat Launch (Newton). Can accommodate trailers. Restrooms open seasonally.

    • Large parking lot and ramp 300 yards east of DCR’s Daly Ice Rink on Nonantum Rd.

​

  • Herter Park (Allston, Boston) Restrooms, drinking water and canoe rentals available seasonally from Charles River Canoe & Kayak.

    • Large parking lot off Soldiers Field Rd. across from WBZ-TV.

    • Smaller parking lots just upstream of the Elliot Bridge.

​

  • Magazine Beach (Cambridge)

    • Parking lot off Memorial Dr. downstream of Riverside Boat Club.

​

  • Broad Canal Launch/Kendall Square Canoe & Kayak (Cambridge). Restrooms, drinking water and canoe rentals available seasonally; boat drop-off at launch

    • Public parking on nearby streets or at Kendall Square South Garage.

​

  • Charles River Gateway (Medfield)

    • Parking at the Medfield State Hospital.

You can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards from Paddle Boston: Charles River Canoe & Kayak 

  • For rental information and directions on how to get to the rental place, follow these links that are organized by location:

    • Boston: Allston/Brighton (how to get there using public transit)

      • Take the Red Line to Harvard, then walk for 1.5 miles across the Anderson Memorial Bridge

      • Take the 66 or 86 to N Harvard St @ Western Ave, then walk for 1.1 miles

      • Take the 70 or 86 to 367 Western Ave opp Brighton Mills Mall, then walk 0.7 miles

    • Cambridge: Kendall Square

      • Take the Red Line to Kendall/MIT, then walk for 0.2 miles

      • Take the 64, 68, or 85 to Main Street @ Kendall Station, then walk 0.4 miles

    • Newton: Historic Boathouse

Transportation Options

Untitled design - 2021-05-14T114258.114.

Boating & Sailing

Boating

Before boating, check water quality! CRWA uses a red flag system to track real-time water quality. Avoid contact with water on red flag days! 

​

Boating options:

  • Community Boating, Inc.

​

​

  • BU Sailing Pavilion. You can rent kayaks, SUPs, or sailboats. Check the website for rental prices.

​

​

Transportation Options

Untitled design - 2021-05-14T115111.162.

Fishing

Fishing

Before fishing, check water quality! CRWA uses a red flag system to track real-time water quality. Avoid contact with water on red flag days! 

​

Fishing is permitted on the Charles River. For information on guided fishing trips led by the Charles River Outdoor Company, click here.

Transportation Options

bottom of page