Middlesex Fells

Description

The fells is pretty much flat - there's a few ups 'n' downs but no serious hills. It's Rage's favorite hangout and the best place to improve from beginner to intermediate riding. Being so close to Boston means it gets very very busy during the weekends.

You can ride the main mountain bike loop (thanks to NEMBA) which is clearly marked with square Red signs with a white mountain bike picture on them (Map). This is an easy trail with lots of fire roads (70%) and a few good single track sections. There's little which is very technical. The mountain bike loop is the only legal riding in the fells; all other trails are officially off limits.

Maps

A free downloadable map is available from FellsBiker.com (you can buy a large 23" x 29" version as well). There are two more digital maps available from the DRC (formally the MDC) that look after the Fells at Regular Map, MTB Loop Map.

Friends of the Fells also sells maps but do not share them online. To obtain a hardcopy Middlesex Fells trail map, drop by the North Region office Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. The cost is $5.00, or send a $5.00 check or money order made out to "Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation". Include a self addressed envelope with 2 first class stamps. Send the above to 4 Woodland Rd. Stoneham, MA 02180 or call (781) 322-2851 or (781) 662-5230.

Directions

From I-93:
Zoom up (or down) I-93 from Boston and get off at exit 33 (It's the Fellsway Exit, if you're coming from the south it's the second one you should see for route 28 , the exit after the route 60 Medford/Malden exit) either go down 28 to get to the Sheeps Fold or go round the rotary and get on South Border Road for the Pond Parking or Middle Road.

From Route 2:
Take Route 60 East and follow across Mass Ave, through Arlington to Medford. As you get into the center of Medford (after the third rotary) you want to take a left onto Governors Ave, it's a fairly big road just after the CVS on your left. If you hit the big junction in the center of Medford you've gone too far (if you are going on any right-after-work rides, you better allot at least 30-45 minutes to get there from Rte. 2. The traffic is a complete nightmare.).

Meeting Places

The Bellevue Pond Parking

This is just of the rotary with 93 along South Border Road and is easy to find. Be warned they close the gates after hours and so it's not a good place to meet for post work rides. However if you can get there then you can surely drive a few more yards up the road and pull in by the gate where it is O.K. to park for post-work rides.

MDC's Flynn Rink

Take I-93 from Boston or via RT 128 and get off at exit 33 (again, Fellsway Exit). At the exit rotary, head straight north (or swing all the way around to head north) on 28 to toward the Sheeps Fold. About 1/4 mile up, instead of going straight all the way to Sheeps fold, bear right at the fork. Go about 1/4 mile further and reach another rotary. Coming into the rotary at 6 o'clock exit at 10 o'clock in the left lane and then take your immediate left into the Flynn Rink parking lot. The trail head is at the far end from the building near the jungle gym.

This lot is great for east side access and can hook up to the NEMBA Loop via fireroads.

Middle Road Gate

Located about 300 yards down South Border Road from The Pond Parking, it's at the junction of Governors Ave and South Border Road. Middle Road leads into the Fells from it. There's absolutely no parking on the street or the gravel shoulder. Governors ave is the road with the Lawrence Memorial Hospital on it. Recently the locals have been getting more and more upset by people parking there and asked the hospital to ban us... if you can, try and park somewhere else or ride your bike to the fells! Directions below.

Sheep Fold

I think I labeled this right from the map? Anyway it's a good lot which has recently been repaved. Easy access to 93 (and other things) from here, but it's more of a pain to get to than The Pond. Maybe we should label this a meating place ;-)

North of the Fells

If you're traveling Rt. 93 instead of getting off the Rotary for S. Border go around the rotary a bit further and follow Rt 28 north (just like you were headed for Sheepsfold parking) past sheeps fold entrance and on up to set of lights (Friendly's on corner). Turn left at the lights, go about 1/8 mile and turn left again under the highway and there is a parking lot right there that is hardly used. DPW had blocked off some of it a few years ago in order to keep out what I like to call "head-hunters".

Lot is easier to get to from 93 North, its the first exit after Montvale Ave in Woburn and is right across from the bottom of the ramp.

Medford High School

To get there from the bottom of Governor's Ave in Medford Square:

-Take Route 60 west to the rotary (about 1/4 mile)
-First right onto 38 North
-Watch for the synagogue on right (about a 1/2 mile)
-Take a right into the driveway for the school, immediately after the synagogue

To get to the trails, just go up the hill behind the school onto the running track, and there's a hole in the chainlink fence on the right. Voila, you're in the Lawrence Woods section of the Fells! (Just keep following the trails pretty straight and it will bring you to South Border road between Middle Road and Long Pond. Or explore around a bit.)

How to get there NOT by car

Here are directions to the Fells from Alewife T-station that stick to the least traffic-y streets. I believe you can get a bike pass for a minimal charge that allows you to take your bike on the T outside of rush hour times. The T's website is http://www.mbta.com/ - it will have all the info.

When you exit the Alewife station follow the signs toward the auto drop-off pick up. Hang a right and you'll end up going under a bridge on the minuteman bike path. Take the path to Varnum street - the street does not actually cross the path but there is a blue sign for it on the path. Take varnum st. to Mass Ave, turn left on Mass ave. Turn right on Bates st., which is just a couple blocks past the Capitol movie theatre, which is on your left. Follow this street as it crosses Mystic Valley Parkway and the river, and it will eventually become High street, altough it changes names a couple times in between. You will get to a funky intersection with some railroad tracks and a Dunkin' Donuts, and as cliche as it is to say this in Boston, turn right at the Dunkin' Donuts and cross the RR tracks. This street is still High street. You'll come to a rotary - take your life in your hands and go straight across it - there is a street to the right, a street to the left, a street straight across with a "do not enter sign" and a street straight across which is the continuation of high street. Stay on High Street. Turn left on Governer's, which is a divided blvd., and follow Governor's up the hill, past Lawrence Memorial Hospital, a handy place in case that rotary traversal didn't go so well. Governor's will dead end at S. Border Road, right at the trailhead.

Or you could get on Mass ave going towards HARVARD SQUARE...stay on Mass ave, till you get to porter T-station..cross the starmarket parking lot on your right, take aleft on elm street, which leads you right into Davis square.

from DAVIS SQUARE, take college ave till it ends!!!..so you gotta go trough the rotary, it's the second exit when you enter the rotary. At the end of college ave, take a right and than a left at the blinking red light onto main str.... and this turns left onto mystic ave parkway..pass under the bridge, over the water, and take a left on the lights.., and than the I think second on your right is govenor street which leads right onto the middle road meeting point. This is very easy to find!!!..cause even I found it!!!!

Riding Time :
From Symphony to Harvard sq. ~15-20 min
Harvard sq. to Davis sq. ~5-10 min
Davis sq. to middle road meeting ~15 min

Directions to Davis Square from The Fells

Since we usually end up at Redbones or sometimes the Joshua Tree in Davis Square, here's some simple directions.

Head down Govereners Ave into the center of Medford. At the end take a left onto Winthrop St. at the big junction in the center of Medford take a right. Go under Route 16. Bear right (Grrr) (to the right of Mobil and Dunkin donuts) onto Main St. Take the right at the blinky yellow light onto Royall St. At the top sign take a left onto College Ave. Zoom down College ave until you get to the the stop sign at the big open intersection - continue on towards Powder House Sq (the killer rotary of Somerville). Take the 3rd exit (more or less sraight) off Powder House Sq down College Ave. In Davis Sq - continue through lights (Bear Left Grrrr) and Jtree will be on your right.