#OptOutside this weekend.
Why spend this beautiful weekend stuck inside a store when you can #OptOutside and enjoy the Charles River?
We asked the CRWA staff what their favorite places in the watershed are. Here’s what they came up with:
Emily: The path next to the Blue Heron Bridge. It’s near my house and I bring a plastic bag and pick up trash as I walk.
Julie: I have two young children and it can be a challenge to get them to go on long hikes, so for those of you with little ones I highly recommend checking out Hemlock Gorge and the Echo Bridge in Newton. It’s a short walk with a lot of fun things to see and even a little bit of adventure! My kids love fishing (catch & release only for us) and there are multiple spots to throw a line in above the dam. Enjoy!
Dira: I really enjoy walking along the Charles River Esplanade. As someone who doesn’t have a car, the esplanade is an easily accessible stretch of the Charles River that combines both city and nature! If it’s not too cold, a picnic on the esplanade is a great way to spend the day.
Robert: I have a couple of places that I enjoy. Just below Watertown Dam in the spring I love to watch the migratory fish including river herring and shad spawning in the river. Additionally, Cutler Park Reservation in Needham and Dedham is another gem. It is a DCR park that is a part of the Natural Valley Storage Area. You can hike out into the wetlands and islands on boardwalks. Fellow transit lovers and railfans can also watch MBTA Commuter Rail trains on the Needham Line above the trail. It is a really cool spot!
Julia: I highly recommend Elm Bank Reservation. Located in Wellesley just over the Natick border, Elm Bank has everything; meandering hiking trails that follow the curve of the river, beautiful fields, and even the expansive gardens of Mass. Horticultural Society. It’s a great place to wander, birdwatch, and walk dogs. Check out the giant European Beech Tree at the top of the hill if you’re feeling adventurous!
Lisa: I always enjoy a visit to Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. It has 9 miles of trails by the Charles, through marshes, forests, and grasslands that are stunning in all seasons. There is always an abundance of wildlife, and their beautiful marsh boardwalk is accessible to people of all abilities.
