Boston is fantastic in the fall. Crisp autumn air, changing colors, the fall harvest, and 350,000 college students giving the city a youthful feel.
Here are some favorite routes in metro Boston to enjoy the feel of fall, courtesy of our friends at Great Runs. The colors typically peak in late October outside the
city and early November in the city.
Emerald Necklace. Boston’s Olmsted-designed jewel is resplendent when the colors are changing. Particularly the section between
Brookline Village and the Arboretum.
Charles River. Go early in the morning to see the rowers training for the Head of the Charles. Explore the Upper Charles River paths to enjoy the gorgeous colors.
Minuteman Trail. Run this 5-mile historic path between Lexington and Concord to enjoy beautiful colors and history.
Back Bay/South End: Run along the Commonwealth Ave. Mall and around the South End to experience foliage and brownstones.
Wellesley College Campus. One of the prettiest college campuses in the country is also an Arboretum. Spectacular in fall.
Cranberry Bog Run. You can’t get more New England in autumn than seeing a cranberry bog at its peak. Head to Carlisle and run around
the Cranberry Bog (peaks mid-October), and combine with nearby Great Brook Farm State Park to enjoy the colors.
Apple Orchard Runs. We’ve mapped three routes in ‘Orchard Country’ west of Boston. Quiet roads, rolling hills, and apple orchards. Reward yourself post-run with a
cider donut!
Trail Running Options Near Boston: We recommend the Middlesex Fells in Stoneham, Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, and the Lynn Woods in Lynn for extensive trail running options within 10 miles of the city.
Great Runs also has a huge collection of fantastic fall foliage routes just outside Boston and all over New England. See these special ‘Best of Fall Foliage’ lists.
Mark Lowenstein, Chief Running Officer of Great Runs, will be speaking at the Run Show Boston, sharing some fantastic lists of some of the greatest places to run in the world