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Alewife Brook Reservation – Spy Pond loop from Gilman Square

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Alewife Brook Reservation – Spy Pond loop from Gilman Square

Easy

4.5

(4564)

14,528

riders

Alewife Brook Reservation – Spy Pond loop from Gilman Square

00:51

14.6km

40m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 20, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.73 km

Seven Hills Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Small park with some sculptures and other art dotted around. It's connected to many other parks and neighborhoods by the vast urban trail network that crisscrosses the greater Boston area.

Tip by

4.58 km

Yates Pond

Highlight • Lake

This picturesque pond in the Alewife Brook Reservation is visible from the Minuteman Bikeway and is one of the first things you can see coming out of the Alewife Station.

Tip by

5.04 km

Alewife Brook Reservation is a 120-acre urban wild in Cambridge and Arlington, Massachusetts, offering a surprising mix of wetlands, woodlands, and paved paths near the Alewife T station. It’s a key green corridor along the Minuteman Bikeway and Fitchburg Cutoff Path, making it popular with cyclists, runners, and commuters. Boardwalks and footpaths wind through marshes where you can spot red-winged blackbirds, herons, and turtles. The reservation also plays a vital role in local flood control and wildlife habitat. While not remote, it offers a welcome dose of nature in the city and easy access to larger trail networks in the region.

Tip by

6.61 km

Spy Pond

Highlight • Lake

Spy Pond is a 103-acre freshwater kettle pond located in Arlington, Massachusetts. It formed thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age and is part of the Mystic River watershed. The pond is bordered by Spy Pond Park, which features a playground, picnic areas, and walking paths. The Minuteman Bikeway runs nearby, providing easy access for cyclists and pedestrians. Spy Pond is also a habitat for various wildlife, including fish, birds, and aquatic plants, making it a popular natural area within the suburban landscape of Greater Boston.

Tip by

7.47 km

Uncle Sam Plaza and Samuel Wilson Monument

Highlight • Monument

Uncle Sam Plaza, located in Arlington, Massachusetts, near the Minuteman Bikeway, honors Samuel Wilson, believed to be the inspiration for the national symbol "Uncle Sam." Born on September 13, 1766, near this site—then part of Menotomy—Wilson became a meat packer who supplied the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. His barrels, marked with "U.S.," led soldiers to associate the provisions with "Uncle Sam," personifying the United States. The plaza features a bronze statue of Wilson, sculpted by Theodore Cotillo Barbarossa and installed in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. Adjacent to the statue is a bronze relief illustrating scenes from Wilson's life, including his roles in Troy, New York, and Mason, New Hampshire.

Tip by

14.6 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

12.2 km

2.08 km

126 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

13.1 km

840 m

434 m

108 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Friday 26 June

25°C

18°C

80 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Alewife Brook Reservation – Spy Pond loop from Gilman Square

Seven Hills Park

Jerry's Pond

Yates Pond