🍂 Crossing into Watertown: Fall Walk Along the Charles River

We begin where the last walk left off — at the intersection of Western Avenue and Leo M. Birmingham Parkway — on a crisp, sunny day that shows off the Charles River in all its early-autumn color. 🍁

As we cross the bridge, the Charles River glistens in the sunlight, framed by trees that are just beginning to turn. On the far side, we officially enter Watertown, where the road becomes Arsenal Street and the riverside transitions into a quieter, more reflective space.

We follow the Paul Dudley White Bike Path, named for the Boston-born physician who championed heart health through exercise and helped inspire the creation of Boston’s legendary riverfront trails. The path runs parallel to the river, with park benches, birdsong, and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.

To our right, a wooded area shelters both wildlife and — as we observe — at least one unhoused resident, a reminder of the human side of our urban landscape. While we stay on the paved trail this time, it’s a stretch that reveals both the beauty and complexity of the Charles River corridor.

The walk ends at Arsenal Yards, where modern development meets natural peace — a perfect place to pause before continuing west in the next episode. 🌉

🎥 Route: Leo M. Birmingham Pkwy → Western Ave Bridge → Paul Dudley White Path → Arsenal Yards

🧭 Notes of Interest:

Paul Dudley White Path runs over 17 miles along both sides of the Charles, part of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” of parks.

Arsenal Yards was once the Watertown Arsenal, built in 1816 and used by the U.S. Army until the 1990s. It’s now home to shops, restaurants, and riverside public spaces.

The Western Ave Bridge you crossed was first built in 1824 and has been rebuilt several times, most recently to support modern traffic and pedestrian access.

☕ Support My Work:

👉 BuyMeACoffee.com/ScottD317

💸 CashApp: $ScottD317

#scottd317 #charlesriver #fall