Driving Directions
These are just general driving directions, and not necessarily the shortest routes to the launch areas, just the way I would probably go. Distances are approximate. For better, more accurate directions, go to Google Maps and enter the town and street of the launch area you want. From there, just right click on a street and choose “Directions to here”.
Populatic Pond
From Route 115, take a left on Main Street in the center of Norfolk, Ma. Follow Main Street toward Franklin. Approximately 1 mile from the center of town, take a right on Medway Street and follow it to the end. Take a left on Myrtle Street and then your first right on Miller Street. Again, take your first right on Leland Road and then your first right on Prescilla Ave. Follow Prescilla Ave. until you can see the pond on your left. The boat ramp is on the left at the intersection of Prescilla Ave. and Lakeshore Drive. Park along the side of the road.
River Road
From Route 115, take a left on Main Street in the center of Norfolk, Ma. Follow Main Street toward Franklin. Approximately 1 mile from the center of town, take a right on Medway Street and follow it to the end. Take a right on Myrtle Street and then your first left on River Road. The launch site is on the right just after the bridge. Park along the side of the road.
Route 115
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis. After a few miles, look for the sign that says "Welcome to Millis". The river crosses the road a short distance after that. The launch site is on the right before the bridge and has a small parking lot. During the summer when the plants are overgrown, this little parking area is easy to miss.
Forest Road
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Watch for forest Road on your right. Take a right onto forest Road and follow for less than a mile. The launch site is on the left before the bridge - there is a large parking lot with a yellow gate.
Dover Road
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Continue past forest Road, to the end (route 109). Take a right on 109 and then your first left onto Dover Road. Follow the road as it curves to the right. Watch for the bridge. As soon as you go over the bridge, turn left into the Medfield Water Treatment plant (you will see the river to your left). The launch site is to your left under the bridge. Park anywhere.
Route 27
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Continue past Forest Road, to the end (route 109). Take a right on 109 and continue past Dover Road to the intersection of route 109 and route 27. Take a keft on 27 and continue for about five miles until you see the bridge. There will also be a sign marking the Sherborn/Medfield town line. The launch site is on the left before the bridge (before you go up the hill). Parking is along Route 27.
Farm Road / Bridge Street
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Continue past Forest Road, to the end (route 109). Take a right on 109 and continue past Dover Road to the intersection of route 109 and route 27. Go straight through the intersection and take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the left to go onto Farm Street. After a mile or so, take a left onto Bridge Street. The launch area is on the right before the bridge. There is a small parking area here.
Natick / Route 16
Follow Route 27 past the lanch area. After about 3.5 miles, Route 27 merges with Route 16 for a short distance. When they split again, stay on Route 16. In about 2.5 miles, you will see the river on your right. Look for the pull-off on the right. A few cars can be parked here, but the parking lot gets very muddy when it rains.
Natick / South Natick Dam
Follow Route 27 past the launch area. After about 3.5 miles, Route 27 merges with Route 16 for a short distance. When they split again, stay on Route 16. In about 2.5 miles, you will see the river on your right. Continue past the Route 16 launch area for less than a mile. When you can see the dam, look for Mill Street on your right. A couple of cars can be parked on Mill Street and a few more along Pleasant Street (at the other End of Mill Street).
Dover / Elm Bank
Follow Route 27 past the launch area. After about 3.5 miles, Route 27 merges with Route 16 for a short distance. When they split again, stay on Route 16. In about 2.5 miles, you will see the river on your right. Continue on Route 16, past the dam. About a mile past the dam, there will be a sign on the right for the Elm Bank Reservation. Take a right on Cheney Drive and go over the bridge. You have to drive to the right and go all the way around the park. Follow the signs for the greenhouse. After driving over the small, stone bridge (the Elm Bank Canal), there will be a parking area on the right.
Needham / Centre Street - Central Ave
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Continue past Forest Road, to the end (route 109). Take a right on 109 and continue past Dover Road to the intersection of route 109 and route 27. Go straight through the intersection and take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the right again. This is Centre Street. In about four miles, after crossing the river, it is Central ave. There is a small parking area on the left, along the river.
Dover / Fisher Street (RedWing Bay)
Follow Route 115 through the center of Norfolk. Continue on 115 across the train tracks toward Millis (past the 115 launch area). After about a mile, the road forks. Stay to the right. Continue past Forest Road, to the end (route 109). Take a right on 109 and continue past Dover Road to the intersection of route 109 and route 27. Go straight through the intersection and take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the right again. This is Centre Street. Cross the river and go past the Central Ave launch area. Take a right onto Fisher Street. When the river comes in to view again, the launch area will be on the right. There is a small parking area and a sign for “Red Wing Bay”.
Dover / Mill Street
From Route 109, take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the right again. This is Centre Street. Cross the river and go past the Central Ave launch area. Take a right onto Fisher Street. At the end of Fisher Street, take a right. Take your first left onto Mill Street. Park along the road.
Needham / South Street
From Route 109, take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the right again. This is Centre Street. After about two miles, take a right onto Dedham Street. At the next fork in the road (after about three or four miles), stay to the left. This is Chestnut Street. Cross over the river and take the first right onto South Street. After crossing 135, the launch area will be on the right. There is plenty of parking on the grass.
Dedham / Needham Street
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 18, Great Plain Ave toward West Roxbury. Take a left onto Great Plain Ave, which becomes Needham Street. The launch area with a small parking lot is on the right.
West Roxbury / Havey Beach
Follow Route 1 north into Dedham. A section of Route 1 is known as the VFW Parkway and is well marked. As soon as you're on the VFW Parkway, look for a small, boarded up building on the left. This is the old Havey Beach. Take a left and park on the grass to the left of the building.
Newton / Millenium Park
Follow Route 1 north into Dedham. A section of Route 1 is known as the VFW Parkway and is well marked. Shortly after the beginning of the VFW Parkway, past Havey Beach, take a left on Charles Park Road. Millenium Park is straight ahead. Once inside the park, the launch area and parking lot are to the left.
Newton / Nahanton Park
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 18, Great Plain Ave toward West Roxbury. Take a right onto Great Plain Ave and then right onto Greendale Ave. After about two miles, take a right onto Kendrick Street. Nahanton Park is on the left as soon as you go over the river.
Needham / Hemlock Gorge
From Route 109, take a left onto North Street. At the first fork in the road (Harding Street), stay to the right to continue on North Street. At the next fork in the road, stay to the right again. This is Centre Street. In about four miles, after crossing the river, it is Central ave. Stay on Central Ave for about five more miles, you will see a sign for Hemlock Gorge. Take a left onto Hamilton Place. There are a few parking places on the right.
Newton / Quinobequin Road
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 20A, Route 9E/Worcester Street (toward Brookline) and bear right onto Boylston Street. Take a left onto Ellis Street which will become Quinobequn Road. The Charles runs parallel to Quinobequin Road for almost a mile. Parking is along the road and you can launch anywhere there is a break in the trees.
Weston / Riverside Park
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 23-24-25. Take exit 23 and follow the sign for Recreation Road. There will be a sign for Riverside Park and a small parking lot on the right.
Weston / Norumbega Road
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 23-24-25. Take the exit and follow the signs for Route 30. After bearing right onto Route 30 and crossing over the river, make a U-turn and cross over the river again. Take the 128N exit toward Gloucester/Waltham. DO NOT get on the highway. Stay to the right and folloew the signs for Norumbega Road. Take a right onto Norumbega Road. There is plenty of parking here.
Waltham / Woerd Ave
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 22, Grove Street (toward the MBTA station). Be sure to stay on Grove Street, it takes a sharp right in less than a mile. Take a left at Central Street and go over the Mass Turnpike. Central Street becomes Auburn Street and then Lexington Street. After about another mile, take a left onto Rumford Ave. Then a right on Woerd Ave. There will be a large parking area on the left.
Waltham / Landry Park
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 22, Grove Street (toward the MBTA station). Be sure to stay on Grove Street, it takes a sharp right in less than a mile. Take a left at Central Street and go over the Mass Turnpike. Central Street becomes Auburn Street,then Lexington Street, then Moody Street. After crossing over the river, Landry Park is to your right behind the factory buildings. There is really no convenient parking here.
Watertown / Watertown Dam
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 21, Route 16E (toward West Newton). Follow Route 16E for almost four miles and then take a left onto 5th Ave. At the end of 5th Ave, take a right onto California Street and park along the road. You might actually want to park on 5th Ave. There is only two hour parking in this area.
Brighton / MDC Recreation Area
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 19A, Highland Ave (toward Newton Highlands). Highland Ave becomes Needham Street. At the end of Needham Street, take a left onto Winchester Street, which becomes Centre Street and then Saint James Street. After crossing over the Mass Turnpike, take a right onto Charlesbank Road and then bear right onto Nonantum Road. The launch area and parking lot are on the left in about a half mile.
Allston / Herter Park
Follow Route 109 into Westwood to Route 128/95. Take 128N/95N to exit 20A, Route 9E/Worcester Street (toward Brookline). Follow Route 9E for about 3.5 miles and then take a left onto Hammond Street. Then take a right on Reservoir Ave and another right on Beacon Street. Follow Beacon Street around the reservoir and then take a left onto Chestnut Hill Ave. Follow Chestnut Hill as it bears to the right, and then after another half mile or so it will become Market Street. After passing over the Mass Turnpike, stay towrd the right on the Leo M Burmingham Parkway. Continue onto Soldiers Field Road. After about a half mile, there will be a large parking lot on the left and a sign for Herter Park.
Cambridge / Magazine Beach (Captain's Island)
Take Route 95N to Route 93N. Stay on 93N for about 15 miles (be sure to keep toward the left at the intersection with Route 3 to stay on 93N). Take exit 20 for the Mass Turnpike toward Worcester (Route 90 West). After about 4.5 miles, take exit 20 toward Cambridge Street, Cambridge. This becomes River Street as you cross over the river. As soon as you go over the river, take a right onto Memorial Drive. Look for a small parking area on the right across from a plaza (Trader Joe's, Starbucks). This is Magazine Beach.