Norumbega Road

Directions to

The MDC's Norumbega Road Duck-Feeding Parking Lot

Hidden along the Charles River's west bank, and sequestered almost precisely beneath the elevated over-and-under engineering marvel carrying Route 30 over Route 128/95 while simultaneously transporting both across the River, is an extensive MDC-maintained parking lot catering exclusively to those who've come to feed the ducks, geese, swans, and sea gulls congregating there.  For us, however, waterfowl feeding (see photo) is secondary to using the lot as a launching platform from which to access riverside trails along the outer reaches of the Middle Charles. Convenient and entertaining in its own right, the lot is a perfect doorway to several miles of almost uninterrupted riverside pathways through Newton's Norumbega and Auburndale Parks and the MDC's Forest Grove Reservation. For those on bikes, continuing over paved and stone dust paths all the way through Waltham and Watertown to Boston and the Science Museum is possible, though the round trip from the lot is thirty miles or more, enough to keep even the most dedicated enthusiast busy for a while.

From Route 128/95

Getting to the Duck Lot is easy. Drive Route 128/95 to Exit 24 in Weston and, if you're coming from the north, stay left for Route 30 west toward Wayland when the on-ramp road forks at its top. But don't take Route 30. Instead, when you reach the lights go straight across 30 to River Road and continue a little over 0.2 miles, where Norumbega Road plunges to the right and dives under Route 128. Take it. There's a sign here directing you to turn right for the MDC Duck Feeding Parking Lot, but it's easy to miss if you're going a little quickly or are distracted by traffic. Just after passing under Route 128/95, turn right and drive into the Lot.

MapQuest says the trip should take 25 minutes from our house in Burlington. We did it in about that on a Sunday morning but give ourselves an additional 20 minutes when the morning commute is in full cry.

If you're driving north on 128/95 to Exit 24, turn left onto Route 30 toward Wayland, cross over 128/95, then right onto River Road at the lights. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right on Norumbega Road, then right into the parking lot when you reach the River.

From Western Suburbs handy to Route 30 (South Road)

For many of you there's no reason to fight your way to Route 128 when Route 30 is already at hand. Drive it to the lights just before Route 128, turn left onto River Road, and proceed as above.

From Weston

Newton Road to Route 30 is easy, but a far more scenic route is Meadowbrook to Loring, turn right on Loring and continue to River Road, then turn left on River Road and almost immediately right onto Norumbega Road.

*** Good Luck !!! ***

For those navigating to the start with a GPS system:

2 Norumbega Road, Weston, MA 02493 or N42 20.799, W71 15.697

To contact us call 978-808-0900