Directions to Arlington's Spy Pond

Our lexicon includes a couple of "urban" rides too long to stage from suburbia, but right on target if the starting point is closer to Boston. One such location such is Spy Pond, situated on the Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington not far from Alewife Station. Starting here it's possible to, for example, circumnavigate the Charles River Basin from Harvard to the Science Museum and back again on the Boston side, all "off road", in about two hours.  There is, of course, much to see along the way, including the ultimate Boston overlook, i.e., the City itself, close up and personal.

Parking for Spy Pond consists of a smallish lot at the end of Linwood Street plus nearby hit or miss on-street spots ("nearby" might mean as much as a block or two away). Wherever you finally land, walk or ride to the staging point, which is the Bikeway where it intersects Linwood Street. To get there:

From Route 128/95

Take Exit 29A for Route 2 inbound toward Arlington and Cambridge. Drive it 6.1 miles to the Lake Street Exit (Exit 60) and stick with the ramp as it circles about and parallels Route 2 going outbound again, soon intersecting Lake Street. Turn right on Lake Street and continue 0.7 miles to Massachusetts Avenue. At Massachusetts Avenue, go left 0.3 miles to Linwood Street, turn left, and drive down it, across the Minuteman Bikeway to the parking area on Spy Pond's shore.

MapQuest estimates the trip from Route 128 should take 12 minutes.

Alternatives

The primary alternative, and probably the most sensible one, is to ask mapquest.com for directions from your starting point to "linwood street at massachusetts avenue" in "Arlington". Others are:

From Winchester

Drive Mystic Street (Route 3) to Pleasant Street (Route 60) and thence to Arlington Center and Massachusetts Avenue. Turn left on Mass Ave and continue down it past Pond Lane and Wyman Street to Linwood Street, turn right, drive to the end, and park.

From Lexington

Drive Massachusetts Avenue through its intersection with Pleasant Street (Route 60) in downtown Arlington, and continue five or six (roughly) blocks to Linwood Street. Turn right, drive to the end, and park.

From Bedford, Burlington, etcetera

If Route 128/95 southbound is clogged, you're on the horns of a dilemma. Try Massachusetts Avenue or the Route 3/Route 60 thing, but remember, there are a lot of stop lights both ways. These'll slow you down, maybe as much as traffic on Route 128. So leave home early!

*** Good Luck !!! ***