deer island harborwalk

winthrop580

Greatest free harbor tour in Boston. You can practical touch the boats! It is about a two mile round trip but, there are shorter walks with views from hills that give you 360 degree view!

whitaker1956

This was recommended to us and we thought "really a treatment facility?" But it was a great 3 mile hike, with total ocean views, nice paved walkway, vista points to hike up and enjoy. There was even a porta potty half way around :) Benches were available to sit and enjoy the view of the ocean, the city, and the many islands in the harbor. Would highly recommend this island trail.

oswel

I had heard about the HarborWalk on previous visits to Winthrop but never had the time to do it till my most recent visit. It took me about 40 minutes, with several stops to photograph the views. When you look at the islands, you feel that you're in a boat in the middle of the harbor! The landside views are interesting in that you pass by a variety of odd-shaped facilities for the processing of sewage...not a very romantic thought, but the structures themselves are very futuristic looking. There are also some classic old brick buildings from the island's earlier use as a city jail. A walk around the island is a very pleasant way to get some fresh air and exercise. Parking can be limited, though there is nearby bus service if you're without a car.

FlyAaron

This is one of my favorite spots around the Boston area. Deer Island's harbor walk is about 2.5 miles in length. You can easily get there by car, but a bit of a hike by public transportation if you don't live in Winthrop. One can bike, walk, run, or like me....inline skate. Multiple views of the North Shore, Atlantic Ocean, lighthouses, harbor islands, downtown Boston and the airport are breathtaking. You can leave the flat/paved part of the trail and hike up some of the hills to get an even better view of all the sites. At peak times, parking in the lot can be a challenge, but people do park along the main road just outside of the parking lot. Portable toilets are available at two different points of the harbor walk.

thorgan

We've lived in the Boston area all our lives and this was our first visit to the Deer Island park. What a wonderful place. At times you feel like you are right in the harbor, surrounded by islands and boats. It is very nicely done, clean, safe and a great place to enjoy the city and it's harbor.

merkatwoman

This isn't easy to get to if you're not a Boston native, but it's worth navigating the ever changing one way streets to get the view. We got there just before sunset and it was divine! It's quiet, surrounded by water and lots of pathways that are easy to walk or run and handicap accessible if needed. The power plant is a bit off putting but also fascinating at the same time. I recommend a trip off the beaten path to visit this island and get the gorgeous views.

olianna11

Pretty view of Boston skyline! You will also see many airplanes taking off and landing to airport nearby. It is really nice place where you can also enjoy the view of water/beach. There is a harbor walk where you can walk/run around. It takes approximately 2.6 miles. It also has interesting history about waste plant to make sure to keep boston harbor clean. Visit the park on a pretty day!

489susanh

The walk is beautiful. The scenery looking out into the ocean is so serene it is easy to find peace within. The children love to run around and it is a great place to walk your dog. The parking is limited though but it is worth going to.

forgotmypword

Today is one of the few "spring days" we had this year. Perfect for a walk al Deer Island. Lots of folks out and about.

londonderry3

This is a lovely walking area, so close to Boston. Lovely views. Lots of flat trails but lots of good hills if you want to get a bit more exercise walking, running, or biking.Wind is strong and cutting on a colder day, so bring wind protection. Yirrell Beach is right next door and also a nice walk.Did not see any public restrooms, but they may be around?

40JeffP

Great for walking or bike riding when the weather’s good. It gets windy, though, so be prepared for that. Superb views of Boston, and surrounding areas. I recommend biking over walking, only because it’s quite a distance going all the way round on foot, but there are plenty of places with benches where you can stop for the views, which are the main reason for doing this.

MS06

On the 2.5 mile walk around Deer Island there are great views of the Boston skyline and the harbor islands, and you can also see planes landing at Logan over the water. The walk has been very well laid out, with a wide path around the island and pleny of benches to rest, plus the odd portapotty. You will see dogs, strollers, cyclists and fishermen, but it's not very crowded. The signs explaining the waste treatment plant are very interesting - amazing that there is a 9.5 mile underwater tunnel to take the waste water into deep water, away from the harbor. There is a small parking area but if you get there in the afternoon on a weekend it's full and you'll have to walk a little further.

kcortave

Beautiful ocean views, New England history, and the water treatment plant... I never thought much about the treatment plant until my last walk, I noticed what looked like a landfill and areas where a harsh chemical seems to be seeping through the ground. A great place to walk. Just not sure how often I would want to be exposed to the gasses and chemicals from the plant.

josiow

We walked from The Inn at Crystal Cove to Deer Park and backIt is a nice walk, first looking at the lovely houses and views across the bay and then into the Park, following the well marked paths, and watching the birds, doing some people watching and (on the day we were there) enjoying the sun.It is a lovely area – don’t miss it

forgotmypword

A walk around a waste water treatment plant?!?!? Well, it's got some great scenery ... in the course of the 2.5 mile walk you'll see wide open ocean; light houses; and the Boston skyline. There are plenty of places to stop to sit and enjoy the scenery and the sound of the windmills is kind of cool.NOW ... back to reality .... does it smell bad? ... yes, sometimes the area near the pink -colored things (no clue what they are) is a bit unpleasant ... but the rest of the walk makes up for it. You will find walkers (some with baby carriages and/or leashed dogs), runners, cyclists and occassionally a cross country meet going on. It is not over-crowded, but usually not deserted either.