This ride begins at the Sullivan Square Orange Line Station and goes to the Northern end of the trail, where you can either catch a bus back to the city or continue to Nahant Beach.
The Northern Strand Community Trail is a 10-mile paved trail bridging Boston’s urban core to the coastal communities of the North Shore. It was built along the path of the Saugus Branch Railroad, originally constructed in 1853 and abandoned in 1958, until 1993 when the advocacy organization Bike to the Sea began repurposing the corridor into a trail. Today, the path provides a continuous, off-street connection from Everett to Lynn and is part of the East Coast Greenway, a planned 3,000-mile trail system that, when complete, will span from Maine to Florida.
While parking options are shown on the map, public transportation is highly recommended for this ride, with easy transit access on either end of the trail. The T has information about bringing your bike on the system. Subway and bus options can be paid for with cash, contactless payment by debit card, credit card or digital wallet, or by Charlie Card. Commuter Rail and ferry tickets can be purchased onboard, or on the mTicket app.
Getting there:
MBTA Orange Line: The ride begins at Sullivan Station on the Orange Line, a less than 10-minute train ride from downtown. From here, you’ll continue over the Mystic River on the Alford Street Bridge, which has a flex-post protected bike lane. You’ll then turn onto the Encore Boston Harbor Boardwalk and continue around the point until you connect with the start of the trail.
Getting Back:
Lynn Ferry: The Lynn ferry terminal is just a short ride from the trail’s northern end, and offers great views from Boston harbor on your 40-minute trip back to Long Wharf. You should always check the schedule in advance.
Commuter Rail Newburyport/Rockport Line: The commuter rail runs from Lynn Station every 30-60 minutes and takes approximately 30 minutes to get back to North Station. Tickets can be purchased on board or on the mTicket app. You should always check the schedule in advance.
426 bus: The 426 bus runs every hour and offers a 40-minute ride to Haymarket Station, where you can connect with the Orange Line and Green Line.
441/442/455 bus: The 441, 442 and 455 buses all run to Wonderland station where you can connect with the Blue Line back into town. Buses run approximately every half hour, and it takes 30 minutes to get to Wonderland from Lynn. From there it’s a less than 20-minute ride downtown on the Blue Line.
Bike to the Sea Bike Kitchen (3.7 miles from start)
Bike to the Sea is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 that promotes biking and bike safety in communities adjacent to the trail. The organization’s advocacy efforts were crucial in the realization of the Northern Strand trail, and they continue to organize events and support local communities. Not far from the start of the trail is the group’s bike kitchen, a community space that provides tools, bike stands, spare parts and support from volunteers to help people repair their bikes. They’re open three times a week, and you can also check the schedule.
Rumney Marsh Reservation (6.8 miles from start)
As you pass through Revere, you’ll see the Rumney Marsh Reservation, a 600-acre salt marsh that is one of the most biologically significant estuaries in greater Boston. While not directly accessible from the trail, there is a seating area that overlooks the marsh, a great spot to birdwatch and enjoy the scenery. In the mid 1960’s a large road embankment was erected through the marsh as a part of the planned I-95 highway through Boston. While the contentious Southwest Corridor famously spurred the project’s cancellation, construction had already begun on the highway’s Northern section, leaving an enormous scar through the marsh. This embankment, as well as a myriad of other infill projects over the past three centuries, drastically interfered with the marsh’s drainage, resulting in what’s known as waterlogging, which kills plants and leads to marsh decay. In recent decades, the embankment has been removed along with a series of projects to restore the marsh’s tidal flow and rehabilitate its crucial ecosystem.
Saugus River Trail Bridge (9.7 miles from start)
The Saugus River was originally called the Aboutsett River by the indigenous Pawtucket people, meaning “winding stream.” European settlers eventually renamed the river, along with the surrounding region, Saugus after an Algonquin word meaning “outlet,” reflective of the proximity to the sea. Completed in 2021, this steel bridge over the river is one of the trail’s newest additions. It extends the path into Lynn, creating a seamless connection that truly enables you to bike to the sea. Check out a drone video of the bridge being installed.
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (off-trail)
Off the trail you’ll find the Saugus Ironworks Historical Site, managed by the National Park Service. Established in 1646 by John Winthrop the Younger (son of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony), this was the first integrated ironworks in North America meaning that all steps of iron production were consolidated into one facility. Although today we might just call this a typical factory, Winthrop’s operation was extremely innovative at the time and was a replication of cutting-edge ironworks in England. Note that the on-road detour to access the site may be uncomfortable for inexperienced riders.
Nahant Beach (at route end)
At long last, you’ve done it. You’ve biked to the sea! This sandy ocean facing North Shore beach is an ideal spot to cool down and relax after your ride. With some of the highest water quality among Boston-area beaches, it’s also a great spot to take a refreshing dip in the crisp Atlantic waters. The beach overlooks Nahant, a coastal community whose name, like the beach itself, comes from a Massachusett Tribe word in the Algonquian language family, often translated as “the point,” in reference to the area’s peninsular geography.
The Northern Strand Community Trail is managed by the municipalities of Everrett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn. It is also supported by Bike to the Sea.