Boston Nature Center

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Boston Nature Center

Photo: NewtonCourt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🥾 Hike · Boston

1.5 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 5.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 25 min drive
    From Newton · Parking: Free lot at the Walk Hill St entrance
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Some shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Handles heat
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 1.5 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall

A 67-acre urban nature area on former hospital grounds in Mattapan, run by Mass Audubon yet completely free: 2 miles of flat trails and boardwalks through meadow and wetland, a nature play area built from logs and a sandpit, and plenty of butterflies and dragonflies in summer.

💡 Tips
The loop is short and flat, no problem for strollers; the nature center is open weekends with restrooms and small exhibits. It is close to Franklin Park Zoo, so do the zoo in the morning and come here to run around in the afternoon.

What this place offers

✓boardwalk
✓nature play area
✓meadow
✓community garden
✓free
✓butterflies
✓restrooms

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Location

Boston, Massachusetts

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