The Charles River is often celebrated for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, yet one of its most crucial features tends to go unnoticed—the Charles River Dam and locks. Completed in 1978, these structures play an essential role in regulating water levels, transforming tidal mudflats into a serene, lake-like basin that is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Located near North Station, the dam and locks are easily accessible. Visitors can start their journey by walking past Lovejoy Wharf, home to Night Shift Brewing, before reaching the footpath over the locks. A walk across the dam offers picturesque views from the West End to Charlestown, and it’s a chance to witness the locks in action or examine the massive gears that control their operation. Prior to entering Charlestown, you can engage with public art by striking a note on the gongs of Paul Matisse’s “Charlestown Bells,” marking the beginning of several installations along the riverbanks.
Dominating the skyline is the Zakim Bridge, but hidden greenness flourishes in its vicinity. Paul Revere Park features ballfields and playgrounds, providing families with a play area, while the elegant North Bank Bridge leads to North Point Park in Cambridge, also equipped with a playground and a spray pad. Under the elevated roadways, the Lynch Family Skatepark boasts a vibrant array of authorized graffiti, giving it a unique charm. Following the water’s edge around the basin will bring you to Museum Way, where the Museum of Science rests atop the historic 1910 Charles River Dam and locks.
The Museum of Science is a haven for curious minds, featuring an array of engaging exhibitions. Highlights include the lightning bolts of the Theater of Electricity and a 65-million-year-old Triceratops skeleton. The Yawkey Gallery offers children an engaging experience with its interactive exhibits that blend lessons in natural history with engineering challenges surrounding water quality and flood control. Children can experiment with bridge-building and water control gates or navigate a simulated sewer system. Additionally, life-sized bronze statues of local wildlife, including turtles, ducks, otters, and muskrats, echo the river’s fauna.
Prefer a relaxed experience? The Charles River Boat Company provides leisurely 70-minute cruises. Departing from Lechmere Canal on the Cambridge side, the cruise glides past rowers and flocks of waterfowl to the John W. Weeks Footbridge and back. As the boat travels, a guide highlights notable sites along the banks, from the skyscrapers of Back Bay to the MIT Great Dome. Grafitti adorns the CSX Railroad Bridge below the BU Bridge, showcasing the logos of various university crew teams. This spring saw a fresh coat of paint added to the vibrant mural “Patterned Behavior” by Silvia López Chavez, located just upriver from the Harvard (Mass. Ave.) Bridge along the multiuse path.
For an independent excursion, consider renting a kayak from Paddle Boston’s location in Kendall Square. While you may not travel as far as with a powered boat, the close proximity to the water allows for a unique perspective. The water quality of the Charles has improved significantly since the 1990s, offering a great opportunity to observe blue herons and examine the bridges up close. Kayaking through the lagoons of the Charles River Esplanade is particularly enchanting.
The Charles River Esplanade is undoubtedly the most well-known segment of the riverbank, famously hosting the Boston Pops concert and fireworks on Independence Day. Starting from the Longfellow Bridge, guests will encounter Community Boating, where kayaks can be rented, along with small keelboats for experienced sailors. However, the heart of the Esplanade is the Hatch Shell, an Art Deco concert venue that has thrived since before World War II. The Hatch Shell hosts summer-long concerts and movie screenings, creating a vibrant atmosphere for all. Among the statues surrounding the amphitheater stands a bronze figure of philanthropist David G. Mugar, credited for integrating fireworks into the July 4 Pops concert. His memorable collaboration with conductor Arthur Fiedler is still celebrated today.
The beautiful grounds surrounding the Hatch Shell feature picnic tables and benches, making it an inviting spot for meals. Alternatively, you can enjoy the Night Shift Beer Garden, where food trucks often complement the beer offerings. Families with children will find playgrounds conveniently located near the beer garden as well as further upriver towards Harvard Bridge.
For those seeking adventure, a walk from the Hatch Shell to Christian Herter Park in Brighton spans just over five miles. If you prefer a shorter stroll, begin at the John W. Weeks Footbridge, located at the intersection of DeWolfe Street and Harvard Square in Cambridge. The bridge provides impressive views of the winding river below, and is an excellent viewpoint to watch rowing regattas.
Crossing over to the Boston side, the footpath leads to an underpass at the Eliot Bridge, where the scenery changes dramatically. Suddenly, the route opens up to Herter Park, the largest expanse of open space along the Charles River basin. Within the park, you’ll find a playground and spray fountain, along with a spacious lawn that invites volleyball and badminton players. This area also features a Night Shift beer garden and a 350-seat amphitheater for various outdoor performances. Paddle Boston has a rental kiosk at this park, making it easy for kayakers to set out on exploratory adventures in the tranquil upper river basin, frequented by ducks, geese, swans, and red-winged blackbirds.
With so much to offer, the Charles River provides ample opportunities for summer fun throughout the city. Beyond the recreational options, the river stretches upstream for another 70 miles, leading all the way to Echo Lake in Hopkinton.
For those interested in specific events and activities, information is available about Free Friday Flicks at the Esplanade through mass.gov/info-details/dcr-movies-in-the-parks#charles-river-esplanade—fridays. To learn about performances by the Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell, visit landmarksorchestra.org. The schedule for the upcoming July 12 Charles River Jazz Festival at the Herter Park Amphitheater can be found at bostonjazzfoundation.org, while details about public art displays are available at esplanade.org/publicart.
Night Shift Brewing, located at 1 Lovejoy Wharf in Boston, has hours from Monday to Thursday 3-9 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Charles River Esplanade Beer Garden operates from Wednesday to Friday from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. The Christian Herter Park Beer Garden follows similar hours, open Thursday to Friday from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
The Museum of Science, located at 1 Science Park in Boston, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission prices are $31 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $26 for children aged 3-11. The Charles River Boat Company can be found at 100 Cambridgeside Place (Lechmere Canal) in Cambridge, offering sightseeing tours through September 1, with different rates based on age and group sizes. Paddle Boston operates at 15 Broad Canal Way in Kendall Square and 1071 Soldiers Field Road in Allston/Brighton, with their specific rental pricing available on their website. Community Boating, at 21 David G. Mugar Way, also rents kayaks and paddleboards for a fee.
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