Getting to Middlesex Fells Reservation by Public Transit
You don't need a car to visit Middlesex Fells. The reservation is accessible by MBTA from Boston, and several bus routes drop you close enough to the park that you'll be on the trails in minutes. Here's how to get here on the T.
Quick Reference
Getting to the East Fells
Option 1 — Orange Line to Oak Grove Station
The most direct transit option to the East Fells. Take the Orange Line to Oak Grove Station (end of the line). Exit on the Washington Street side and walk north on Washington Street, away from Boston. Washington Street bears left at the intersection with Pleasant Street. Continue one more block and turn left onto Goodyear Avenue — a short, steep block that ends at Gate 58, the east entrance to the Fells and the start of the blue-blazed Cross Fells Trail.
Walk time from Oak Grove: 10–15 minutes
Option 2 — MBTA Bus #132 to Stone Zoo / Greenwood Park
MBTA Bus #132 runs between Malden Center (Orange Line) and the Redstone Shopping Center in Stoneham via Wyoming and Pond Street. It stops at the Stone Zoo and Greenwood Park — both adjacent to the East Fells.
From Greenwood Park, there are two trail entrances into the Fells: one at the back of the park behind the playground, and one behind the large field to the right of the park.
Travel time from Malden Center to Stone Zoo: about 10 minutes
Service: 46 roundtrips daily, 5:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Option 3 — MBTA Bus #99 to Botume House Visitor Center
MBTA Bus #99 runs between Wellington Station (Orange Line), Malden Center, and Malden Medical, ending at 3 Woodland Road in Stoneham — directly across the street from the Botume House Visitor Center at 4 Woodland Road on the eastern shore of Spot Pond. The Visitor Center is a good place to start in the East Fells — pick up a trail map, get your bearings, and head straight for Spot Pond from there.
Travel time from Malden Center to Botume House: about 15 minutes
Service: 42 roundtrips daily, 6:25 AM – 1:25 AM
Getting to the West Fells
MBTA Bus #100 from Wellington Station
For the West Fells, take the Orange Line to Wellington Station and board MBTA Bus #100 toward Roosevelt Circle Rotary. Exit at Roosevelt Circle, walk south to the rotary, and turn right onto South Border Road. The Bellevue Pond entrance to the Reservation is 0.2 miles up South Border Road on the right — a quick walk.
From there, the West Fells trail network is right in front of you, including access to the Mountain Bike Loop and the Skyline Trail.
Tips for Transit Visitors
- Bring a printed map or download one offline. Cell reception can be spotty once you're deep in the trails, and Google Maps is not reliable for Fells trail routing. Download a map from our Trail Map page before you go.
- Check MBTA schedules before you leave. Bus frequency, hours, and route details change periodically — always verify current schedules at mbta.com before your visit. Service counts listed on this page may not reflect the current timetable.
- The park is open dawn to dusk. Plan your return trip to make sure you're out before sunset. Parking lot gates close shortly after dusk, but the same applies to transit timing — give yourself enough time to get back to your bus stop.
- Weekday visits are quieter. Trails and the Spot Pond area see much heavier use on summer weekends. If you have flexibility, a weekday morning visit offers a different (and often better) experience.