Shift Roams · Boston · Cambridge
The Charles Loop
The ride everyone should do at least once. Grab a Bluebike at Cambridge Crossing, cross to the Esplanade at the Museum of Science, cruise the river past the Hatch Shell, and loop back over the Mass Ave Bridge. Water views nearly the entire way. Finish at Scull & Keel on the CambridgeSide plaza — a cold drink on the patio, because you earned it.
Numbered pins are the roam's stops; gold rings are bonus stops. Check in at each stop in the Shift app to complete the roam.
The stops
Cambridge Crossing
Paul Dudley Bike Path at MOS
Hatch Shell
Mass Ave Bridge
Paul Dudley Bike Path (Cambridge side)
The route, leg by leg
Cambridge Crossing → Paul Dudley Bike Path at MOS
0.68 mi · ~4 minHead south from Cambridge Crossing and cross the Craigie Dam to the Museum of Science. The Paul Dudley Bike Path starts right here.
Paul Dudley Bike Path at MOS → Hatch Shell
0.79 mi · ~5 minFollow the Esplanade path west along the river. The Hatch Shell appears on your left — if there's a rehearsal happening, slow down and listen.
Hatch Shell → Mass Ave Bridge
0.93 mi · ~6 minKeep heading west on the Esplanade. The Mass Ave Bridge is the long one with the "Smoot" markings — 364.4 Smoots plus one ear.
Mass Ave Bridge → Paul Dudley Bike Path (Cambridge side)
0.7 mi · ~5 minCross the bridge back to Cambridge. Protected bike lane the whole way. Turn right onto Memorial Drive and pick up the bike path heading east.
Paul Dudley Bike Path (Cambridge side) → Scull & Keel
1.04 mi · ~7 minFollow the river path east past MIT back toward Kendall. Scull & Keel — the new fish house in the longtime ArtBar spot by CambridgeSide — has cold drinks on the patio if the weather's right.
Bonus stops nearby
Optional detours worth the extra steps.
Scull & Keel
Roam it for real
Open this roam in the free Shift app to follow the route, check in at each stop, and earn the River Runner badge.