Emerald Necklace Bike Route
Olmsted's seven-mile chain of parks, end to end.
Frederick Law Olmsted designed a continuous chain of parks from the Back Bay Fens to Franklin Park — 7 miles of green running through the heart of the city. Most Bostonians have never ridden the whole thing. Fix that.
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 route
Visit all 4 stops to complete this roam
Back Bay Fens
Starting point
Route: Emerald Necklace Trail — protected bike lane (2.8 mi)
Jamaica Pond Boathouse
Route: Emerald Necklace Trail — protected bike lane (0.4 mi), Route — bike lane (0.3 mi), Arnold Arboretum Trails — protected bike lane (0.2 mi)
Arnold Arboretum (Main Gate)
Route: Franklin Park Paths — protected bike lane (1.6 mi), Route — bike lane (0.7 mi)
Franklin Park
Final stop
How it works
A roam is a guided, self-paced adventure you follow in the free Shift app.
Follow the route
Open this roam in the Shift app and follow the turn-by-turn route at your own pace.
Check in at each stop
The app detects when you arrive and checks you in automatically. No scanning, no codes.
Earn the Necklace Rider badge
Complete the roam to earn the Necklace Rider badge and 10 XP.