Looking for some fall foliage in Boston and don’t know where to go? Check out this post for the 12 best places for fall foliage in Boston.
As a Boston resident, I feel like there’s no limit to the amount of places you can find fall foliage in the city. Around autumn, you can find this foliage on the streets, in the park or even on a campus. Regardless, you’ll never fail to be overwhelmed and humbled by the breathtaking sight. So, if you’re looking for some fall foliage in Boston, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone will highlight 12 of the best places you can visit to find fall foliage in the city on a hill.
New England Bucket List Series
P.S. This is a post in my New England Bucket List Series. Here is the complete series:
Road Trips: 30 Best Road Trips From Boston
Ice Skating: The Top 7 Places for Free Ice Skating in Boston
Hiking: 20 Best Hikes for Fall Foliage in New England
Fall Foliage: 12 Best Places for Fall Foliage in Boston
Thrift Stores: The 7 Best Thrift Stores in Boston for Vintage
Salem: One Day in Salem Massachusetts: Hocus Pocus Edition
Museums: The Top 8 Free Museums in Boston for College Students
Boston Public Garden (fall foliage in boston)
The Boston Public Garden is a great place to go leaf peeping in Boston. From late September to October, you can find colored leaves falling all over the grass in the garden. In fact, if you’re looking for some bright splashes of foliage, you can find it particularly on the small ornamental Japanese maple trees.
In addition, for an even stunning view, be sure to check out the foot bridge across the lagoon in the garden. Not only is the view better, but you’ll also get better pictures from a higher point.
Getting There:
The Boston Public Garden is located at 4 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Arlington on the Green Line.
Back Bay Fens (fall foliage in boston)
The Back Bay Fens is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Located in the Fenway area, the Fens is a tree-filled area of nature along the Muddy River. In fact, since it’s close to Boston’s Fenway Park, it’s practically in the shadows of the famed baseball field.
To get a stunning view of the fall foliage, be sure to check out the sections of the Fens that contain Boston’s famed Victory Gardens and Kelleher Rose Gardens. The Victory Gardens are war gardens where vegetables, fruits and herbs are planted. Along the garden, in the fall, you’ll come across many golden and crimson leaves on the grass.
The Kelleher Rose Gardens, in addition, is where you might see late-blooming roses in the middle of fall. Although, they’re not what you would typically expect around autumn. The roses in the garden complement the leaves very well.
Getting There:
The Back Bay Fens is located at 100 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Hynes Convention Center on the Green Line.
Arnold Arboretum (fall foliage in boston)
The Arnold Arboretum is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the Arnold Arboretum consists of 5,000 different tree species that are put on fiery display during the month of October.
Situated in Jamaica Plain, the 265 acre Arboretum is open from sunrise to sunset every day. During autumn, the Arboretum even likes to host its Fall Foliage Festival to celebrate the fall colors of the season.
So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Arboretum, I highly recommend it. The Fall Foliage Festival usually takes place during the last Sunday of October and it’s completely free of charge.
Getting There:
The Arnold Arboretum is located at 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Forest Hills on the Orange Line.
Jamaica Pond (fall foliage in boston)
Jamaica Pond is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Situated in Jamaica Plain, the 68-acre pond is surrounded by dozens of trees that showcase the many colors of fall foliage.
As a popular sanctuary for locals, it also has a 1.5 mile footpath where you can go strolling, jogging or dog walking. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at Jamaica Pond, I highly recommend it. You can also go canoeing and kayaking in the pond for a stunning view.
Getting There:
Jamaica Pond is located at 507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Stony Brook on the Orange Line.
Charles River Esplanade (fall foliage in boston)
The Charles River Esplanade is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Stretching along the Charles River from Beacon Hill, the Esplanade is a long skinny park that turns into a ribbon of gold in October.
At the Esplanade, many locals go walking, jogging or biking along the river paths to enjoy the water reflections of the many-hued leaves. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Esplanade, I highly recommend it. Make sure to bring your camera too so that you can document the experience.
Getting There:
The Charles River Esplanade is located at Charles River, Esplanade, Boston, MA 02116. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Charles/MGH on the Red Line.
Harvard Yard (fall foliage in boston)
Harvard Yard is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Known as a top tourist destination year-round, Harvard Yard in the fall is a beautiful place to pause and take in the foliage.
At Harvard Yard, many students go walking or jogging along the paths through the red, yellow, and orange leaves. In fact, you can even find an open space in the yard for you to sit down and relax. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at Harvard Yard, I highly recommend it. You can also visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History if you’re interested in looking at different plant species.
Getting There:
Harvard Yard is located at 2 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Harvard on the Red Line.
Franklin Park (fall foliage in boston)
Franklin Park is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Known as Boston’s largest open space, Franklin Park is the crowning jewel of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace.
At Franklin Park, visitors and residents are known for perambulating this 485-acre expanse especially since it connects to the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, and Roslindale. In fact, its dense woodlands even make for some beautiful sights in the fall. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at Franklin Park, I highly recommend it. You can also head to the top of Schoolmaster Hill for an expansive view.
Getting There:
Franklin Park is located at 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, MA 02121. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Four Corners/Geneva on the Commuter Rail.
Neponset Trail (fall foliage in boston)
The Neponset Trail is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Running along the Neponset River in the Dorchester section of Boston, the Neponset Trail is a 2.4-mile-long, waterfront multi-use trail.
On the trail, many visitors and residents enjoy the views of the Neponset River as they go walking, jogging or biking. In fact, the Neponset Trail is even known for being an urban redoubt that can feel rural very quickly. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage on the Neponset Trail, I highly recommend it. You can also visit some other nearby parks for more leaf peeping.
Getting There:
The Neponset Trail is located at Hallet Street, Boston, MA 02124. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Ashmont on the Red Line.
Fresh Pond Reservation (fall foliage in boston)
The Fresh Pond Reservation is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Known for its wooded walking routes, the Fresh Pond Reservation is a 162-acre park that surrounds Cambridge’s water supply on the northwest side.
At the reservation, many people use it as a popular spot for watching wetland birds and deer. In fact, some visitors have even said that the park makes them feel like they’re in the countryside. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Fresh Pond Reservation, I highly recommend it. Even though the reservation is very dense and verdant, the leaves pretty much explode come October.
Getting There:
The Fresh Pond Reservation is located at 250 Fresh Pond Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 02138. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Porter on the Red Line.
Boston Common (fall foliage in boston)
The Boston Common is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Known as America’s oldest park, the Boston Common dates all the way back to 1634.
At the Common, many people find it particularly inviting and scenic during the autumn season for biking, walking and jogging. In fact, watching the trees change amid the wide walkways is a popular activity. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Boston Common, I highly recommend it. The best months to visit are November and December.
Getting There:
The Boston Common is located at 115 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Park Street on the Green Line.
Middlesex Fells Reservation (fall foliage in boston)
The Middlesex Fells Reservation is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Spanning across Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester, the Middlesex Fells Reservation is a 2,200-acre state park that offers more than 100 miles of trails.
At the reservation, many people use it as an opportunity to visit a lot of popular spots like Sheepfold Meadow, Bellevue Pond, Wright’s Tower, Virginia Wood, Lawrence Woods, and Spot Pond. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Middlesex Fells Reservation, I highly recommend it. It’s one of my favorite places for fall foliage in Boston!
Getting There:
The Middlesex Fells Reservation is located at 4 Woodland Rd, Stoneham, MA 02180. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Oak Grove on the Orange Line.
Blue Hills Reservation (fall foliage in boston)
The Blue Hills Reservation is another great place to go leaf peeping in Boston! Covering parts of Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham, the Blue Hills Reservation is a 6000-acre state park that feels like a fall foliage retreat out of the city.
At the reservation, many people use it as an opportunity to hike the many trails Blue Hills has to offer. In fact, many would argue there’s no better way to view the fall foliage than by hiking through it. So, if you’re planning to go see some fall foliage at the Blue Hills Reservation, I highly recommend it. The tallest hiking trail in the state park is the Great Blue Hill.
Getting There:
The Blue Hills Reservation is located at 695 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186. If you’re planning to take the T there, be sure to get off at Mattapan on the Mattapan Trolley.
Overall, I really hope you enjoyed this post on the 12 best places for fall foliage in Boston! Please let me know in the comments down below which place you would like to visit the most! I would love to hear from you. 🙂
P.S. If you’re looking to take a road trip out of Boston be sure to check out my post on the 30 Best Road Trips from Boston!
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Love the color of falls. I wish to see something like this in person.
I hope so too! 🙂
Wow, the colours in your photos are amazing! I can’t wait for the fall colours to start showing this year, it’s one of my favourite times of year. Thanks for sharing all these great places to see the beautiful colours!
You’re so welcome Rachel!!
I absolutely love all the gardens, commons, and trails where you can outdoors in Boston. I need to visit in the autumn. Great pics.
Thanks Terri! The Arnold Arboretum is actually on my bucket list too
Great pictures. I’m looking forward to those gorgeous leaves! Do you know if the Greenway’s trees change color?
Hey Amy! Great question, I believe they do as well
I’ve never been to Boston but I’m definitely tempted now – didn’t realize there were so many parks!
All these places to see fall foliage in Boston look beautiful! Jamaica Pond looks especially stunning, I’d love to admire the stunning colours there! Thanks for the great guide!
You’re so welcome Hannah!
Seeing the fall leaves on the East Coast of the US is on my bucketlist! Thanks for sharing this list 🙂
You’re so welcome Lisa!