Having walked along the Charles between the Anderson bridge and Boston harbor on numerous occasions, it seemed necessary to venture upstream, in the other direction, away from the boathouses, the colleges, the views of downtown Boston, Beacon Hill, MIT and the Harbor. Once the site of mills, dams powering local industries, and even a military arsenal, today the shores of the Charles between Watertown and Auburndale offer a woodsy getaway for hikers, bikers, joggers, birdwatchers, and a thriving population of ducks.

The google map itinerary.