From May through October, the Conservancy offers a series of free, guided walking and bike tours led by Emerald Necklace Conservancy docents. Visitors can stroll among scented blooms, take a walk into history, discover the hidden gems of the Back Bay Fens landscape or ride along the bicycle paths to explore more of the Necklace.
Tours start from the Shattuck Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a refillable water bottle. Check the Conservancy’s website for weather-related cancellations or schedule changes.
September
Hello, Muddy! Guided Tour of the Restored Muddy River
Sunday, September 23 || 11 am – 12:15 pm
After decades spent underground beneath a parking lot, a portion of the Muddy River has been uncovered to see daylight once again. Hear the story of how river and parkland were reclaimed and how the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted is being restored for the 21st century. Bonus: A stop at Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy!
Meet at REI, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
October
From Olmsted to Nakaya: Art and Design of the Back Bay Fens
Monday, October 8 || 11:00am – 12:30pm
A guided walk through a historic landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted with a stop at artist Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy. Hear how Olmsted transformed an area of polluted waterways and mudflats into a scenic fens and the later 20th century revisions that resulted in the landscape we see today.
Meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
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Emerald Necklace Bike Tour
Monday, October 8 || 11:30am – 1:30pm
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for an interpretive bike tour from the Fens to Arnold Arboretum, led by a Conservancy docent.
Meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Pre-registration, with a $10 donation, is required.
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Hello, Muddy! Guided Tour of the Restored Muddy River
Sunday, October 14 || 11 am – 12:30 pm
After decades spent underground beneath a parking lot, a portion of the Muddy River has been uncovered to see daylight once again. Hear the story of how river and parkland were reclaimed and how the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted is being restored for the 21st century. Bonus: A stop at Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy!
Meet at REI, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
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Emerald Necklace Bike Tour
Saturday, October 20 || 11:30am – 1:30pm
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for an interpretive bike tour from the Fens to Arnold Arboretum, led by a Conservancy docent.
Meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Pre-registration, with a $10 donation, is required.
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From Olmsted to Nakaya: Art and Design of the Back Bay Fens
Sunday, October 21 || 11:00am – 12:30pm
A guided walk through a historic landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted with a stop at artist Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy. Hear how Olmsted transformed an area of polluted waterways and mudflats into a scenic fens and the later 20th century revisions that resulted in the landscape we see today.
Meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
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Hello, Muddy! Guided Tour of the Restored Muddy River
Saturday, October 27 || 11 am – 12:30 pm
After decades spent underground beneath a parking lot, a portion of the Muddy River has been uncovered to see daylight once again. Hear the story of how river and parkland were reclaimed and how the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted is being restored for the 21st century. Bonus: A stop at Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy!
Meet at REI, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
.
From Olmsted to Nakaya: Art and Design of the Back Bay Fens
Sunday, October 28 || 11:00am – 12:30pm
A guided walk through a historic landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted with a stop at artist Fujiko Nakaya’s Fog x Canopy. Hear how Olmsted transformed an area of polluted waterways and mudflats into a scenic fens and the later 20th century revisions that resulted in the landscape we see today.
Meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Shattuck Visitor Center
125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115
Hours
Monday-Friday:
9:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday (May-October only):
11:00am – 4:00pm
About the Shattuck Visitor Center
Docent Programs
From May through October, docents lead 90-minute tours of the Back Bay Fens every weekend and one-hour evening garden strolls on selected Tuesdays.
Tour schedules are subject to change! Check back before your tour or call 617.522.2700 for updates.
During the winter months, docents lead guided walks and offer a variety of programs at the Shattuck. Check calendar for schedule and details.
History and Landscape of the Back Bay Fens
A walk through the centuries of a historic landscape. Hear the story of how Frederick Law Olmsted transformed an area of polluted waterways and mudflats into a scenic fens and the later 20th century revisions that resulted in the landscape we see today.
Hello, Muddy! Guided Tour of the Restored Muddy River
You’ll traverse the footprint of the restored Muddy River in the Back Bay Fens on this docent-led tour and hear the story of the river and how a piece of Olmsted’s landscape was reclaimed as parkland after spending decades paved over and used as a parking lot.
Emerald Necklace Bike Tours
The best way to see the Emerald Necklace is to breeze through it by bike with a Conservancy docent! Join us for a tour of the parks from the Fens to the Arnold Arboretum. Must be 14 years or older.
Evening Garden Stroll
Enjoy a leisurely walk through the gardens of the Fens. You’ll take in the sights and scents of the historic Kelleher Rose Garden with its more than 1,500 roses and recently reconstructed fountain, and meander the paths of the oldest continually operating Victory Garden in America.
