The 10 Best Fall Foliage Runs in The Greater Boston Area

Autumn is a wonderful season for running in Boston. The temperatures are crisp, the students are back, and the colors are beautiful as the leaves change. This article is a list of the Ten Best Fall Foliage Runs in Boston, chosen from among the Great Runs catalog of 50+ running routes in the city of Boston, plus its western suburbs and the North & Sputh shore.

When is Peak Foliage in Boston?

Typically, the leaves start changing in Boston around mid-October, with peak foliage in late October. Peak foliage is about a week earlier in the further out suburbs, where the night temperatures are lower. Each year is different, however, so use this fall foliage map, which has a slider bar to see your region, by date.

How Do We Choose The Best Foliage Runs in Boston

During the summer, some of the best places to run in Boston are routes along the Charles River and the burgeoning waterfront. In autumn, particularly as the colors change, we prefer running in parks or in leafy residential areas, in order to enjoy the colorful canopy.

Central Boston

Emerald Necklace. Olmsted-designed linear park runs from the State House to Franklin Park. The prettiest section in fall is the area between Park Drive and Jamaica Pond, and the Arboretum.

Back Bay Tour. Enjoy the leafy canopy of the Commonwealth Ave. Mall and the Public Garden. It’s also part of the Emerald Necklace.

Western Suburbs

Battle Road Trail. History and scenery combine for fantastic running in historic Concord. Run the 4.6 mile Battle Road Trail between Lexington and Concord, beautifully restored by the National Park Service. Our Author’s Ridge & Old North Bridge tour is another great optikon.

Wellesley College Campus. Located 10 miles west of Boston, the Olmsted-designed Wellesley College campus is also an Arboretum. Run the 2.75 mile path around Lake Waban, plus adjacent residential streets and the Crosstown Path. 

Orchards and Cranberry Bogs. In Carlisle, there’s scenic running on rural back roads and past the Cranberry Bog — an authentic New England experience! Further west, our Apple Orchards route explores lovely roads in Harvard, Stow, and Bolton.

North Shore

Lynn Woods. The second municipal park in the United States offers a great opportunity to enjoy leafy fall running, with 10 miles of wooded fire roads and 30 miles of trails and bridle paths.

Salem ‘Runseeing’ Tour. A happening place in fall! This historic coastal town is famous as a seaport and for the 1692 Witch Trials. Our 5-mile route is a modified version of the red-lined Heritage Trail, passing Salem’s major sites, historic downtown, and the waterfront. Beat or join the crowds!

South Shore

Blue Hills Reservation, Canton. Only 10 miles south of Boston, there are 7,000 acres of preserved land, incorporating 5 towns. There’s something for everyone on the 125 miles of trails. For a real challenge, 1-mile Summit Rd. leading to the top of Bklue Hill, is closed to cars and has 350 feet of elevation gain averaging 10% grade.

World’s End, Hingham. Olmsted-designed gem offers several miles of rolling hill roads and trails, flanked by specimen trees, with great views to the water and the Boston skyline. Located in Hingham, 10 miles south of Boston.

Plymouth ‘Runseeing’ Tour. Another fall history run! This is a 3.2 mile ‘Runseeing’ Tour of one of the country’s first settlements, landing site of the Mayflower, and location of the First Thanksgiving.