The Elusive Charles River Peninsula (8/8/25)

So, first full day on my own with Zeus. All good so far on the dog front. Zeus bonded with me right away, and we had a good walk this morning.

I had decided yesterday that for my first outing without Bob I would walk to the Charles River Peninsula (CRP). Per the CRP website, the peninsula plays an important role in protecting the beauty and environmental value of the Upper Charles River corridor. The peninsula rises to a 20-acre open field where the Charles River makes a nearly 180 degree turn. The Charles River is 80 miles long and flows northeast from Hopkinson to Boston.

Now, if Bob were here, he would have thoroughly researched the route to get there to determine length, walkability, etc. I put Charles River Peninsula into Apple Maps last night, saw that it was 2.1 miles, or an estimated 65 minute walk, and decided that I’d do it. I did note this morning that it was basically a 3 street route with 2 turns — easy peasy. I just needed to turn right onto Great Plain Avenue, then onto Central, and then straight until a left past Fisher Ave near the peninsula.

I headed off about 10 this morning with a backpack and a bottle of water. I had been walking for about 25 minutes, was on Central Avenue, when I decided maybe I’d just confirm how things were going by looking at Apple Maps. I hadn’t hit Go on the app to have it instruct me on the route, as it seemed so easy.

Imagine my surprise when the map showed that it was still going to take me an hour and six minutes to get to the peninsula! This was because I had failed to note which way I was to turn on Central Avenue, and I had turned in the direction Bob and I have gone for other walks.

The only upside to this is it allows me to share some photos from a previous walk when we really did need to go in this direction.

This marker is on the wall of a house
at the corner of Great Plains Ave and Central Ave

This is North Hill Farm on Central Avenue
and appears to be maybe an event space

A cute exhibit in front of Volante Farms,
a cute grocery, cafe, and floral market about 25 minutes (by foot) from the house

The signage that shows they do a bit of everything.
We enjoyed our shop there on Wednesday.
Pricey, but they sell a lot of local goods.

I was near Volante Farms on Central Avenue today when I discovered my wrong turn. I headed back to where Central crosses Great Plains and then continued across in the correct direction.

Bob had already discovered this place.
It’s very close to us and apparently free to visit.
May have to check it out.

Needham has a town forest.
This is apparently one of the access points. Another place to visit.

The sidewalk ended on one side of the road, as it seems to do here, and then here the sidewalk is narrowing to a path.

Looking across a pretty meadow to Sunny Hill Horse Farm.

The houses and yards around here are impressive.

So, Apple Maps walking route, which continued on Central Avenue even after the sidewalks disappeared, brought me to the Walker School property. This is not where I wanted to be, but the map seemed to indicate I had arrived at the peninsula.

I Googled the website for the peninsula and read the driving instructions for getting there. I just needed to go back to Central Avenue and walk back one street to Fisher Avenue and that would bring me to the peninsula.