Roslindale Wetlands (Boston Urban Wilds)

Roslindale Wetlands (Boston Urban Wilds)

Hike Type: Loop

Distance: 0.58  miles 

Elevation: 10 feet
Time: 24 minutes

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge

The Hike

This was a spur-of-the-moment “hike” (I decided it was a hike because I was in the woods on a trail) in the middle of my hot girl walk. I entered through the entrance at the corner of Selwyn and Robken Streets and took the loop clockwise. The eastern half of the loop was beautiful and manicured, with new boardwalks and bridges and a crushed gravel path. The wetlands themselves were still frozen but with about 0.5 inches of water on top of them, which was lovely to look at. The western half was a bit of a muddy mess - I slipped and sloshed all about, and got uncomfortably close to many backyards. There was one pull-off viewpoint, and soon enough I was back where I started! I went down one more entrance to Hazelmere Street to exit the wetlands. I would hike this area again in a drier time of the year, for sure!

“Roslindale Wetlands” from Boston.gov

        The Eldon Street I urban wild is located to the east of the Arnold Arboretum and is roughly bordered by Hazelmere Road, Weld Street, Robken Road, Selwyn Street, and the Eldon Street II Urban Wild. The area is generally surrounded by the backyards of abutters; however, several obscure entrance points do exist into the urban wild. In an area of low topography, the Eldon Street urban wild serves primarily as a catch basin for the area's stormwater and is thus dominated by a forested wetland habitat. The area has been overrun by non-native, invasive species, especially multi-flora rose and buckthorn. At one time, a boardwalk permitted entrance into the wetter sections of the wild from Eldon Street. However, the overwhelming presence of multi-flora rose now makes this entry impossible.

        The Eldon Street II Urban Wild is located to the east and contiguous with Eldon Street I. The site is bordered by Walter Street, Selwyn Street, and Coniston Road. Like Eldon Street I, this area is surrounded by the backyards of abutters. However, two vacant lots do provide access into the urban wild. Although containing some higher topography than Eldon Street I, this urban wild still serves primarily as a catch basin for the area's stormwater, and is dominated by a forested wetland habitat.

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