Several parking spots and nearby porta-johns on this paved and scenic trail around Deer Island, the only Harbor Island accessible without a boat. There are no deer really but you might see coyotes so keep your dogs leashed. It is also not a foresty island, it is mostly made up of the wastewater treatment plant at the center, with this 2.6 mile loop trail around the perimeter. That does not take away from the views of the islands and the city skyline. There is a beautiful Celtic cross memorial up a small hill on the trail, that looks out to Boston and commemorates many Irish immigrants who perished and were buried in unmarked graves, as were many Native Americans here. There is a fishing pier and a rock wall walkway. No real facilities or food, so bring your picnic. There are many benches to sit on, and the flat rock wall itself. The walk from the Deer Island parking lot to the Celtic cross is about 12 minutes, depending on your pace. Watch the planes line up to make their meticulous touchdown on Logan's 2-foot landing strip. :) It is a pleasant and reflective stroll and you can do as much or as little as you wish. read more

Deer Island - The memorial Celtic Cross on Deer Island loop trail. - Beaches Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

See all

Nice little fishing pier. It was super windy. Didn't catch any fish but there were plenty of crabs read more

Deer Island - Beaches Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

See all

It was nice walk of 2.7 miles with great view of Boston Harbor. I like to see airplane landing and taking off. That was a plus. I didn't know treatment plant there. It was cool to see it as well. Nice to run here, too. read more

See all

I had always been curious about Deer Island but never had the chance to explore it until recently. The 2.6 mile Harborwalk is worth the couple of hours it will take you to walk the perimeter of the island. While there is a wastewater treatment plant in the center of the island, most of the walk does not go directly through it, but around it (there are a couple of spots that cut through the complex, though). It does not get in the way of enjoying the walk at all I found as the sights you want to see are on the water, away from the island. I climbed the hill in the center which you can see the Tobin from, but heavy foliage obstructs the view of Boston from that point. The East side of the island is a walk which offers views of Lynn, and farther North as well as the ocean. As you round the South side, you can see the harbor islands with a neat info card which maps which islands are which, very pretty point! On the West side of the island is where you will find the most plentiful views of the Boston skyline and the harbor at large. There are a few memorials on this edge with some interesting history behind them as well! Parking is limited and it seems to fill up at times, but that should not stop you from going here I think! Overall the ocean views were beautiful and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes ocean walks. It is not sketchy in the slightest and seems to be well-maintained. Coming here actually made me feel pretty excited to go to the other harbor island parks too! You definitely don't want to miss out on this spot. read more

See all

beautiful place to catch the sunset! great views and nice place to walk. gets really windy! would highly recommend overall. read more

See all

The 2.6 mile Harborwalk on Deer Island offers scenic views of the revived Boston Harbor. There is also a Boat Dock, Fishing area, & small Beach. Everything is well maintained, & there is limited Free Parking. It never seems crowded like Castle Island. I enjoy Picnicking & watching the planes land & take off at Logan, against the Boston Skyline. Seafood Restaurants in Winthrop are good too. read more

Even though it was a little foggy, we still had some great views of Boston and plenty of bird sightings. Definitely worth the drive and we'll be back. read more

Deer Island is an amazing place. It contains the wastewater treatment plant of all of Metropolitan Boston. If you ever get the chance, take the 2 hour tour they run at the facility. Because of it, Boston Harbor is a much better place, but not without the tremendous effort at this facility. read more

Great spot to relax and talk a nice walk,a jog or maybe a bike ride.. A few parking spots outside the gate for no charge. Awesome Boston and ocean views. I believe the local bus line goes there from Orient Heights train station in East Boston, I'd verify before heading in by public transportation. Can't get enough of Point Shirley... read more

See all

Deer Island is not actually an island, but a peninsula at the southern tip of Winthrop, MA. Therefore, as one can imagine it offers fantastic views of the Boston Harbor anywhere you stand on the "island." It has a 2.6 mile path that goes around it which is great for walking, running, or biking. I was there on a beautiful summer day and there was a warm breeze which felt great. Not sure if the location on the water creates this pleasant breeze all the time, but it sure was nice. At the entrance, there is a small, parking lot for cars to park. There are plenty of black metal benches bordering the walking path facing the water. The benches make for a nice spot to relax and take in the views of the water. On the other side of the path, there are rock walls that make the landscape look attractive as well as green, grassy hills in the middle of the Deer Island. There is a large, sewage plant that takes up a lot of the land on Deer Island. While this is a good location for a wastewater treatment plant because it is away from residences, it makes the place look a little industrial, which takes away from the beauty of the landscape. I must mention that there was a noticeable, unpleasant odor on one side of Deer Island, which made it impossible to ignore that there was a sewage plant in my midst. Because of that, it wouldn't be my first choice of places to go running, which I did on this beautiful day. read more

Deer Island - Beaches Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

See all

Deer Island is beautiful. The views are spectacular and it's usually not packed like other places around (Winthrop Beach and Revere Beach). I go running there all the time (I lost my butt somewhere on the trail), it's a great run too. As stated before, the views are amazing as you're looping around the island. The people aren't shady, they're either health enthusiasts, dog walkers or just old people going for a long walk along the cliff. I love it here and come a lot. read more

Deer Island - Beaches Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

Needed a place for some good walking with some water views...so figured I'd check out the "new to me" improvements at Deer Island. Great job setting up the trails for walking. If anything, the paths near the water could be wider with bicycles, etc. but it's still a great place to walk. Enjoyed the paths up to the top of the hills too for a great view. First time on Deer Island...won't be my last. Parking is limited, so like other Boston parking, first spot you see, grab it, cause it's the last spot you'll see. read more

What a pleasant surprise! Despite the fact that the park (which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park) shares its home with an MWRA wastewater treatment plant, you really do feel that you've had a chance to escape the city and make a connection with the natural world. There is a small parking lot located at the entrance to the park, which probably holds about 25-30 cars. It was about 3/4 full when I showed up. Crossing the street, I ended up sitting near the Mazzone memorial and watching planes take off and land at Logan airport. On the way to the memorial, there is a placard explaining the role of Judge Mazzone and his importance as it relates to reclaiming Boston Harbor. Later in the day, as dusk starts to approach, you can see the body of the planes and the lights on the planes are bright. Sitting on the rocks at the end of the grass is the perfect seat for watching the activity at Logan. There's virtually no one there, as it seems like the visitors spread out along the walking trails at the park. It was a slightly overcast day and the view of the city was there, but slightly obscured by a light fog. A short drive from Boston, it gives you a chance to escape the city. The views are spectacular, it's not very crowded, and the grounds are well-maintained. I could see this being a good place for running or roller blading. It also seems like fishing is a popular activity, as we saw some serious gear being used by some avid fisherman. read more

You feel like you're on an island in the middle of the busy city, because that is basically where you are! It's my favorite place to go. I come here often because of the nice walk and the dog friendly beaches. The Commonwealth has done a great job restoring this island back to it's natural state. FYI, I'm that guy... The guy who doesn't always leash his dog; I let him roam sometimes. Stuffing loves people and other dogs and he listens to me. So, chill... He's not going to bite you. I will gladly leash him if you're uncomfortable; please don't get all wound up and feel as though you have to yell 'Leash Law'. I can read signs and I do understand why there is a leash law. If there is any law I break, it is this one! Thank You read more

You might notice an island in the harbor with some big white balls (ok it sounds like a porno) on it. Well while Deer Island is not part of Boston, it is part of the Boston Islands network. And those white balls process poo! it is actually called Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and as you walk around the island there are little info things that tell you a bit about the things you might be looking at. Yeah, it sounds gross but it is such a peaceful place and very interesting too. Lucky for my i live a short drive or bike ride to Deer Island which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, airport and ocean. There is a walking trail that goes around the island which is about 2.6 miles and then some other trails that, im not sure where they go! It is also NEVER crowded like at castle island, which is directly across the harbor from deer island. You have a choice of to walk around the perimeter or climb a small hill to take in the views, its really breath taking. If you have never been there, or even to Winthrop, i suggest taking a couple hours out of your day to tour the island and then enjoying dinner at my house ha..or any of the nice restaurants on the same street. If you are looking for a quiet, secluded, but not so secluded picnic or date spot, i highly recommend. Take a basket of food, find a nice place to sit and watch the planes, they city or the ocean. While you are away form the hustle and bustle, Boston is still in plain view. read more

One of the hidden treasures of Boston. This place is a total pain to get to unless you live in East Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, or Revere. It's right by the airport, so if you like watching the planes taxi, it's perfect. The views cannot be beat... go around sunset and there are countless boats in the harbor, five or six different lighthouses, and an amazing view of the skyline. Best of all, it's dog-friendly. You can walk, run, bike, fish, whatever you want. Parking can be difficult, but not impossible. It can be a bit buggy in the summer, around dusk, but that's just New England for you. Also, it IS a wastewater treatment plant, so it can get a little stinky, but never overwhelming. Honestly, this is one of the coolest places I found in Boston. Free, laidback, beautiful. read more

Expansive, windswept views of downtown Boston, Winthrop, the Harbor Islands and beyond. Long trails popular with runners, walkers and bikers although it never seems crowded since this place is very large. You can get an up-close look at the city's high tech waste water treatment facility and the 2 large wind turbines that power the island. I'ts a circuitous drive through Winthrop to get here but it's worth it, in my opinion. Some of the trails have pretty good elevation with really great views. Note: not a large parking lot so you may have to park on the street during the summer weekends. read more

Walking at Deer Island is fantastic, until you reach to the point where it smells, but what do you expect when you are near a waste plant? I was able to conveniently park my car at their parking lot -- I believe you could go there by bus too. My wife and I would drive up here to walk after dinner simply because its always so calm and quiet here. Each person we pass by minds their own business. Beautiful view from night time over Boston. Every couple minutes, you might notice plane taking off and planes -- just peaceful. Along the route, it will get a bit stinky (duh, it's next to the waste management plant). But besides that, when it rains or snows, Deer Island is a very relaxing place to take a walk or a jog or to exercise. read more

Our favorite spot to enjoy Boston views, Logan Airport activity and all around relaxing. Everyone is very careful and wears masks, as well as social distances. Great spot....love it!!! read more

Honestly, the only drawback of this beautiful island park is the limited parking, but even that isn't insurmountable. There is street parking along the way and just a short walk from the park. Yes, there is a waste treatment plant here, which I think adds to the magic of this island because the designers managed to make something that is usually not pleasant into something environmentally friendly and actually very beautiful. It's great to walk around the island or have a picnic at the top of the hill overlooking the ocean and city. This is a great park and a fantastic design that other cities should be jealous of! read more

See all

Hard to get to, with only limited parking, but worth finding. The two and a half mile paved walking path goes around the Deer Island Water Treatment Plant, and at times the odor can be strong. Bring a windbreaker as the breeze off the ocean can be quite cool even on a summer day. read more

Deer Island - The Boston skyline from the start of the Deer Island hiking path - Beaches Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

I'm a Virgo, so apparently my fondness of making lists is preordained by the Universe. That said, Deer Island is a place where you can: 1. catch stellar views of downtown Boston 2. have hot and heavy make-out sessions at sunset with your beau, while gazing at aforementioned stellar view of downtown Boston. 3. run off the 1000-calorie pizza and BBQ ribs you ingested over the weekend. 4. bring fido along for some exercise. 5. sit and contemplate the meaning of your life while casting a line into the sea. I love Deer Island so much I made it part of my jogging route. If you live in Boston, the Winthrop ferry will drop you off a very walkable mile away. Sadly, because Boston's second largest wastewater treatment facility is located here, it occasionally smells like poo. But only sometimes. read more

It had been a while since I'd been out to Deer Island, and I was looking for a place to 1) get my walk on and 2) not die of heat exhaustion. Deer Island was just the ticket. Even though it was 85.5 degrees when I left my house, it was cool and breezy there, the perfect temperature for taking a leisurely stroll along the water. It was shortly after six p.m. when I arrived, so the sun had started to give a little bit and it wasn't horrifically bright. The walk around the perimeter of the area is just short of three miles, and it's flat and paved so it's an easy walk. There are more difficult paths in the middle of the island. If you can ignore the fact that you're at a waste treatment plant, there are some really lovely views all around. This is a good departure from my normal Breakheart walk. read more

It's clean, it's easy to get to from Boston, and it has some really nice views. I was debating giving it four stars, but I wound up having to give it three. Part of the trail smelled really, really bad. I don't know if this is a frequent problem, but it smelled so foul that I actually thought I might vomit. Parking was difficult, too. I'll visit again, but I don't think I'll venture over to the Boston side of the trail, due to the odor. read more

I decided to take a drive and visit Deer Island today. We had never been. I had mixed feelings. While some parts of the area were beautiful (the ocean views, wildflowers growing, nice walking path, information stations etc.), there was the smell. I am super sensitive to smell, so that part was a bit tough for me. You didn't smell it everywhere, but when you did it was horrible. Deer Island is a home to a waste treatment facility. It takes up a big chunk of the area. I found the smell was it's worst when we went through the trail to the top of the hill. While the views are nice and there was a nice breeze, I will probably stick to visiting other locations near by. There was free parking in a small lot near the entrance and a couple of port-a-potties available at the far ends of the area. read more

A great place to bring your dog! One quieter days, there is a small shore area off the walkway where people let their dogs swim. However, I highly recommend you say on the ocean side; one you hit the mid point and come around the aroma can be kinda rough. Parking is a hit or miss, asll well. read more

Deer Island was an awesome experience. The best route to take would be from the parking lot, take the path that goes up hill through the woods. You go up kind of steep at first, but it levels off after a minute, you wind your way up the hillside, to a vantage point viewpoint at the top overlooking Wintrhop and Winthrop Beach. You can see the Winthrop Red White and Blue Water tower from there and most of Point Shirley. From there keep walking toward a large water tower in the distance on a black top path. it traverses a ridge line and climbs to the second vista, which offers a sweeping vantage point of Boston Skyline, Atlantic Ocean, and Logan Airport. Great views of sunsets from up here, and of the planes taking off and landing at Logan. You can see the entire harbor from up here. From there continue toward a large water tower in the distance the trail will split but keep on the right trail. toward the tower along the ridgeline. When you get to the tower, Follow the grass path down to the tower, and it will swing around to a seawall. From here you follow the seawall on the east side of the island, you can see Boston and Graves Lighthouses and the ocean from here. This seawall path goes for quite a distance and you'll pass the big giant Eggshells that are the MWRA treatment plant for the wastewater in Boston. At the end of the egg shells..you'll see a sign pointing to the south end of deer island you can go around the south end if you want and back along the other path, or there is a cut through path along the fence of the MWRA Facility. I took the right and went on the cut through path as it was getting dark. You'll see a windmill up ahead . Head toward the windmill. The rest of the path is pretty self explanitory. Follow the signs that direct you back to the wintrhop entrance. You'll pass through a fence path. (fences on either side of you) through the MWRA facility , and end up on the West side of the Island. With great views of the Skyline. Its cool to go around Sunset, as you can see the sunset from the top of the first part and then catch the moon come out over the harbor, and the lights come on over the city. Great place to walk dogs, and for photography. :-) Awesome experience. great for sunset/night photography too for photographers. read more

This place is awesome! There are all sorts of trails. Run, bike, race in your wheelchair, swim (beware of rip tides), kayak, fish, fly a kite, bring the dogs (must be on leashes)! Plan Ahead: Parking is limited. If you find yourself headed there on a beautiful sunny afternoon, you might have to park in Point Shirley neighborhood and walk to Deer Island. Bring water. There are porta-potties. You can access this place by T to Orient Heights on Blue Line then catching bus. There is also seasonal ferry from Boston. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by how pretty this place is, considering that it is a waste water treatment plant. But don't let that deter you, it's actually quite clean and nice. It has great views of the water, and as many reviewers have already mentioned, is an ideal place to walk the dog. The landscaping is nice, and you'll see people jogging or families with kids riding around on their little bikes. And dogs of course! I think it's great that the city made good use of the land and made a nice place to take a stroll with your pooch. read more

Amazing expansive views - a must see for visitors and locals alike. Lots of locals enjoy running or bicycling Winthrop Beach, but it doesn't beat Deer Island, for me. On one side of the island, your sites include Winthrop's water tower and very "New England-y" coast, sailboats and seagulls to spare. From the other side of the island, where you get up close and personal with the waste water treatment facility, you can clearly see everything from Quincy to Boston to the Zakim and Tobin Bridges to Logan Airport and more. You can't do justice to the periphery with photos. Sunsets here are, for lack of a less overused word, epic. Check it out. read more

I enjoyed my first walk at Deer Island. I came to see the seabirds and wasn't dissapointed. The parking lot is not large but I was early so had no problem. Dogs are allowed on leash and walkers were friendly. The views are great. I would return. read more

This is a nice little spot for getting out and enjoying ocean views. A number of walkways lead out to this area from the parking lot, and it is hilly enough to allow for some outstanding scenes of the water. I only wish that there was more shade; almost nothing in the way of trees, so it's not the greatest place to go on a hot summer day, even with sea breezes. And you never forget that there is a waste treatment plant nearby. But it's not such a bad place to go for a short walk on the water. read more

Beautiful views of Boston and the harbor islands. Great when a big cruise ship goes by. I love the roses in summer and the mixture of nature and technology. read more

This place is one of my favorite place to come to in a warm spring, Summer Or Fall Night or Day lots of walking path and it's great beach to go swimming or just sit and Relax and Also a nice place for a Picnic read more