Five Autumn Bike Rides

Taking in fall’s palette on two wheels

By Vicky Waltz

Each fall, thousands of leaf-peepers jump in their cars to explore New England’s colorful back roads. It’s an efficient way to tour the region, to be sure, but nothing beats the satisfying crunch of autumn leaves under a pair of bicycle wheels. So this fall, ditch the gas-guzzler and get ready to experience New England’s foliage more intimately — on two wheels.

The five following autumn bicycle rambles will take you through small towns, past farms, orchards, and ice cream stands, over rivers, through woods, and along the craggy coastline. Best of all, each is accessible by MBTA commuter rail. Bicycles are permitted on the trains any time except during weekday rush hours. Click here for more information.

Cape Ann Escape
The Cape Ann Escape circumnavigates the rocky peninsula that is part of Massachusetts’ North Shore and follows the rugged coastline for nearly the entire 22-mile loop. The ride begins in downtown Gloucester and passes through the harbor towns of East Gloucester, Rockport, and Annisquam. Opportunities for side trips abound; visit Rocky Neck Avenue — home to the Rocky Neck Art Colony, the Eastern Point Lighthouse, or Halibut Point State Park, a former quarry that is now a 54-acre park. Various coves and beaches provide lovely spots for leisurely lunches, naps, or an invigorating dip in the ocean.

Length: 22 miles
Terrain: Flat to slightly rolling coastal route
Click here for directions.

Topsfield Tour
This ride begins in Ipswich, a historic North Shore community that boasts more examples of pre–Revolutionary War architecture than any other place in America, and goes through the towns of Wenham and Topsfield. The winding backcountry roads pass horse farms, country estates, ponds, marshes, and the Ipswich River, home to the state’s largest Audubon sanctuary. If you’re a history buff, check out the Heard House or the Whipple House, two First Period (built between 1675 and 1725) homes that were converted into museums during the late-19th and mid-20th centuries. In Wenham, visit the Wenham Museum, which has an extensive collection of dolls, toys, and games from the 1800s.

Length: 23 miles
Terrain: Flat and rolling hills
Click here for directions.

South Shore Exploration
The South Shore Exploration begins along a rugged coastline dotted with historic seaside mansions, travels past grassy wetlands and through a large state park, and ends at a popular swimming beach. Passing through historic harbor towns, cyclists will have the opportunity to visit the Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum in Scituate, fill up their bottles with fresh spring water in the 3,500-acre Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, and ride the antique Paragon Carousel in Hull. Each town offers a sampling of 17th-century New England history — from the Scituate Lighthouse to Hingham’s Old Ship Church. Allow a full day to explore all of the area’s attractions.

Length: 26 miles
Terrain: Gently rolling coastal route, a few hills, suburban and rural landscapes
Click here for directions.

Great Brook Farm Ramble
A route rich in history, the Great Brook Farm Ramble takes riders past Walden Pond, into downtown Concord, and through Great Brook Farm State Park. Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau retreated from civilization in 1845 to write Walden, is a popular swimming hole and is now part of Walden Pond State Reservation, 462 acres of protected open space. In Concord, riders pass the Old North Bridge historical site and the Concord Battleground, where, on the morning of April 19, 1775, British regulars clashed with colonial militia and minutemen, igniting the eight-year Revolutionary War. Halfway through the ride, cyclists come to Great Brook Farm State Park, 935 acres of woods, fields, and wetlands. An interpretive dairy farm and ice cream stand are in the center of the park.

Length: 30 miles
Terrain: Rolling hills with no climbs longer than half a mile
Click here for directions.

Cranberry Country Adventure
This ride begins in historic Plymouth, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620, and cruises past cranberry bogs before weaving through the 16,000-acre Myles Standish State Forest — an eerie pine barren made up almost entirely of small pine, scrub oak trees, and sand. The second half of the route is along the coastline, past beaches and beach homes, before looping back into Plymouth proper. Numerous side trips are available, including Plymouth Rock, Plimoth Plantation, the Jenney Grist Mill, and the Mayflower II.

Length: 50 miles
Terrain: Rolling terrain, with no major climbs
Click here for directions.

Before setting out, consider purchasing a road map. Rubel BikeMaps, a Cambridge-based company, publishes regional bicycle maps that include recommended bicycle trails and roads for cycling, as well as locations of bicycle shops, bed-and-breakfast inns, swimming holes, and ice cream stands.

Bicycles can be rented from Landry's Bicycles, 890 Commonwealth Ave., for $35 for the first day, $15 for each additional day (includes helmet and lock). Call 617-232-0446 for more information. Bicycles can also be rented from Boston Ski Market, 860 Commonwealth Ave., for $25 a day (includes helmet and lock). Call 617-731-6100 for more information.

Photos by Vicky Waltz 

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