Back Bay Fens and Fenway Victory Gardens Walk

Boston’s Back Bay Fens offers a stretch of green space shaped by both history and practicality. The route can begin near Park Drive, where the Muddy River turns under Boylston Street. From there, a walking path traces quiet lawns and tree lines toward Fenway Victory Gardens—a patchwork of small fenced plots still cultivated since the 1940s. Each garden has its own layout and rhythm: rows of late-season vegetables, a bench shaded by vines, or a flag left from summer weekends.

Crossing the pedestrian bridge over the water brings another view—the shallow bends of the restored river and the older stone edges of Olmsted’s park system. The path continues along the park perimeter toward the Kelleher Rose Garden, which sometimes remains open into late October depending on weather and maintenance. Even if closed, the outer walk still provides a sense of enclosed calm, with trimmed hedges and symmetrical layouts behind the gates.

Beyond the gardens, the route reconnects with Fenway Park’s edge and the gradual shift back to city rhythm. Traffic noise blends with bird calls and the scrape of leaves along the path. Nearby benches offer a pause before heading toward Kenmore or the Green Line.

For visitors planning a one-way outing, the most practical option is to arrange a drop-off near Park Drive and return later from Kenmore Square. When the walk is done, Boston Town Car can provide a comfortable ride home—an easy close to a quiet afternoon in one of the city’s oldest park landscapes.