Milton Landing Riverwalk: where the fresh water of the Neponset River meets the tide water

A scenic place south of the Neponset River Gorge: the beginning of the Neponset Estuary at Milton Landing (at low tide in early April 2021)

 

Zooming into the area surrounding the Milton station of the Mattapan Trolley line, the Google map shows the Neponset Riverwalk: a green dashed line from the Milton Yacht Club to the trolley-line bridge. You wouldn't call this short riverwalk a trail—it's a luxuriously designed viewing platform. 

Seal seen from the riverwalk

The Neponset Riverwalk at Milton Landing is located where the geologically interesting Neponset River Gorge ends and the Neponset Estuary begins. Seals are visiting this place, where they can feel safe from being attacked by a shark.

In addition to its geological and ecological significance, Milton Landing was—the name already hints at this—a transfer point for resources and industrial goods.

Milton Landing: riverwalk and condominium complex

An informative panel at the end of Wharf Street summarizes the industrial history of Milton Landing: 

It is difficult to overstate the historical significance and unique character of the Milton Landing area. The falls on the Neponset River at Lower Mills were the site of Native American activity. In 1634 Israel Stoughton built a water-powered grist mill and bridge at Unity quisset, the place were the fresh water meets the tide water of the Neponset estuary. Continued industrial development included a gun powder mill and fulling mill with residential and farming properties on both sides of the river. In the 1760's, the chocolate industries came into the area, with later wool and paper mills. Before 1770 the town landing moved from Gullivers Creek to its current location at Wharf Street.

A grist wheel for grinding cacao beans is on display in the courtyard of the nearby building of the historic Walter Baker Chocolate Factory.  Like the factory complex, the former police station on Wharf Street, gives us an impression of the brick-building architecture of the time:

Daniel Vose built shipping warehouses on the waterfront and shipped goods inland to the towns. The first police station, built in the early to mid-nineteenth century was located in the brick building, now occupied by the Milton Yacht Club.

Milton Landing's marine commerce took a turn in the 20th century and a slow transformation towards residential and recreational use was happening. The panel text continues:

Boat building continued at Gullivers Creek and commercial activity centered at the Town Wharf. The extension of railroads lead to a decline of marine commerce, but lumber was transported by boat on the Town Landing in the early part of the 20th century and coal to Godfrey Wharf (now the location of the Residences at Milton Landing) as late as 1960. With the decline in commercial use came an increase in recreational boat use. In 1902, Milton Boat Club was established and later became Milton Yacht Club. The boat launch ramp was restored by the WPA (Work Progress Administration) in the 1930's. Wooden boats built by their owners after World War II are still being restored. The long history of fishing in the Neponset River continues. The river also provides access to fishing in Boston Harbor. The old Lower Mills buildings are on the state and national registers of historic places.

Milton Yacht Club

 

Getting there

Trolley station map cutout

The Milton Landing site is a two minute walk off the hiking and bicycling trail through the Neponset River Greenway (line of green dots in the trolley station map). At the Milton Trolley station you can pass the trolley tracks and walk across the farmer's market lot to get to the Milton Yacht Club at he end of Wharf Street—the Milton Land site. The Milton Riverwalk is not indicated in the trolley station map. Note that the map at the trolley station points South on top!

Further reading and more to explore

Revealing the Neponset: Milton Landing/Neponset River Estuary. URL: https://miltonneponset.wordpress.com/a-milton-landing-neponset-river-estuary/. 

The Neponset River: A History. URL: http://www.masspaths.net/dmink/bike/bikeways/neponset/nephist.htm.

Neponset River Greenway - Massachusetts. URL:https://www.traillink.com/trail/neponset-river-greenway/.

Magnificent Massachusetts. URL: https://www.pinterest.com/axeleratio/magnificient-massachusetts/.