Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

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This urban sanctuary, located on the grounds of the former Boston State Hospital, offers public programs year-round. Through its Boston Schools Initiative, the Boston Nature Center provides environmental education programs to Boston elementary schools weekly. Two miles of trails and boardwalks traverse meadows and wetlands where wildlife abounds, including coyotes and many species of migratory birds. The sanctuary’s George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center is one of the “greenest” buildings in Boston, teaching environmentally sustainable design by example. The site also includes the Clark-Cooper Community Gardens, one of Boston’s oldest and largest, providing food and a green oasis for 260 local families.

In celebration of our building’s tenth anniversary, we’re looking back in time – way back! Check out A Healing Landscape, our project on environmental and social history.

View our 2012 annual report.

Pictured above: Current and former BNC Teen Ambassadors. BNC’s Teen Ambassadors program is funded by BNY Mellon/Arthur F. Blanchard Trust.

Learn more about the Boston Nature Center

This sanctuary has the following universally accessible facilities: Nature Center, Restrooms.

Admission:
Mass Audubon Members enjoy FREE admission.
Not a Member? Join Today!
Suggested Donation: $2 for nonmembers

Driving | Public Transportation | Biking

Driving
From the Mass Pike:
Take I-90 towards Boston/NH/Maine. Follow I-90 East until Exit 14: I-95/Route 128. Merge onto I-95 South. Take Exit 20A: Route 9 East towards Boston/Brookline. Follow the directions immediately below: “From the West.”

From the West:
Take Route 9 East to Route 1 South, the Jamaicaway. Follow the Jamaicaway past Jamaica Pond then follow Route 203 past Arnold Arboretum, keep to the left over an overpass, straight through a rotary (Route 203 becomes Morton Street). Continue to follow Morton Street/Route 203 past Shattuck Hospital on your left and past Forest Hills Cemetery on your right. Continue under an underpass (American Legion Hwy), and turn right at the second light onto Harvard Street. Take the first right onto West Main St. Follow the road to the left and turn right at the sign for Boston Nature Center.

From the North:
Take Route 93 South (through Boston) until you see the South Bay Mall on your right. Take Exit 15: Columbia Road/JFK. Take right at bottom of ramp onto Columbia Road. Columbia Road will bear to the left at the intersection of Mass Ave. and Boston Street. Follow Columbia Road until it intersects with Blue Hill Avenue. (Franklin Park Zoo will be across the street.) Turn left on Blue Hill Avenue; get into the right lane and follow to the intersection of American Legion Highway (at Mobil Station). Turn right onto American Legion Highway. At the fourth set of lights (look for the Wendy’s), turn left onto Walk Hill Street. Take the first left at the sign for Boston Nature Center. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.

From the South:
From Route 128, take the Milton exit (138 North). Go about four miles and merge (bear right, then left) onto 28 North/Blue Hill Avenue through Mattapan Square, then stay on Blue Hill Avenue about one mile until you come to Walk Hill Street. Turn left onto Walk Hill Street (at restaurant with green awnings). Follow through two sets of lights and take the second right at the sign for Boston Nature Center. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.

Public Transportation
We encourage you to use the MBTA Trip Planner.
MBTA bus (suggested routes below):

If you get off the bus at American Legion Highway & Walk Hill Street (Bus 14):
Follow Walk Hill Street south (away from American Legion Highway) and turn left at the Boston Nature Center sign. Use caution crossing the street. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.

If you get off the bus at Morton Street & Harvard Street (Bus 21 or 31):
Facing Olmsted Green, walk up Harvard Street. Turn right at the Boston Nature Center sign onto West Main Street. Follow the road to the left for about ¼ mile to another Boston Nature Center sign and turn right into our driveway.

If you get off the bus at Blue Hill Avenue & Morton Street (Bus 28 or 29):
With the gas station on your left, walk up Morton Street about six blocks. When you reach Harvard Street, follow the directions above for “Morton Street & Harvard Street.”

Walking From Forest Hills T Station (about a 1¼ mile walk):
Be sure to exit the station onto the Hyde Park Avenue side. Cross Hyde Park Avenue, and then turn right. Turn left at Walk Hill Street (you will see a Dunkin Donuts on the corner). Proceed up Walk Hill Street past Forest Hills Cemetery to the intersection of American Legion Highway. Cross American Legion Highway and follow directions above for Walk Hill and American Legion Highway.

Biking
We encourage you to approach from the Walk Hill Street side and avoid Morton Street. There is a bike lane on American Legion Highway, but cars generally travel 45 miles per hour on that road. Our bike rack is located next to our front doors. Please lock your bike.

Acres:
64

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