Please Note Our Nature Center is closed Thanksgiving Day but open Friday, Nov 27. Trails are open as usual.

Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
500 Walk Hill Street
Mattapan, MA 02126
617-983-8500

Hours: Nature Center: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays, 10 am to 4 pm Trails: Open every day, dawn to dusk.

Directions:
NOTE: Boston Nature Center is located on the grounds of the old Boston State Hospital, bounded by Morton Street (Route 203), American Legion Highway, Walk Hill Street, and Harvard Street. Many road maps and bus route maps still identify it as "Boston State Hospital" or "State Hospital." There is ongoing construction around our borders. Please drive or walk carefully.

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

From the West:
Take Route 9 East to Route 1 South, the Jamaica Way. Follow the Jamaica Way (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. Follow Harvard Street to the light and turn right onto Walk Hill Street. Take the next right at the sign for the Massachusetts Biologic Labs (460 Walk Hill Street). Follow a short distance and turn left at the Mass Audubon sign.

From the North:
Route 93 South (across Boston) until you see the South Bay Mall on your right. Look for "Columbia Road/JFK" exit, Exit 15. 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.) Make left turn on Blue Hill Ave.; 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 third set of lights, turn left onto Walk Hill Street. Take 2nd left at the sign for the Massachusetts Biologic Labs (460 Walk Hill Street). Follow a short distance and turn left at the Mass Audubon sign.

From the South:
Off Route 128, take Milton Exit (138 North). Follow through Mattapan Square, following Blue Hill Ave. until you come to Walk Hill Street (~5 miles). Turn left onto Walk Hill Street and follow through 2 sets of lights. Take your next right at the sign for the Massachusetts Biologic Labs (460 Walk Hill Street). Follow a short distance and turn left at the Mass Audubon sign.

By Public Transportation
By MBTA bus: (Suggested Routes below:)

Route #	Bus Stop	Leaves from	Service
14	Am. Legion Hwy & Walk Hill	Dudley Station/Roslindale Sq.	Runs frequently; no Sunday service
21	Harvard St. & Morton St.	Forest Hills/Ashmont Station	Runs frequently; hourly on Sundays
28	Blue Hill Ave & Morton St.	Ruggles/Mattapan Station	Runs frequently; every 45 min. on Sundays
29	Blue Hill Ave & Morton St.	Jackson Sq./Mattapan Station	Runs frequently; no Sunday service
31	Harvard St. & Morton St.	Forest Hills/Mattapan Station	Runs frequently daily

If you get off the bus on Morton Street:
Enter the property on the south side of Morton Street, at the light near the intersection of Harvard Street and Morton Street. Enter the property between the brick pillars, follow the road to the Mass Audubon sign, and turn right.

If you get off the bus at Walk Hill and American Legion:
Follow Walk Hill Street until you come to two large columns and see the Mass Audubon/Boston Nature Center sign on the left (opposite the entrance of Mt. Hope Cemetery). Turn left onto this road, walk past three brick buildings, and follow the road to the left. Turn right when you come the mulched Rabbit Trail and follow the trail to the BNC.

Walking From Forest Hills T Station (about a 1.25 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 until you come to the intersection of American Legion Highway. Cross American Legion Highway and follow directions above for Walk Hill and American Legion.