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Cycle to the Source Cambridge Watershed Bike Tour

Discover the Headwaters of the Cambridge Drinking Supply by Bike

Thank you for a great 2024 ride! Check back in fall 2025 for information on our 12th annual tour!

 

 

This annual event aims to connect CWD staff to the public and encourages community members to consider where their water comes from. It is a fun, alternative way to share information about Cambridge water and past participants have greatly enjoyed the experience. Cycle to the Source encourages residents to:

  • See the watershed in a low-impact way.
  • Visit the reservoirs and gatehouses to further understand how water arrives at Fresh Pond
  • Meet the faces of the Cambridge Water Department watershed division
  • Get answers to questions regarding the supply, protection, transport, and treatment of Cambridge water before it reaches the tap
  • Understand the connections between land use and water quality in our watershed

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Who: You! Along with Cambridge Water Department staff and guides from Urban AdvenTours. This event is free and open to the public, but for safety reasons is for adults only. **Please note, due to the awesome amount of interest we received last year, priority for spots will be given to Cambridge residents and first-time participants.**

What: Cycle to the Source is a 32-mile bike tour of the Cambridge Watershed. It is a chance to explore where your water comes from, how it is collected, and what steps are taken to ensure the city has clean drinking water. It will include stops at reservoirs, dams, gatehouses, and the CWD field office.

When: Fall 2025

Where: The ride starts and ends at the Walter J. Sullivan Purification Facility at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, and explores the Cambridge watershed, which includes Cambridge owned land and reservoirs in Lincoln, Lexington, Weston, and Waltham.

How: Registration required. All you need is a working bike, helmet, lunch, and water. If you would like to join but need a bike, Urban AdvenTours rents hybrid and road bikes that are suitable for the event (make sure to note “Cycle to the Source” when you reserve a bike). Visit their website for more information. 

A map of the tour route can be found here.

Any questions about the event can be sent to Emily Maynard at emaynard@cambridgema.gov