Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation
The T route from Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Bus 75
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Alewife5 stops, about 12 min
- Change at Harvard
- Take bus 75Toward Belmont Center10 stops, about 8 min
- Get off at Huron Ave @ Larch RdThe stop after Huron Ave @ Lakeview Ave
- Walk about 8 min to Fresh Pond Reservation
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 75 to Huron Ave @ Larch Rd, and walk about 8 min. The trip takes about 49 minutes (45-53 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 75 runs about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to Fresh Pond
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove.
- Ride 3 stops, about 4 min, through Tufts Medical Center and Chinatown, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Red Line toward Alewife.
- Ride 5 stops, about 12 min, through Park Street, Charles/MGH, Kendall/MIT and Central, and get off at Harvard.
- At Harvard, change to bus 75 toward Belmont Center.
- Ride 10 stops, about 8 min. Get off at Huron Ave @ Larch Rd, the stop after Huron Ave @ Lakeview Ave.
- Walk about 8 min to Fresh Pond Reservation.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 74 to Concord Ave @ Birch St, and walk about 8 min: about 48 min.
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 78 to Concord Ave @ Birch St, and walk about 8 min: about 48 min.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times and gives you the one that gets you there first.
Times and frequency
| Day | First trip | Last trip | How often (daytime) | Trip time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 5:02 am | 12:51 am | About every 30 min | About 49 min |
| Saturday | 4:57 am | 12:34 am | About every 30 min | About 48 min |
| Sunday | 5:59 am | 12:32 am | About every 45 min | About 48 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Back Bay, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 75 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:51 am and gets to Fresh Pond Reservation around 1:28 am, using bus 1 and bus 74. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 12:34 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:32 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Huron Ave @ Lakeview Ave. The next stop is Huron Ave @ Larch Rd. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Downtown Crossing. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Red Line toward Alewife.
- Fresh Pond Reservation is Cambridge's reservoir, with a 2.25-mile path around it.
- Back Bay station has the Orange Line, Commuter Rail and Amtrak under one roof. It connects to Copley Place by an indoor passage.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Back Bay, Downtown Crossing and Harvard) as accessible. Downtown Crossing has 6 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time.
- How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 75 to Huron Ave @ Larch Rd, and walk about 8 min. The trip takes about 49 minutes (45-53 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation?
About 49 minutes on the main route, or 45-53 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and Harvard. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 75 to Huron Ave @ Larch Rd, and walk about 8 min.
How often does bus 75 run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about every 30 min on Saturdays and about every 45 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Fresh Pond Reservation?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:51 am and gets to Fresh Pond Reservation around 1:28 am, using bus 1 and bus 74. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 12:34 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:32 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Mount Auburn Cemetery
- Back Bay Station to Mount Auburn Hospital
- Boston Common to Fresh Pond Reservation
- Kendall Square to Fresh Pond Reservation
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Longfellow House
- Back Bay Station to Porter Square
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Stadium
- Back Bay Station to Arsenal Yards
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Square
- All routes from Back Bay Station
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Schedules on this page come from MBTA/MassDOT public data. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MBTA: Orange Line
- MBTA: Red Line
- MBTA: bus 75
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Harvard station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts
Published October 30, 2026. Times were computed from the fall 2026 MBTA schedule (2026-11-04 for weekdays). Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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