The Observation Deck at Independence Wharf is a little-known hidden gem in the city of Boston. Located on the 14th floor of the building at 470 Atlantic Avenue, this rooftop deck extends along the entire length of the building on the southwest side. The observation deck is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10AM to 5PM. It may not may not be open on Sundays. Reports from geocachers who have tried to visit on Sunday are mixed. Admission is free.
Getting to the Top
Access is through the Independence Wharf building at 470 Atlantic Avenue. Enter through the doors that face Seaport Blvd. (Waypoint provided.) If one of the doors is locked, try another. On weekends, there is a chance that you may need to be buzzed in. You will need to show an ID to the security guard at the front desk, who will direct you to the elevators that take you to the 14th floor. That’s it! You’re in!
The View from Above
To the south, you will have fantastic views of Fort Point Channel and the Seaport District, including Fan Pier, the Boston Children’s Museum, and the Boston Tea Party ships. From the north end of the roof deck, you have a birds-eye view of the Rose Kennedy Greenway as it snakes its way between the buildings of downtown Boston. There are stand-mounted high-powered binoculars (free of charge) near the southern end of the observation deck for better views of Logan Airport and the Harbor Islands.
Boston Harborwalk
The observation deck is part of the Boston Harborwalk, which was started in 1984 to provide public access to the Boston waterfront by establishing parks, walking paths, educational sites, and other amenities along the harbor. The Harborwalk is a 43-mile linear park along Boston’s shoreline that stretches from Constitution Beach in East Boston to the Neponset River in lower Dorchester, as it passes through Charlestown, the North End, Downtown, Seaport, South Boston and Dorchester. An interactive map of the Harborwalk is available at www.bostonharborwalk.org
Logging Requirements
To claim a find for this virtual geocache: when you post your found log, include a picture of your favorite view from the observation deck that includes you, a personal object, or a simple “thumbs-up” in the foreground. Your photo must be taken from the observation deck, not at ground level. Logs without photos taken from the observation deck will be deleted.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.