How long is the butterfly route in Boston?

The butterfly covers 9.2 km with 79 m of ascent and 79 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 60 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2 km east to west and 1.5 km north to south across Boston.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 42.33736, -71.09688 — roughly 3.8 km south-west of the centre of Boston. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

United States › Boston › GPS art route

Butterfly GPS Art Running Route in Boston — 9.2 km

A 9.2 km loop through Boston that draws a butterfly when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 79 m in total, and covers a footprint about 2 km wide by 1.5 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance9.2 km

Elevation gain79 m

Elevation loss79 m

Estimated time60 min

DifficultyModerate

Average gradient0.9%

Video preview

A satellite flyover of the finished butterfly over Boston, rendered from this exact GPX file.

Route map

Start point: 42.33736, -71.09688 — about 3.8 km south-west of the centre of Boston. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 79 m of ascent and 79 m of descent across 9.2 km, an average gradient of 0.9%.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs south-east	0 m	3–7 m
km 2	Runs east-north-east	0 m	3–6 m
km 3	Runs east-south-east	-1 m	2–4 m
km 4	Runs south-south-west	+3 m	3–6 m
km 5	Runs south-south-west	+21 m	5–27 m
km 6	Runs north-west	-16 m	9–27 m
km 7	Runs west	+19 m	11–34 m
km 8	Runs north	-22 m	7–29 m
km 9	Runs north-west	-3 m	4–9 m
km 9.2	Runs north-east	-1 m	3–4 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.07 km — turn right, then continue east.
0.20 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
1.00 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
1.25 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
1.45 km — turn right, then continue east.
1.60 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
1.81 km — turn left, then continue north.
1.99 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
2.11 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
2.28 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
2.45 km — turn left, then continue east.
2.60 km — turn right, then continue south.
2.72 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
3.14 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
3.37 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
3.74 km — turn right, then continue west-north-west.
3.90 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
4.14 km — turn right, then continue south.
4.35 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
4.59 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.
5.07 km — turn right, then continue north-north-west.
5.44 km — turn left, then continue north-west.
5.59 km — turn right, then continue north-north-west.
5.71 km — turn left, then continue west-south-west.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 9.2 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the butterfly appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Boston

All 14 GPS art routes in Boston

Questions about this route

How long is the butterfly route in Boston?: The butterfly covers 9.2 km with 79 m of ascent and 79 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 60 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2 km east to west and 1.5 km north to south across Boston.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 42.33736, -71.09688 — roughly 3.8 km south-west of the centre of Boston. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.