Bicycle trails in Massachusetts

East Coast Greenway in Massachusetts The route enters Massachusetts from the north in Salisbury, where it is primarily on road until Boston. Heading west from Boston to Waltham, the ECG follows the Charles River Bikepath. From there, the future Mass Central Rail-Trail will take ECG users to just north of Worcester. From Worcester to the Rhode Island line, the ECG follows the Blackstone River Bikeway in an historic region that was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. An alternate route is being developed to directly link Boston and Providence, RI.

 

Alewife Linear Park Cambridge, Somerville. The reconstructed Alewife Brook multi-use paths (also called the Minuteman Connector) will wind along both sides of Alewife Brook through the DCRs' Alewife Reservation. The Cambridge/Somerville side paths will be paved and the Arlington side will be stone dust. They'll connect Alewife station and the Minuteman Bikeway to Mystic Valley Parkway where they will join existing and future multi-use paths up and down the Mystic River (and hopefully to a new Green Line station on Route 16)

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Lanesborough- Adams . The 11.2 mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a former railroad corridor running parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams MA. The southern end of the rail trail begins at the entrance to the Berkshire Mall and passes through the Hoosic River Valley, between the Mount Greylock and the Hoosac Mountain Ranges, along the Cheshire Reservoir and the Hoosic River, and associated wetlands . The name Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) derives from the Native American word for the south branch of the Hoosic River and means "the pleasant river in between the hills."

 

Assabet River Rail Trail Acton, Stow, Maynard . The Assabet River Rail Trail, Inc. (ARRT) is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of promoting the creation of a multi-use recreational rail trail that will pass through the communities of Marlborough, Hudson, Stow, Maynard and Acton. The trail will be built along the abandoned rail bed of the former Marlborough Branch RR, which was active between 1853 and 1980. As of September 2005, a 5.8 mile section of the trail is paved and open to the public

Battle Road Trail Concord . The trail connects historic sites from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to the eastern boundary of the park in Lexington. The main theme of the trail is the Battle of April 19, 1775, that launched the American Revolution. More over, the trail interprets the broader “human story” of the people whose lives were altered by the events that took place here. Much of the trail follows original remnants of the Battle Road; other sections leave the historic road to follow the route of the Minute Men, traversing farming fields, wetlands, and forests. The entire trail is five miles long

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Bike to the Sea Founded in 1993, B2C promotes the development of a bicycle and pedestrian trail from the Malden, Massachusetts area to the beaches of Lynn and Revere. A state feasibility study conducted has concluded that a trail to the sea along the Saugus Branch rail line is feasible. The trail will begin along the Malden River in Everett near the proposed TeleCom City where it will connect to trails heading to Boston and Medford. Heading north to Malden, then east, the trail travels past the locations of the old Maplewood and Linden rail stations to the spectacular vistas of Rumney Marsh in North Revere. Local families will be able to pedal to the Saugus Ironworks or the Saugus River and then to a pathway along the Lynn Waterfront that will connect to Nahant and Revere Beaches. B2C holds regular social and pleasure rides to destinations such as Revere Beach, Nahant and Marblehead Neck. The largest ride of the year is "Bike to the Sea" held at the end of June. For more Information about Bike to the Sea, call (781) 397-6893.

 

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Lowell to Framingham . The Bruce Freeman Trail is a proposed rail trail through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham in Massachusetts -- following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven Railroad Framingham & Lowell line. Phase 1 (6.8 miles in Lowell, Chelmsford, and Westford) is now open. Phase 2 in Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury (13.1 miles) and Phase 3 in Sudbury and Framingham (4.6 miles) are proposed extensions. The Bruce Freeman Trail is open to non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, walking, and skiing.

 

Canalside River Trail East Deerfield - Turner Falls . This 3.27 mile trail crosses the Connecticut River near the confluence of the Deerfield and the Connecticut Rivers. Approximately ½ mile north of the bridge the trail leaves the old railroad right-of-way and travels on side streets to cut over to the Conn. River Power Canal. The northernmost mile of the trail travels on the abandoned rail bed along the Connecticut River Power Canal. It passes the fish ladder and Great Falls Discovery Center and ends at Unity Park in the Village of Turners Falls in Montague, MA.

 

Cape Cod Canal Bike Paths This bikeway follows the Cape Cod Canal through sections of Bourne and Sagamore, respectively. The path is actually the canal access road, a paved route designated for government vehicles, foot traffic and non-motorized vehicles only. It runs for approximately 7 - 8 miles between the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Featuring a wide road with minimal grades, it is ideal for beginner to casual cyclists, especially families with younger children.

Cape Cod Rail Trail Dennis-Wellfleet
Cape Cod National Seashore Provincetown
Charles River Bike Path Boston, Cambridge
Clipper City Rail Trail Newburyport

Farmington Canal Rail Trail . The Farmington Canal Heritage Greenway covers a route of approximately 84 miles from New Haven, CT to Northampton, MA. Over half has been developed as a paved trail for non-motorized recreation and commuting. The trail follows the route of the original rail line that ran parallel to the Farmington Canal. Cheshire Section Route Map . New Haven-Hamden Route Map . Full route map

 

 

Franklin County Bikeway The Franklin County Bikeway totals approximately 44 miles in length, and primarily consists of a loop through Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague and Gill, with a spur north to the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center and downtown Northfield, and two southern spurs: one to the Town of Sunderland and one through Leverett Center to Hampshire County. The Bikeway network consists of several “off-road” bikepaths that provide connections suitable for all levels of riders. In addition, most of the network consists of “on-road” or “shared roadway” sections that make use of predominantly low traffic roads.

 

 

Lower Neponset River Trail Dorchester, Milton
Mystic River Bike Path Somerville, Everett
Jamaicaway Bikepath Jamaica Plain
Northampton Bike Path Northampton-Amherst
Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton
Marblehead Bike Paths Marblehead to Salem
Manhan Rail Trail Easthampton
Millennium Park West Roxbury
Minuteman Bikeway Concord to Lexington
Nashua River Rail Trail Ayer to Dunstable
Peabody Bikeway Peabody
Phoenix Bike Trail Fairhaven
Quequechan River Bike Path Fall River
Pierre Lallement Bike Path Southwest Corridor Park
Shining Sea Bike Path Falmouth to Woods Hole
Stony Brook Bike Path West Roxbury, Hyde Park
Topsfield Rail Trail Topsfield
Watertown Branch Rail Trail Watertown

More Massachusetts rail trail resources:

Trails.com
Massachusetts DOT
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation trail list
Mass. DOT interactive bike trail map
TrailLink ( great site for all states)