Any time of year is great for hitting the rail trails, and we have over 53 miles of them to explore in MetroWest! Check these out, and then read on for some insight from our friend Marjorie Turner Hollman, who’s written a lovely article on what to expect when you get there.
Assabet River Rail Trail
Trail surface: Asphalt
The best view of the river comes about 0.6 mile past the restored 1921 blue caboose in Hudson. After, the trail plunges into woods that offer a shady canopy as you begin a gentle climb to Marlborough, where you’ll cross wetlands around Flagg Brook that serve as a wildlife corridor.
Mass Central Rail Trail (Weston Branch)
Trail surface: Asphalt
Heading west from Weston, the 10-foot-wide path travels through forests, fields, wetlands, vernal pools, ponds, and streams to Wayland.
Cochituate Rail Trail (CRT)
Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete
Passing near streams and wetlands in Framingham and along the shores of Lake Cochituate in Natick, the scenic trail is a beautiful linear park.
Upper Charles Trail
Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Shaped like a “V”, the trail heading north, past Milford Pond and Louisa Lake Park, is asphalt with great opportunities to see wildlife in the forests and bogs. The northeast branch switches to crushed stone in Holliston, and is described in the adjacent article.
Center Trail
Trail surface: Crushed Stone
This short, stone-dust trail uses a long-dormant rail corridor, crossing three restored bridges on its trek through the woods.
Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT)
Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone
Running nearly uninterrupted for 22 miles starting in Franklin, the trail is open and very scenic, though much is currently unimproved with heavy overgrowth best suited to hiking and mountain biking.
Excerpts from Traillink.com; please visit site for more trail info.
MetroWest Rail Trails
Rail trails are abandoned railway beds transformed into outdoor recreation paths that are often handicap-accessible. Popping up all over Massachusetts with over 53 miles in MetroWest alone, they offer wonderful biking and walking for all ages and mobility levels. Outdoor enthusiast Marjorie Turner Hollman, author of Easy Walks, shares her experiences on one of these trails:“Summertime in MetroWest means grabbing our bikes and heading to the Upper Charles Trail in Holliston. We gather and set up our bicycles in the parking area before pedaling off, and are soon gliding through the Phipps Tunnel. Half the fun is creating echoes as we pass. The sound of bike bells and cheerful voices bounce off the walls where trains once squeezed through.
The rail trail is also great for autumn leaf-peeping. The blazing reds of swamp maples, yellows of birches, and bronze leaves of oaks glow in the sunlight before they drop their foliage onto the path. The rustle of feet scuffing through fallen leaves is all part of the characteristic sights and sounds of fall in New England.
Winter on the trail offers beautiful views after a snow fall, and the much-anticipated annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Volunteers toss wood onto bonfires that flicker along the edge of the trail, urging revelers to grab a stick and roast marshmallows over the flames. Community groups gather in the tunnel to offer hot chocolate and hot dogs to visitors as they stroll by, greeting old friends and making new ones.
Local wildlife is more active alongside the trail in springtime. The northern end, near the Sherborn town line, offers some great spots to view nesting herons in their wetland rookery. The path crosses ponds, while streams flow underneath, with great bird-watching opportunities. Beavers and muskrats are most active at dawn or dusk. You may spot them swimming through the water, leaving their characteristic V behind as they head for favorite feeding spots, or work to collect building materials for their lodges. No matter the season, there is a wealth to explore. See you on the trail!”
- Marjorie Turner Hollman, www.marjorieturner.com
