Map of regional recreational trails in Massachusetts

Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in Massachusetts

The State of Massachusetts has numerous regional recreational trails for bike riding, running and walking that are located throughout the state. These are paved and unpaved trails that connect communities, neighborhoods, parks, natural areas and commercial districts. The trails are used for getting exercise, sight-seeing, commuting to work or to school and enjoying the great outdoors.

Below is a list of the more prominent recreational trails in Massachusetts. Trail names in red will link to a map and description for that specific trail.

The surfaces may be paved with asphalt or concrete or unpaved with an improved surface of crushed stone. Distances are approximate as some trails have many branches and/or multiple overlapping sections. Trail names in red are links to a map and description for that specific trail. Additonal trails are displayed on our maps for individual cities.

TRAIL NAME	SECTOR	LENGTH (MI.)	SURFACE	COMMUNITIES
Alewife Linear Park Trail	E	2.5	paved	Cambridge, Somerville
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail	NW	11	paved	Adams, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Pittsfield
Assabet River Rail Trail	E	8	paved / unpaved	Hudson, Marlborough, Stow, Maynard
Boston HarborWalk	E	10	paved	Boston
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail	NE	11.7	paved	Acton, Westford, Chelmsford, Lowell
Canalside Rail Trail	C	2.2	paved	Greenfield
Cape Cod Rail Trail & Old Colony Rail Trail	SE	22	paved	Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, South Dennis
Charles River Greenway	E	5	paved	Waltham, Watertown
Connecticut River Walk	C	3.7	paved	Springfield
Danvers Rail Trail	NE	5	unpaved	Peabody, Danvers
Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path	E	18	paved	Watertown, Cambridge, Boston
Emerald Necklace	E	10+	paved	Boston
Hanover Branch Rail Trail	E	2.7	unpaved	Rockland
Independence Greenway	NE	4.6	paved	Peabody
Manhan Rail Trail	W	9.3	paved	Northampton, Easthampton
Martha's Vinyard Bike Trails	SE	30.7	paved	Martha's Vineyard
Merrack River Bike Path	NW	1.7	paved	Lowell
Methuen Rail Trail	NE	2.4	paved	Methuen, Lawrence
MCR - Nothhampton Bikeway	W	5.4	paved	Northampton
MCRT - Norwottuck Branch	W	11	paved	Northampton, Amherst
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway	E	10	paved	Bedford, Lexington, Arlington
Nanatucket Island Trails	SE	33	paved	Nantucket Island
Narrow Gauge Rail Trail Bedford to Billerica	E	3	paved	Bedford, Billerica
Nashua River Rail Trail	NE	11	paved	Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, Nashua
Neoponset River Greenway	E	5.2	paved	Hyde Park, Boston, Dorchester Center, Dorchester
New Bedford Harborwalk	SE	4.5	paved	New Bedford
North Central Pathway	C	7	paved	Worcester County
Northern Strand Community Trail	NE	8	paved	Everett, Malden, Saugus
Phoenix Rail Trail	SE	4.5	paved	Fairhaven, Mattapoisett
Province Lands Bike Trail	SE	7	paved	Cape Cod
Reformatory Branch Trail	E	3.9	paved / unpaved	Concord, Bedford
Revere Beach Boardwalk	E	2.8	paved	Revere,
Shining Sea Rail Bikeway	SE	11	paved	North Falmouth, Falmouth
South Bay Harbor Trail	E	2.3	paved	Boston
Southwest Corridor Park	E	2.9	paved	Boston
Southwick Rail Trail & Columbia Greenway Rail Trail	SW	8.9	paved	Southwick, Westfield
Spicket River Greenway	NE	1.6	paved	Lawrence
Topsfield Linear Common	NE	6	unpaved	Danvers, Topsfield
Quincy Riverwalk	E	1.9	paved	Quincy
Quincy Shore Trail	E	3	paved	Quincy
Upper Charles Rail Trail	SE	25	paved	Milford, Braggville, Holliston
Western Greenway	E	3.8	unpaved	Waltham, Lexington
Western Aqueduct Trail	E	6	unpaved	Farmingham, Wayland

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Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trails located in Massachusetts.