HAboutRailsto-TrailsConservancy
eadquartered inWashington,D.C.,Railsto-TrailsConservancy (RTC) isanonprofitorganizationdedicatedtocreatinganationwidenetworkoftrails
from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places forhealthierpeople.
RailwayshelpedbuildAmerica.Spanningfromcoasttocoast,theseribbonsof steel linked people, communities, and enterprises, spurring commerce andforgingasinglenationthatbridgesacontinent.Butinrecentdecades,manyofthese routes have fallen into disuse, severing communal ties that helped bindAmericanstogether.
When RTC opened its doors in 1986, the rail-trail movement was in itsinfancy.Mostprojectsfocusedonsingle,linearroutesinruralareas,createdfor
recreation and conservation. RTC sought broader protection for the unusedcorridors,incorporatingrural,suburban,andurbanroutes.
Yearafteryear,RTC’seffortstoprotectandalignpublicfundingwithtrailbuilding created an environment that allowed trail advocates in communitiesacross the country to initiate trail projects. These ever-growing ranks of trailprofessionals, volunteers, and RTC supporters have built momentum for thenationalrail-trailsmovement.Asthenumberofsupportersmultiplied,sodidtherail-trails.
Americansnowenjoymorethan23,000milesofopenrail-trails,andastheyflocktothetrailstoconnectwithfamilymembersandfriends,enjoynature,andgettoplacesintheirlocalneighborhoodsandbeyond,theireconomicprosperity,health,andoverallwell-beingcontinuetoflourish.
AsignatureendeavorofRTC isTrailLink.com,America’sportal to theserail-trails,aswellasothermultiusetrails.WhenRTClaunchedTrailLink.comin2000, our organization was one of the first to compile such detailed trailinformationonanationalscale.Today, thewebsitecontinues toplayacriticalrole in both encouraging and satisfying the country’s growing need foropportunities to ride,walk, skate, or run for recreation or transportation. Thisfree trail-finder database—which includes detailed descriptions, interactivemaps, photo galleries, and firsthand ratings and reviews—can be used as acompanionresourcetothetrailsinthisguidebook.
Thenationalvoiceformorethan160,000membersandsupporters,RTCiscommitted to ensuringabetter future forAmericamadepossibleby trails andtheconnectionstheyinspire.Learnmoreatrailstotrails.org.
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TableofContentsAboutRails-to-TrailsConservancy
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
HowtoUseThisBook
CONNECTICUT
AirLineStateParkTrail
CharterOakGreenway
DerbyGreenway
FarmingtonCanalHeritageTrail
FarmingtonRiverTrail
HopRiverStateParkTrail
KressFamilyTrail
LarkinStateParkTrail
MiddleburyGreenway
PequonnockRiverTrail
QuinebaugRiverTrail
ShorelineGreenwayTrail
SueGrossmanStillRiverGreenway
VernonRails-to-Trails(RockvilleSpur)
WindsorLocksCanalStateParkTrail
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MASSACHUSETTS
AmesburyRiverwalk
AshuwillticookRailTrail
AssabetRiverRailTrail
BordertoBostonTrail
BridgeofFlowers
BruceFreemanRailTrail
CanalsideRailTrail
Connecticut’sFarmingtonCanalHeritageTrail
CapeCodCanalBikeway
CapeCodRailTrail
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CharlesRiverBikePath
ClipperCityRailTrailandHarborwalk
ColumbiaGreenwayRailTrailandSouthwickRailTrail
EastBostonGreenway
GrandTrunkTrail
IndependenceGreenway
ManhanRailTrail
MarbleheadRail-Trail
MassCentralRailTrail
MinutemanBikeway
Narrow-GaugeRail-Trail
NashuaRiverRailTrail
NeponsetRiverGreenway
NorthCentralPathway
NorthernStrandCommunityTrail
OldColonyRailTrail
PhoenixBikeTrail
ProvinceLandsBikeTrail
ReformatoryBranchTrail
ShiningSeaBikeway
SouthwestCorridorPark(PierreLallementBikePath)
UpperCharlesTrail
RHODEISLAND
BlackstoneRiverGreenway
EastBayBikePath
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FredLippittWoonasquatucketRiverGreenway
TenMileRiverGreenway
WashingtonSecondaryBikePath
WilliamC.O’NeillBikePath
PhotoCredits
SupportRails-to-TrailsConservancy
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Foreword
or those of you who have already experienced the sheer enjoyment andfreedom of riding on a rail-trail, welcome back! You’ll find Rail-Trails:
SouthernNewEngland to be a useful and fun guide to your favorite trails, aswellasanintroductiontopathwaysyouhaveyettotravel.
Forreaderswhoarediscoveringforthefirsttimetheadventurespossibleona rail-trail, thankyoufor joining the rail-trailmovement.Since1986,Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been the leading supporter and defender of thesepriceless public corridors. We are excited to bring you Rail-Trails: SouthernNewEngland,soyoutoocanenjoysomeoftheregion’spremierrail-trailsandmultiuse trails. These hiking and biking trails are ideal ways to connect withyourcommunity,withnature,andwithyourfriendsandfamily.
I’vefoundthattrailshaveawayofbringingpeopletogether,andasyou’llsee from thisbook,youhaveopportunities inevery stateyouvisit togetonagreattrail.Whetheryou’relookingforaplacetoexercise,explore,commute,orplay,thereisatrailinthisbookforyou.
SoIinviteyoutositback,relax,pickatrailthatpiquesyourinterest—andthengetout,getactive, andhavesome fun. I’llbeouton the trails too, sobesuretowaveasyougoby.
Happytrails,
KeithLaughlin,PresidentRails-to-TrailsConservancy
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Acknowledgments
pecialthankstoGeneBisbeeandAmyAhnfortheirworkonthisbook.Weare also appreciative of the following contributors and to all the trail
managerswecalledonforassistancetoensurethemaps,photographs,andtraildescriptionsareasaccurateaspossible.
MiloBatemanJimBrown
KenBryan
RyanCree
CindyDickersonEliGriffen
AveryHarmonYvonneMwangi
JimmyO’ConnorKennethRusk
AnyaSaretzkyLizSewell
TomSexton LeeannSinpatanasakulLauraStarkScottStark
DerekStrout
TheNorwottuckBranchoftheMassCentralRailTrail
TheMassachusettssectionoftheBlackstoneRiverGreenway
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Introduction
ail-Trails: Southern New England highlights 52 of the top rail-trails andothermultiusepathwaysinConnecticut,Massachusetts,andRhodeIsland.
These trailsofferabroad rangeofexperiences to suitnearlyevery taste, fromvibrantcitiestoremoteforests,fromsweepingcoastalvistastonarrowwoodedravines,andfromchallengingmountainbikingadventurestorelaxingwaterfrontstrolls.
Within these pages, you’ll find lengthy trails for multiday journeys,including Connecticut’s Air Line State Park Trail and Massachusetts’s MassCentral Rail Trail, as well as short but sweet options, such as the beautifulBridgeofFlowersandtheVernonRailsto-Trails,whichisfeaturedonourcover.
AstandoutisCapeCod’sShiningSeaBikeway,whichwasnamedafterthelyrics to “America theBeautiful” and championedbyBarbaraBurwell,whosework on the rail-trail project inspired her son David Burwell. He cofoundedRailsto-TrailsConservancy(RTC)andbecameavisionaryleaderoftherailsto-trailsmovement.Americanowhasmorethan2,000rail-trails,andtheycanbefoundinall50states.
Twoexemplaryrail-trails in thisbookhavebeeninducted intoRTC’sHallof Fame: Massachusetts’s Minuteman Bikeway and Rhode Island’s East BayBike Path. The Minuteman Bikeway, spanning 10 miles through Boston’snorthwestsuburbs,roughlytracesPaulRevere’smidnightrideinApril1775towarn local militias about advancing British troops. The East Bay Bike Pathoffersspectacularmaritimeviewsonits14-milerunfromProvidencetoBristol.
SeveraltrailsinthisregionarebeingstitchedtogetherinthedevelopingEastCoastGreenway(ECG),whichaimstolinktrailsacross15states,fromMaineto
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Florida.You’llfindmanyECG-designatedpathwaysinthisbook,includingtheFarmington Canal Heritage Trail, a north-south route that nearly spansConnecticut, and the Charles River Bike Path, dotted with fantasticmuseumsandparksonitscoursefromBostontothecity’swesternsuburbs.
Nomatterwhichroutes inRail-Trails:SouthernNewEnglandyouchoose,you’llexperiencetheuniquehistory,culture,andgeographyofeach,aswellasthecommunitiesthathavebuiltandembracedthem.
WhatIsaRail-Trail?ail-trails are multiuse public paths built along former railroad corridors.Most often flat or following a gentle grade, they are suited to walking,
running, cycling, mountain biking, in-line skating, cross-country skiing,horsebackriding,andwheelchairuse.Sincethe1960s,Americanshavecreatedmorethan23,000milesofrail-trailsthroughoutthecountry.
These extremely popular recreation and transportation corridors traverseurban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Many preserve historical landmarks,whileothersserveaswildlifeconservationcorridors,linkingisolatedparksandestablishing greenways in developed areas. Rail-trails also stimulate localeconomiesbyboostingtourismandpromotingtrailsidebusinesses.
WhatIsaRail-with-Trail?rail-with-trailisapublicpaththatparallelsastill-activerailline.Somerunadjacenttohigh-speed,scheduledtrains,oftenlinkingpublictransportation
stations, while others follow tourist routes and slow-moving excursion trains.Many share an easement, separated from the rails by extensive fencing.Morethan275rails-with-trailsexistintheUnitedStates.
WhatIstheRail-TrailHallofFame?
In 2007 RTC began recognizing exemplary rail-trails around the countrythrough its Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Inductees are selected based on suchmerits as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historicalsignificance,excellenceinmanagementandmaintenanceoffacility,communityconnections, and geographic distribution. These iconic rail-trails, which havebeensingledoutfrommorethan2,000intheUnitedStates,haveearnedRTC’shighesthonorandrepresent tangiblerealizationsofourvisiontocreateamorewalkable, bikeable, healthierAmerica.Hall ofFame rail-trails are indicated inthisbookwithaspecialblueicon;forthefulllistofHallofFamerail-trails,visitrailstotrails.org/halloffame.
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HowtoUseThisBook
ail-Trails:SouthernNewEnglandprovides the informationyou’llneed toplan a rewarding trek.Withwords to inspireyou andmaps to chart your
path, it makes choosing the best route a breeze. Following are some of thehighlights.
YMaps
ou’llfindthreelevelsofmapsinthisbook:anoverallregionalmap,statelocatormaps,anddetailedtrailmaps.ThetrailsinthisbookarelocatedinConnecticut,Massachusetts,andRhode
Island.Each chapter details a particular state’s network of trails,marked on alocatormap at the beginning of the chapter.Use thesemaps to find the trailsnearest you, or select several neighboring trails and plan aweekend hiking orbikingexcursion.Onceyoufindatrailonastatelocatormap,simplyfliptothecorresponding number for a full description. Accompanying trail maps markeach route’s access roads, trailheads, parking areas, restrooms, and otherdefiningfeatures.
KeytoMapIcons
TTrailDescriptions
rails are listed in alphabetical orderwithin each chapter. Each descriptionleads with a set of summary information, including trail endpoints and
mileage,aroughnessindex,thetrailsurface,andpossibleuses.The map and summary information list the trail endpoints (either a city,
street,ormorespecificlocation),withsuggestedpointsfromwhichtostartandfinish.Additional access points aremarkedon themaps andmentioned in thetraildescriptions.Themapsanddescriptionsalsohighlightavailableamenities,including parking and restrooms, as well as such area attractions as shops,services,museums,parks,andstadiums.Traillengthislistedinmiles.
Eachtrailbearsaroughnessindexratingfrom1to3.Aratingof1indicatesasmooth, levelsurface that isaccessible tousersofallagesandabilities.A2ratingmeansthesurfacemaybelooseand/orunevenandcouldposeaproblemforroadbikesandwheelchairs.A3ratingsuggestsaroughsurfacethatisonlyrecommendedformountainbikersandhikers.Surfacescanrangefromasphaltorconcretetoballast,boardwalk,cinder,crushedstone,gravel,grass,dirt,sand,and/orwoodchips.Whererelevant,traildescriptionsaddressalternatingsurfaceconditions.
All trails are open to pedestrians, and most allow bicycles, except wherenoted in the trail summary or description. The summary also indicateswheelchairaccess.Otherpossibleusesincludein-lineskating,mountainbiking,horseback riding, fishing, and cross-country skiing.Whilemost trails are off-limits to motor vehicles, some local trail organizations do allow all-terrainvehiclesandsnowmobiles.
Traildescriptionssuggestanidealitineraryforeachroute,includingthebestparkingareasandaccesspoints,wheretobegin,yourdirectionoftravel,andanyhighlights along the way. Following each description are directions to therecommendedtrailheads.
Each trail description also lists a localwebsite for further information.Besure to visit these websites in advance for updates and current conditions.
TrailLink.comisanothergreatresourceforupdatedcontentonthetrailsinthisguidebook.
RTrailUse
ail-trails arepopulardestinations for a rangeofusers, oftenmaking thembusyplacestoenjoytheoutdoors.Followingbasictrailetiquetteandsafety
guidelineswillmakeyourexperiencemorepleasant.Keeptotheright,exceptwhenpassing.
Passontheleft,andgiveaclearaudiblewarning:“Passingonyourleft.”
Beawareofothertrailusers,particularlyaroundcornersandblindspots,andbeespeciallycarefulwhenenteringatrail,changingdirection,orpassing,sothatyoudon’tcollidewithtraffic.
Respectwildlifeandpublicandprivateproperty;leavenotraceandtakeoutlitter.
Controlyourspeed,especiallynearpedestrians,playgrounds,andheavilycongestedareas.
Travelsinglefile.Cyclistsandpedestriansshouldrideorwalksinglefileincongestedareasorareaswithreducedvisibility.
Crosscarefullyatintersections;alwayslookbothwaysandyieldtothroughtraffic.Pedestrianshavetheright-of-way.
Keeponeearopenandvolumelowonportablelisteningdevicestoincreaseyourawarenessofyoursurroundings.
Wearahelmetandothersafetygearifyou’recyclingorin-lineskating.
Considervisibility.Wearreflectiveclothing,usebicyclelights,orbringflashlightsorhelmet-mountedlightsfortunnelpassagesortwilightexcursions.
Keepmoving,anddon’tblockthetrail.Whentakingarest,turnoffthetrailtotheright.Groupsshouldavoidcongregatingonorblockingthetrails.Ifyouhaveanaccidentonthetrail,movetotherightassoonaspossible.
Bicyclistsyieldtoallothertrailusers.Pedestriansyieldtohorses.Ifindoubt,yieldtoallothertrailusers.
Dogsarepermittedonmosttrails,butsometrailsthroughparks,wildliferefuges,orothersensitiveareasmaynotallowpets;it’sbesttocheckthetrailwebsitebeforeyourvisit.Ifpetsarepermitted,keepyourdogonashortleashandunderyourcontrolatalltimes.Removedogwasteinadesignatedtrashreceptacle.
Teachyourchildrenthesetrailessentials,andbeespeciallydiligenttokeepthemoutoffaster-movingtrailtraffic.
Beprepared,especiallyonlong-distanceruraltrails.Bringwater,snacks,maps,alightsource,matches,andotherequipmentyoumayneed.Becausesomeareasmaynothavegoodreceptionforcellphones,knowwhereyou’regoing,andtellsomeoneelseyourplan.
KeytoTrailUse
TLearnMore
o learnabout additionalmultiuse trails inyourareaor toplana trip to anareabeyondthescopeofthisbook,visitRails-to-TrailsConservancy’strail-
finderwebsiteTrailLink.com,a free resourcewithmore than32,000milesofmappedrail-trailsandmultiusetrailsnationwide.
Connecticut
AbridgeovertheShepaugRiverontheKressFamilyTrail
Massachusetts
CharlesRiverBikePath
RhodeIsland
AlongtheFredLippittWoonasquatucketRiverGreenway,youcanseeremnantsofProvidence’srichindustrialhistory.
PhotoCredits
Pageiii:JimBrown;pagevi:BillCannon;pageix:RobertBissell;pagex:MiloBateman;page7:YvonneMwangi;page9:LizSewell;page10:BobYouker;page13:JimBrown;pages14and17:EliGriffen;page19:BillCannon;page23:LizSewell;page27:BillCannon;page29:YvonneMwangi;page33:JohnM. Joy; pages 35 and 37: Bill Cannon; page 39: Eli Griffen; page 45: JimBrown; pages 47 and 50: Shoreline Greenway Trail, Inc.; pages 51 and 55:YvonneMwangi;page57:JimBrown;page61:AnyaSaretzky;page63:RonFortier; page 65: Douglas Hurteau; page 69: Jing Zhou; page 73: AnyaSaretzky;pages75and77:DavidAlexander;page79:MiloBateman;page81:KenBryan;pages85and86:AnyaSaretzky;page89:StephenStruble;page91: Anya Saretzky; page 95: Georgie Vining; page 99: Milo Bateman; page103:LeeannSinpatanasakul;pages105and107:KenBryan;page109:AnyaSaretzky;page113:KenBryan;page115:AndrewRiedl;pages119and120:MiloBateman;page125:AndrewRiedl;page129:FriendsofBedfordDepotPark; pages 131 and 133: Milo Bateman; page 135: Leeann Sinpatanasakul;page139:KenBryan;page143:LeeannSinpatanasakul;pages147and148:TomSexton;page151:JohnCharbonneau;page153:AnyaSaretzky;page157:AykutBilge;page161:AnyaSaretzky;page163:LeeannSinpatanasakul;page165:JenniferLeonard;page169:KenBryan;page173:ScottStark;page175:MiloBateman;pages179,183,184,187,and188:ScottStark;page189:LauraStark;page192:ScottStark;page193:KennethC.Zirkel.
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SupportRailsto-TrailsConservancy
he nation’s leader in helping communities transformunused rail lines andconnectingcorridorsintomultiusetrails,Railsto-TrailsConservancy(RTC)
depends on the support of itsmembers and donors to create access to healthyoutdoorexperiences.
Yourdonationwillhelpsupportprogramsandservicesthathavehelpedputmorethan23,000rail-trailmilesontheground.Everyday,RTCprovidesvitalassistancetocommunitiestodevelopandmaintaintrailsthroughoutthecountry.In addition,RTCadvocates for trail-friendlypolicies, promotes thebenefitsofrail-trails,anddefendsrail-traillawsinthecourts.
Join online at railstotrails.org, or mail your donation to Railsto-TrailsConservancy,2121WardCourtNW,FifthFloor,Washington,D.C.20037.
Railsto-Trails Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, andcontributionsaretaxdeductible.
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