The Mass Central Rail Trail

The Mass Central Rail Trail winds its way across Massachusetts from Northampton to Boston.Here are the cities and towns it passes through along the way.

The trail begins in Northampton, where it is known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail.

The trail follows the tracks in Hadley.

Amherst is where the Norwottuck veers southeastward.

Norwottuck Branch (Western Section): The paved 11-mile Norwottuck Branch stretches from Northampton, through Hadley and Amherst, ending at the Warren Wright Road parking lot in western Belchertown.

Belchertown Greenway / Eastern Section: The southern and eastern corridor runs parallel to active railroad tracks and Route 202, passing through wooded areas and crossing roads like Old Springfield Road and North Washington Street.In Belchertown, friends of the Belchertown Greenway and the Town of Belchertown received a MassTrails grant in 2025 to reconstruct the decking of the historic Jabish Brook Trestle Bridge east of tracks and north of Springfield Road. This is a key link in a 3.9 mile section of MCRT that is popular with equestrians, walkers, mountain bikers and snowmobilers.

The Town of Palmer is conducting a feasibility study of different potential alignments for the MCRT, supported by a MassTrails grant. They are looking at ways to address missing MCRT corridors and bridges, crossing active rail lines, and providing more access for the villages of Palmer to the MCRT. This will create new and safe connections for walkers and cyclists among Palmer’s villages and link Palmer to the other MCRT communities.

The Town of Ware received a 2025 MassTrails grant and private philanthropic support for this project. Working with its partner East Quabbin Land Trust, they will build 1,500 feet of accessible trail. This new trail segment closes a key gap of the MCRT route from downtown Ware to the southern end of a 3.2 mile MCRT segment. Visitors will enjoy this easy passage from Greenville Park to the MCRT – with a scenic overlook on the Ware River.

Wachusett Greenways received a MassTrails grant in 2025 to make their excellent section in Rutland even better – by removing a section of trail at the Whitehall Road crossing with a slope as steep as 13% grade, and replacing it with a curved horseshoe path with a maximum slope of 3.2%. The project also includes improving the MCRT Whitehall parking lot nearby.

The build phase of the MCRT Clinton from the Rauscher Farm to the Berlin town line is in progress with construction planned for the Spring/Summer/Fall of 2026 supported by a 2025 MassTrails grant. This phase will include accessible parking and trail access from two locations - the Rauscher Farm and the Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust Trailhead at 447 Berlin Street.

The Town of Hudson, with funding from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization and their Community Preservation Fund, will develop a shovel-ready design of the MCRT from Priest St. to just off the Routes 85 and 62 rotary in their busy downtown. The Town is providing additional Community Preservation Funds to match a 2025 MassTrails grant for a 25% design of the section from downtown out to I-495. More than three miles of the MCRT route in Hudson are already complete – and very popular.

Here are some photos of the section from Sudbury to Wayland

Trail going east ends at Beaver Street and Waverley Oaks Road.Here are some photos of the Waltham section

The Fitchburg Cutoff Bikepath runs east from Brighton St to just north of Alewife Station in North Cambridge.Alewife Linear Path goes east from the station until it connects to the Somerville Community Path at Mass. Ave.Here are some photos of the Belmont section

The Somerville Community Path connects to Alewife Linear Park at Mass. Ave and runs a long way down the tracks into Cambridge

Western Section (1.6 miles):Starts at the Belmont/Cambridge town line along the MBTA Fitchburg Line rail tracks, opposite Blair Pond. It passes wetland footpaths, crosses the Alewife MBTA station access road, joins the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, and ends after crossing Massachusetts Ave Massachusetts Central Rail TrailMassachusetts Central Rail Trail.Eastern Section (0.9 miles):Begins after the Somerville Community Path (3.1 miles) and travels along Morgan Ave and over Education Street to Richard McKinnon Park. Fitchburg RR line

The trail ends at Paul Revere Park, after passing under the Zakim Bridge from Richard McKinnon Park.