James J. Fiorentini BRADFORD RAIL TRAIL:
Brian S. Dempsey HAVERHILL RIVERFRONT BOARDWALK:
HAVERHILL/BRADFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
GROVELAND COMMUNITY TRAIL:
GROVELAND, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 11, 2025
Length: Bradford Rail Trail; 0.8 miles
Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk; 0.6 miles w/gaps.
Groveland Community Trail; 2 miles
Difficulty: Bradford Rail Trail; Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk; Easy. Flat boardwalk.
Groveland Community Trail; Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Directions:
Starting from the S Elm Street parking lot in Bradford for the Bradford Rail Trail [Western End]; From I-495 take exit 107 to Route 113 and head east to downtown Haverhill. Turn right over the Comeau Bridge crossing the river to Bradford. Turn left on S Elm St. The parking lot is located on your left, at the rear between two businesses.
Starting from Shanahan Field parking lot in Groveland for the Groveland Community Trail [Northern End]; From I-495 take exit 107 to Route 113 and head east crossing the Merrimack River to Groveland. Take an immediate right along Main St and travel 0.6 miles. Parking lot on your right. From the parking lot you'll need to travel south on-road along Main St to the trailhead on your left after 0.2 miles.
The James J. Fiorentini Bradford Rail Trail and Groveland Community Trail follow the rail bed of the old Georgetown Branch Railroad, chartered in March of 1844 and later acquired by the Boston & Maine RR. Finally, the Pan Am Railway abandoned the line. The Bradford Rail Trail follows the Merrimack River to Groveland, where the rail line traveled Southeast, to Georgetown. Across the river in Haverhill, the Brian S. Dempsey Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk will travel alongside the Merrimack River between the Basiliere & Comeau Bridges. When complete you will be able to create a Loop utilizing both trails. See; GROVELAND COMMUNITY TRAIL .
Both trails are also part of the regional Merrimack River Trail . The Merrimack River enters MA from the NH border at Tyngsborough, MA. The Merrimack River Trail is an envisioned 50 mile multi-use Greenway following the river from Tyngsborough through the communities of Dracut, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Andover, Methuen, Lawrence, North Andover, Haverhill, Groveland, Merrimac, West Newbury, Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and Newbury.
Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk:
Starting from the Haverhill Dock parking lot in Haverhill [Western End]; A short Boardwalk travels East, from below the RR Bridge (travels next to the Comeau Bridge) alongside the Merrimack River to Riverfront Park. Currently, as of 2025, a 0.2 mile Gap exists to the next section. The Boardwalk then continues East, from Elliott Pl, where you access the trail via stairs up to the top of the flood wall, alongside the Merrimack River to the Basiliere Bridge after 0.3 miles. Currently, as of 2025, a there is no link to the trail which continues on the East Side of the bridge. The paved Riverfront Trail continues East, alongside the Merrimack River to River Rest Park and out to Water St after 0.2 miles.
Further East, a short section of the paved Merrimack River Trail; Riverside Park, travels from Riverside Ave East, through Riverside Park. Future plans call for continuing the paved trail along the Merrimack River East, behind River’s Edge Plaza to the William H. Bates Veterans Memorial Bridge (Route 113). Funded 2023.
Bradford Rail Trail:
Starting from the S Elm Street parking lot in Bradford [Western End]; The paved Bradford Rail Trail travels East, above the Merrimack River. Kiosk located at the trailhead. Benches & sculptures located all along the trail. Look left to spot an old RR Mileage Marker that reads G6/B0 (Georgetown 6 miles/Bradford 0 miles). These old RR Mileage Markers were located every mile along the railroad. Pass by an old RR Switch, + See; RR Switch Below, before coming to the Basiliere Bridge (Route 125) after 0.6 miles. Kiosk located here. A spur to your right leads up to the Basiliere Bridge. The trail continues underneath the Basiliere Bridge where you'll pass by an old RR Brakeman's Warning Pole. + See; RR Brakeman's Warning Pole Below. Also, past here are the remnants of some type of concrete bins used by the RR or most likely a RR customer. Pass by a spur on your left, down to the Crescent Yacht Club & Washington Landing Park, just before the current end of the trail between S River St and Railroad St after 0.8 miles. The old rail bed ahead has been built over.
Note; Future plans will extend the trail Southeast, to connect to the Groveland Community Trail.
Groveland Community Trail:
Starting from Main Street in Groveland [Northern End]; Map Board located here.
Note; Future plans will extend the trail Northwest, to connect to the Bradford Rail Trail.
The wide, paved Groveland Community Trail travels Southeast, along the old rail bed following a power line. Slight uphill. Come to center St at 1 mile. Turn left out to Route 97, then travel right along a SEPARATED BIKE LANE to a cross-light. Trail continues along a residential corridor. Cross Ashcroft Terrace at 1.3 miles where the trail levels out. More isolated corridor. Come to King St at 2 miles and the current end of the trail. Map Board.
Note; Future plans will extend the trail Southeast, to connect to the future Georgetown Rail Trail .
Old Railroad Equipment:
+ RR
Brakeman's Warning Pole:
Prior to 1888 when Westinghouse developed a reliable air
brake, stopping a train or a rolling car was very primitive. Iron wheels,
located atop cars, were connected to a manual braking system by a long metal
rod. The brakemen, usually two to a train, would ride on top of the car. On a Whistle
signal from the engineer, the brakemen, one at the front of the train and one at
the rear of the train, would begin turning the iron wheels to engage the brakes.
The Brakeman Warning Pole consists of a rail in the shape of an upside
down L, hanging over the center of the trail. The chains hanging down
over the rail line would hit the railroad brakeman, who was on top of the train
and warn him of an upcoming bridge or tunnel.
+ RR Switch:
A RR Switch is a mechanical
installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at
a junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR BRADFORD RAIL TRAIL & GROVELAND TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR GROVELAND COMMUNITY TRAIL MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
