BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL:
LOWELL-CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 20, 2024
Length: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail; 19.8 miles [21.4 miles]
Connector Trail; 0.6 miles completed.
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.
Directions:
To start from the Cross Point Lot F in Lowell [Northern End];
From Route 3 Southbound, take exit 81C to Route 110. Turn left and travel underneath Route 3. Turn right into Cross Point. Follow the entrance and turn right. Park in Lot F. The trail heads through a tunnel under Route 3.
From Route 3 Northbound, take exit 81C to Route 110. Turn right on Route 110, then turn right into Cross Point. Follow the entrance and turn right. Park in Lot F. The trail heads through a tunnel under Route 3.
To start from the Chelmsford Center for the Arts parking lot in Chelmsford [Northern Section];
From I-495 Northbound, take exit 87 to Route 4 south. Just before the junction of Routes 4 & 110 turn left into the parking lot for the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. Trail parking here.
From I-495 Southbound, take exit 88 to Route 110 south. At the junction of Routes 4 & 110 turn right on Route 4, cross the trail, then turn right into the parking lot for the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. Trail parking here.
To start from the Route 27 parking lot in Acton [Central Section]; From the intersection of Routes 27 & 225 travel south on Route 27 for 0.4 miles. Turn left into the Route 27 parking lot.
To start from the Commonwealth Ave parking lot in Concord [Southern Section]; From I-495 take exit 78A to Route 2 east. Route 2 merges with Route 111 south. Come to a traffic circle after 7 miles and turn right onto Commonwealth Ave. The Commonwealth Ave parking lot will be on your right across from the MCI Concord Prison.
To start from the Union Street parking area in Sudbury [Southern End]; From I-495 take exit 63A to Route 20 east for 8.6 miles. Turn left on Union Ave and quickly come to where the Mass Central Rail Trail crosses the road. On your left is the old Sudbury Depot parking area. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail begins on the West Side of the Depot.
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is being built along the former rail bed of the New Haven Railroad Farmington & Lowell Line. It passed through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham. Currently the trail travels South from Lowell, through Chelmsford, Westford, Acton, Concord & Sudbury. Future plans call for continuing the trail South through Framingham. In Lowell, the Connector Trail currently extends the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Northeast, to the Lowell Connector tunnel. It will then continue to the Meadow Brook Center and long term, to the Concord River Greenway. See; CONCORD RIVER GREENWAY . For more information visit; BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL . The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail will also be a link in the regional 200-mile BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL .
Here are the proposed options for connecting the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Northeast, to the Concord River Greenway in Lowell.
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail:
Starting from the Lowell/Chelmsford town line at Cross Point parking lot [Northern End]:
Note; The trail continues Northeast through Lowell along the Connector Trail. Spot a yellow painted path that takes you Northeast through the parking lot. You turn right across a bridge over River Meadow Brook, the left back along a paved trail which travels between the brook and parking lot. Pass by a couple of pedestrian bridges over the brook to picnic tables. Follow a cross-walk over Industrial Ave, then left back over the brook. This returns you to the paved Connector Trail which travels alongside River Meadow Brook. You pass through a dealer lot before approaching the Lowell Connector tunnel. Here, as of June 2023, the paved trail ends and turns to trap rock through the tunnel at 0.6 miles. It then continues undeveloped Northeast to the Meadow Brook Center.
The paved Bruce Freeman Rail Trail travels through a tunnel underneath Route 3 and continues Southwest along the old rail bed. This section travels behind industrial and commercial areas along a shaded corridor. You'll pass by wooden (Mile Marker 1.8) after 0.2 miles.
Note; The Cross Point parking lot is [Mile Marker 1.6] on the maps. The [Mile Markers] are marked as starting from where the old rail bed connected to the active rail line in Lowell. These wooden [Mile Markers] are located every 0.2 miles along the Chelmsford section. [Just subtract 1.6 miles from the wooden markers to know how far you've traveled]
You travel underneath I-495 where a cross-light takes you over Golden Cove Rd. Come to Route 110 at 1.3 miles. Turn left following the sidewalk to a cross-light. Cross Route 110 and turn left where you'll pick up the paved trail again. The trail now follows an urban corridor through Chelmsford. Just up an incline on your right is the Chelmsford Center for the Arts parking lot just before the intersection of Route 4 & 110 at 1.7 miles. Turn left to a cross-light, then right back to the trail. Check out the murals along the cement retaining wall next to a Map Board, BIKE STATION and Porto-Potty before head into the woods. The trail now travels through wooded wetlands leaving the urban setting behind. Beaver Brook flows along on the left before passing below the trail at 2.1 miles. At the [4 Mile Marker] you'll spot an old granite RR Mileage Marker on your right reading 22 on one side and 4 on the other (4 miles to Lowell and 22 miles to Farmington). These old RR Mileage Markers were located every mile along the RR Line. Pass by the Bovey Woodlot (hiking trails) before crossing High St at 3.1 miles. Look left to spot an old RR Whistle Post. + See; RR Whistle Post Below. At the [5 Mile Marker] is the 21/5 old RR Mileage Marker. The trail turns South, passing by the Chelmsford Swim & Tennis Club before traveling under a power transmission line at 3.9 miles.
Note; A paved Spur Trail on your left follows the transmission line East up to Sunny Meadow Farm (community gardens) after 0.2 miles.
Cross Maple Rd at 4.2 miles. Refreshments are available at the Agway located here. Pass by Heart Pond Beach parking lot (Porto-Potty and playground) at 4.4 miles. The trail then travels along Heart Pond and past all the "camps". As the pond disappears look right to spot an old RR Rail Holders. + See; RR Rail Holders Below. Cross Greenwood Rd into Westford at 5.2 miles as you parallel Route 27. No Mileage Markers located along this section. Cross light over Griffin Rd followed by Route 27 then Routes 27 & 225 at 6.8 miles. The paved trail is now wider, with a stone-dust path for joggers and granite Mile Markers every 0.25 miles as you enter Acton at 7.1 miles. Ramp on your right leads down to the Route 27 parking lot. Map Board & Porto-Potty. Cross light over Main St where a causeway takes you through Butter & Nashoba Brook Marsh. Pass by a couple of RR Switches + See; RR Switch Below, before the trail turns off the old rail bed at 8.2 miles [9.75 Mile Marker] to bypass a lumber yard. Pass by the paved NARA Park Loop Trail on your right through NARA Park.
Note; This paved NARA Park Loop Trail travels alongside a pond, passing by a boardwalk across the pond, then up a hill and around some sports fields to a parking lot at 0.4 miles. Stay straight through the parking lot and a Service road will take you through the park and past the beach to the NARA Park parking lot. Head left back to the pond where the paved trail continues out to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Head left to complete a 1 mile Loop or right to continue along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
The trail returns to the old rail bed and follows along the park pond before coming to another spur trail on your right leading to NARA Park. At 8.6 you come to a granite post and circle. Right leads to the NARA Park parking lot. Map Board. Head left. Cross Route 27 at 8.8 miles. Come to an old Mill site at 9.3 miles. Informational sign here, along with old stone foundations. Cross a bridge over Nashoba Brook, where the brook parallels the trail. Green, steel arched bridge takes you up and over Route 2A at 9.9 miles. Old RR Whistle Post on your right. Before crossing Brook Street at 10.2 miles, Gould's Plaza parking lot, Map Board & Porto-Potty on your left . You now follow a commercial corridor on your left with marsh on your right. Places to grad refreshments along here. Just past a Dunkin Donuts on your left is the PEDAL POWER BIKE AND SKI shop. At 10.7 miles is the old 12/14 RR Mileage Marker. Pass by Ice House Pond on your right before coming to Concord Rd at 11.3 miles. Site of the old East Action RR Depot. Picnic table to your right. Look right for another old RR Whistle Post after crossing the road. Cross Wetherbee St, passing by the old 13/13 RR Mileage Marker before passing by a Map Board. Next you cross into Concord and pass by the [13.25 Mile Marker]. Mile Markers every 0.25 miles continue along the Concord section. A pedestrian bridge takes you over Routes 2 & 111 and Nashoba Brook at 12 miles. Continue through some open fields passing by another old cement RR Whistle Post on your left, followed by another on your right. Just past the [13.75 Mile Marker] come to a Spur Trail on your right that leads down to a picnic pavilion & restrooms. Here you'll find benches, informational signs and some stone-dust trails that lead to an overlook of Warners Pond. Warners Pond parking lot here as well. You then pass by the Commonwealth Ave parking lot at 12.4 miles [14 Mile Marker] Cross-walk over Commonwealth Ave. You'll pass by the MCI Concord Prison as you head into some trees. Old RR tracks along your left. Pass by an informational sign for Middlesex Junction, followed by a granite sign that explains the function of the old RR Whistle Posts, one of which is behind this sign. Old RR tracks along both sides of the trail. Cross a bridge over Nashoba Brook where the old tracks are embedded in the bridge at Concord Junction. An old RR Switch here as well. This brings you to the 56 Commonwealth Ave parking lot at 12.9 miles. Here you'll find MINUTEMAN BIKE SHARE bikes. Pass through more parking lots for the active train and come to West Concord Depot & Junction Park. Cross over the RR tracks and come to the West Concord Train Station MBTA . Trail travels around the converted Train Station to Concord Junction. Lots of information signs and benches, along with a water bottle filler. A cobblestone path then takes you to a cross-light over Commonwealth Ave and Main St. BIKE STATION & Map Board located here. Head into the woods and cross an arched steel bridge over the Assabet River at 13.2 miles [Mile Marker 14.75]. Cross Old Marlboro Rd and look right for an old cement RR Whistle Post. Just past [Mile Marker 15.25] is another old RR Whistle Post. Cross Williams Rd and spot a granite informational sign for an old RR Semaphore Switch. Travel past marshlands for Duggan Brook and across a causeway [Mile Marker 16]. Pass by a spur up to Powder Mill Rd before traveling through a tunnel under this road at 14.8 miles.
Note; As of Oct 2024, this next section is effectively complete, except for punch list items, such as signage, Maps... Not officially open and sections may be closed for construction.
This section has granite Mile Markers every 0.25 miles, street names at all crossings, benches and lots of informational signs, especially concerning old RR equipment, such as RR Whistle Posts, RR Switches... Pass by [Mile Marker 16.5] before traveling above White Pond below, along your left. You then pass by a small pond on your right as you cross the Sudbury town line. Cross North Rd at 15.8 miles. Map Board.
Note; Left, East, a paved trail will bring you to Davis Field parking lot.
Pass by an old RR Rail Holder on your left. Cross Pantry Rd at 16.3 miles, followed by Hanes Rd. Cross a bridge over Pantry Brook. Pass by a Map Board & sitting area on your right and a spur up to the Morse Road parking lot on your left, before crossing Morse Rd at 17.6 miles. Quickly pass by another old RR Rail Holder, followed by an old RR Whistle Post, before coming to a Spur Trail on your right at [Mile Marker 19.75] at 18.2 miles.
Note; Right, this Spur Trail will bring you to the Parkinson parking lot. Map Board.
You'll then travel past some old RR tracks on your right, before crossing Hudson Rd (Route 27) at 18.6 miles. Map Board. Pass by another old piece of RR equipment, followed by another old RR Whistle Post. Cross Old Lancaster Rd at 19 miles. Cross a causeway over Hop Brook, passing by [Mile Marker 21.25] before crossing Codjer Ln. After 19.8 miles, you'll come to the "Diamond". This is where the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail & Mass Central Rail Trail; Wayside Branch cross. Map Board, BIKE STATION, Union Street parking area & old Sudbury RR Station.
Note; Future construction will continue the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail South, another 1.3 miles to Framingham, where the trail will continue South, another 3.5 miles, traveling underneath I-90 to Framingham State University. Currently, as of 2024, in the design phase.
Note; The Sudbury section of the Mass Central Rail Trail; Wayside Branch is still under construction, as of Oct 2024. See; Maps Below.
3 Major
Trail Projects Are Under Construction In 2024
Old Railroad Equipment:
+
RR Whistle Post:
The Whistle Post,
was a post with a large "W" engraved or painted on it. This
meant the railroad engineers were to start sounding the trains Whistle.
The Whistle posts
were usually placed 0.25 miles
in advance of a road crossing,
bridges, tunnels and other points. Usually, there would be a post placed on both
sides of the crossing, covering both directions.
+
RR Rail Holders:
RR Rail Holders were used to store
extra railroad track alongside the train tracks. Usually made of iron or
concrete, the top is shaped like a small U to keep the tracks from
falling off. I assume these were used to keep the rails off the ground and
quickly available if needed. Couldn't find any information on them.
+ 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
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT