MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL:
WAYSIDE BRANCH
WAYLAND-WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 10, 2019
Length: Mass Central Rail Trail; 4.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Relatively flat, paved rail trail.
Directions:
To start from the Wayland Depot parking lot (Western End); From I-90, take exit 117 to Route 30 E for 1.4 miles. Turn left (north) on Route 27 for 3.4 miles. Just after crossing Route 20 the Wayland Depot parking lot will be located on your left.
To start from the Weston Depot parking lot (Eastern End); From I-95, take exit 41 to Route 20 W for 1.7 miles. Turn right on School St which turns into Church St. After 0.4 miles bear right on a side road that leads to the old Weston Depot parking lot, just before Church St travels over the trail below.
The Mass Central Rail Trail is a planned 104 mile trail from Northampton Massachusetts to Boston. It will follow the old Central Mass Branch of the Boston & Maine RR that ran between the two cities. The railroad split into two after the1938 hurricane shattered the line. The trail today exists in many unconnected sections and with differing surfaces. Starting from Northampton heading east the sections that are complete include the Mass Central Rail Trail; Norwottuck Branch, Mass Central Rail Trail: Belchertown , Mass Central Rail Trail; Ware-Hardwick-New Braintree , Mass Central Rail Trail; Barre-Clinton , Mass Central Rail Trail; Wayland-Weston & Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge . In the towns of Weston-Wayland-Sudbury-Hudson and Berlin the trail is referred to as the Wayside Rail Trail . For more information check out; MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL .
This section of the Mass Central Rail Trail is part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.
In Northampton the Mass Central Rail Trail is a "Spoke" for 3 Trails.
In Cambridge at Alewife T- Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston is a "Hub" for 5 Trails (plus interconnecting Trails).
Heading West the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge also known as the Fitchburg Cutoff, will eventually extend to Northampton.
Heading East the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge also known as the Red Line Linear Path which becomes the Somerville Community Path, will bring you to North Point Park in Cambridge, where you may connect to the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown and Charles River Bikeway .
Heading Northwest the Minuteman Bikeway brings you to Bedford, where you may connect to the Bedford Narrow Gauge Spur and Reformatory Branch Rail Trail.
Heading Northeast the Alewife Brook Greenway brings you to the Mystic River, where you may connect to the Mystic River Paths .
Heading South the Fresh Pond Bike Path brings you to Fresh Pond, where you can access the Fresh Pond Loop Trail and continue Southeast along the Watertown Branch Rail Trail to Watertown.
Starting from the Waltham/Weston town Line (Eastern End);
Note; Heading east the trail is under design, as of 2023 and will take you over I-95 to Border Rd in Waltham. Here a 2.3 mile section through Waltham is being paved in 2023. Check out; MCRT WALTHAM to see the planned route through Waltham.
Note; Belmont's section of the Mass Central Rail Trail is currently in the design phase as of 2023. Check out; BELMONT COMMUNITY PATH to see the planned route through Belmont.
The paved Mass Central Rail Trail travels west through Weston from the old RR Trestle that crosses over Stony Brook and the active RR tracks. It follows an isolated, open power line corridor. Look right to spot a solar farm and left through a gap in the trees to spot Weston Station Pond. Pass an old RR Mileage Marker on your right at 0.6 miles (located every mile along the old rail bed) then cross a high berm over Cherry Brook. You then pass by the old Weston Depot parking lot before traveling underneath Church St at 0.9 miles. The trail diverts briefly off the old rail bed to avoid flooding issues before traveling through a tunnel underneath Conant Rd. You'll pass by another old RR Mileage Marker on your right at 1.6 miles before traveling underneath Concord Rd. Pass by the Jericho Town Forest parking area on your left at 2.2 miles. At 2.8 miles look right to spot an old RR rail holder. Enter Wayland and cross Plain Rd at 3.2 miles, then look left to spot an old granite RR Whistle marker. Pass another old RR Mileage Marker on your right at 3.6 miles (N88/B16; Northampton 88 miles/Boston 16 miles) followed by an old cement RR Whistle marker on your right. Cross two more roads before passing by an old RR Freight House (old RR tracks) on your left and coming to Route 27 where a cross-light takes you over to the Wayland Depot parking lot at 4.5 miles. The old RR Depot is open. Old RR tracks still in place here. The trail continues west as stone-dust. Here you'll find an old RR switcher and just after crossing the old RR tracks on your left is the remains of an old RR Turntable. Pass another old RR Mileage Marker on your right at 4.6 miles (N87/B17). To your left is an old RR R Marker? followed by another old RR Switch. Pick up a wide cement trail as you pass by a shopping plaza before coming to Route 20 after 4.9 miles and the current end of the trail.
Note; The survey work for construction of the final mile in Wayland from Route 20 to the Sudbury town line has been completed but construction is not slated until 2027. Wayland has remaining funds to rehabilitate the bridge over the Sudbury River.
Note; The 7.5 mile Sudbury to Hudson section will begin construction after Eversource has finished construction on a new underground power line which started in 2023. Possibly by 2024/25.
3 Major
Trail Projects Are Under Construction In 2023
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CLICK HERE FOR MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR OLD MASS CENTRAL RR MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT