TWIN CITIES RAIL TRAIL:
LEOMINSTER-FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 27, 2026
Length: Twin Cities Rail Trail; 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from Leominster [Southern End];
From Route 2 Westbound in Leominster take exit 100 to Main St and head left. This will bring you to Mill & Main Streets where the trail crosses. Head left on Main Street and immediately spot parking on your left next to the park. If you continues down Main St to Mechanic St and head left, you'll come to the Mt Pleasant parking lot on your right. Trailhead is across the street.
From Route 2 Eastbound in Leominster take exit 100 to Haws St and head left. Turn right on Mill St and follow to Main St. Head left on Main St and immediately spot parking on your left next to the park. If you continues down Main St to Mechanic St and head left, you'll come to the Mt Pleasant parking lot on your right. Trailhead is across the street.
The Twin Cities Rail Trail follows the old rail bed of the former Fitchburg & Worcester Railroad which began service in 1850, starting in Fitchburg and running through Leominster and Sterling to connect the two cities to the Worcester & Nashua Railroad and points beyond. After many consolidations and bankruptcies in the railroad industry, the corridor came under the control of CSX Corp. The trail travels from Leominster North, to Fitchburg. In Leominster you can also access the Monoosnoc Brook Walk to the South. For more information visit; TWIN CITIES RAIL TRAIL .
Starting from the Mt Pleasant parking lot in Leominster [Southern End]; The Twin Cities Rail Trail starts across Mechanic St, using a paved drive next to a yellow building. Old RR tracks still in place. Urban corridor.
Note; The old rail RR tracks are still in place heading South, but not in use. Inaccessible.
Note; You can also check out the Monoosnoc Brook Walk from here. Head left out of the parking lot along Mt Pleasant St and take an immediate right between the two brick buildings. This brings you to Manning Ave where you'll find a parking lot.
Note; This parking lot are was closed off for construction in 2026 for the Monoosnoc Brook Stabilization Project and will re-open Fall 2026.
Here you'll pick up the Monoosnoc Brook Walk, along the West Side of the brook, where a paving stone path travels South, alongside Monoosnoc Brook. Informational signs along the route. Emerge at Central St under a blue gateway sign. Crosswalk over Central St, where a stone-dust path continues South, along the West Side of the brook. Cross a pedestrian bridge and continue South, along the East Side of the brook. Trail ends at Adams St after 0.2 miles.
The Twin Cities Rail Trail follows a paved drive a short distance to Water St (part of the trail was gravel, awaiting pavement I assume, as of July 2026). Cross Water St to a Map Board and sitting area. The wide, paved trail then travels North, past the old Leominster Train Depot. Cross Summer St where you travel through Cater Park, past the Main Street parking on your left and Pine Grove Cemetery on your right. Here a double cross-light takes you over Mill St and you'll soon pass by the steel 0.5 Mile Marker on your left. Marker Markers every ).5 miles. The trail is partially shaded and has many road crossings as it's an urban trail. All road crossings are marked with the street name on metal signs. Tree identifier markers along this next section. Pass by Doyle Field (sports fields/playground) on your right, where you'll find a BIKE STATION at 0.8 miles, before crossing Priest Street (parking lot on your right). You then cross an arched bridge over a gully before traveling past Water Tower Plaza, where you'll find another BIKE STATION. Cross Hamilton St, before a 2nd bridge take you over Route 2 at 1.3 miles Look right to spot the Fitchburg Airport off in the distance. Several road crossings before Battles St, where you enter Fitchburg. Next, cross Benson Street, where you'll find a few parking spaces at 2.7 miles. Pass by an old cement RR Whistle Post on your left just past the 3.5 mile Mile Marker. + See; RR Whistle Post Below. Caution crossing Bemis Rd. Pass by a Map Board and picnic tables, before you come alongside some active RR tracks (informational signs). Then travel underneath the John T. Centrino Memorial, cable-stayed Bridge, which crosses over the RR tracks and Nashua River on your right. I believe this is where the old rail bed joined the current active RR tracks. The trail then brings you up to 4th St at 4 miles. This next section is on-road (low traffic volume). Follow the Bike Signs left to Middle St, then right to 1st St and continue right to Railroad St and Decaria Park where the trail currently ends after 4.4 miles.
Note; As of 2026, a bridge is being built that will cross the active RR tracks straight ahead. It will then turn North, across the Nashua River and connect to the MBTA Fitchburg Train Station after 4.5 miles.
If you are heading back towards Leominster, just follow Railroad St South, back to 4th St (residential).
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.
HH
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