BORDER to BOSTON TRAIL; NORTHERN SECTION:
BYFIELD RAIL TRAIL:
BYFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
GEORGETOWN RAIL TRAIL:
GEORGETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
BOXFORD RAIL TRAIL:
BOXFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
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Last Updated: May 29, 2025
Length: Boxford Rail Trail;
Georgetown Rail Trail;
Byfield Rail Trail;
Difficulty: Boxford Rail Trail;
Georgetown Rail Trail;
Byfield Rail Trail;
Directions:
The Border to Boston Trail is an emerging 28-mile shared use trail linking eight communities from the New Hampshire border South, to Boston’s North Shore. See; BORDER TO BOSTON TRAIL .
The Border to Boston Trail; Northern Section starts from the NH border and travels South and consists of the Eastern Marsh Trail in Salisbury and the Clipper City Rail Trail in Newburyport, which are part of the Coastal Trails Network . See; COASTAL TRAILS COALITION . A Gap exists South, along the Byfield Rail Trail in Byfield, Georgetown Rail Trail in Georgetown and Boxford Rail Trail in Boxford. These trails are mostly still undeveloped. They all follow the rail bed of the old Danvers & Georgetown RR which was chartered in 1851. In 1855 this line merged into the Newburyport RR and in 1860 it became part of the Boston & Maine RR/Newburyport Branch.
Note; From the future Georgetown Rail Trail, when complete, you'll be able to access an old Rail Spur Line that traveled Northwest, that includes the Groveland Community Trail in Groveland & Bradford Rail Trail in Bradford. Also, across the Merrimack River, you can access the Brian S. Dempsey Haverhill Riverfront Boardwalk in Haverhill.
The Border to Boston Trail; North Central Section continues South and consists of the Topsfield Linear Common in Topsfield, the Wenham Rail Trail in Wenham, the Danvers Rail Trail in Danvers & the Peabody Rail Trail in Peabody. They all follow the rail bed of the old Danvers & Georgetown RR which was chartered in 1851. In 1855 this line merged into the Newburyport RR and in 1860 it became part of the Boston & Maine RR/Newburyport Branch. Also, in Peabody, the Border to Boston Trail utilizes the Eastern Section of the Independence Greenway as it travels Southeast. Currently a Gap exists between Peabody and Salem.
Note; From the Topsfield Linear Common you can access the Grand Wenham Canal Loop Trail to the East and from the Danvers Rail Trail you can access an old Rail Spur Line that traveled Northwest, that includes the Danvers Rail Trail; Northern Extension in Danvers & Middleton Rail Trail in Middleton. Also, from the Southern End of the Peabody Rail Trail in Peabody you can access the Western Section of the Independence Greenway as it travels Northwest.
The Border to Boston Trail; South Central Section continues South and consists of the Salem Bike Path in Salem and the Marblehead Rail Trail; Salem Spur in Marblehead which travels East. Then, traveling South, the Marblehead Rail Trail; Swampscott Spur & Swampscott Rail Trail in Swampscott. The Salem Bike Path & Marblehead Rail Trail; Salem Spur follow the rail bed of the old Eastern Railroad Company Line built in 1839. The Marblehead Rail Trail; Swampscott Spur & Swampscott Rail Trail follow the rail bed of the old Eastern Railroad Company Line built in 1873. Currently a Gap exists South, in Swampscott.
The Border to Boston Trail; Southern Section continues Southwest and consists of the Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation and traveling West, the Northern Strand Community Trail .
The Border to Boston Trail is part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine South, to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.
Border to Boston Trail; Northern Section:
Boxford Rail Trail:
This section is mostly undeveloped and is currently in the design phase.
Georgetown Rail Trail:
This
section is mostly undeveloped. Construction is planned to start in 2027 and
run 2.4
miles from Georgetown Rd to Route 97. Construction is planned for
the Northern
Georgetown to the Byfield section.
Byfield Rail Trail:
This section is mostly undeveloped.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT