LAWRENCE HERITAGE STATE
PARK; CANALWALK:
MERRIMACK RIVER TRAIL;
PEMBERTON PARK RIVERWALK:
MERRIMACK RIVER TRAIL;
LAWRENCE RIVERFRONT STATE PARK:
SPICKET RIVER GREENWAY:
LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last
Updated: October 10, 2023
Length:
Northern Canalwalk/Lawrence Riverfront SP Loop Trail/Pemberton Park Riverwalk/Ellen
Swallow Richards Park Trail Combined
Loop; 5.6
mile Loop
Lawrence Riverfront State Park Loop; 0.8 mile Loop
Spicket River Greenway; 2.6 miles
Difficulty:
Combined
Loop; Easy. Mostly flat paved, stone-dust
trail w/some on-road sections.
Lawrence Riverfront State Park Loop;
Easy. Flat paved trail.
Spicket River Greenway;
Easy. Mostly flat paved trail or sidewalk.
Directions:
Lawrence Heritage State Park; Canalwalk:
To Start from the Lawrence Heritage
SP Visitor Center; From I-495 take exit 44 to Merrimack St and
travel right. Turn right on S Union St and cross over the Merrimack River. Turn
left on Canal St, then right on Mill St. The parking lot is on the left.
To start from Lawrence Riverfront State
Park; From I-495 take exit
44 to Merrimack St and travel right. Turn left on S Broadway St then right on
Shattuck St. Take another right on Rowe St and you'll come to the Park straight
ahead.
Spicket River
Greenway:
To start from Manchester
Street Park [Northwestern End]; From I-93 take exit 43 to Route 110 east. Bear left on
Woodland St and follow to a traffic circle. Follow around to Manchester St, traveling
underneath the old RR bridge and take your first left into the Park.
Note; There are no Park entrance signs.
The Lawrence Heritage State Park opened
to the public in 1986. Starting with the Visitor Center in an original mill
worker boardinghouse, the Park has grown to include Visitor Center Park,
the Northern Canalwalk, Pemberton Park, Riverfront State Park
and the Bashara Boathouse. The
Merrimack River Trail; Pemberton Park Riverwalk and
Merrimack River Trail; Riverfront State Park
are also part of the regional Merrimack
River Trail , a planned Greenway
along the Merrimack River through Massachusetts. It will also include the
future
Merrimack River Trail; Merrimack Riverwalk. For more
information visit; LAWRENCE
HERITAGE SP .
I've mapped out a Loop Route
that begins from the Visitor
Center and follows the Northern
Canalwalk West
(along the Northern Side of
the North Canal)
before turning South,
crossing the Merrimack
River where it will connect to the future
Merrimack River Trail; Merrimack Riverwalk.
From here you can connect on-road
to the Lawrence Riverfront
State Park Loop Trail. Looping back, you travel East
through the Pemberton Park Riverwalk, then back along the Northern Canalwalk
(along the Southern Side of
the North Canal).
You then head South
again, Looping around the Ellen
Swallow Richards Park Trail. Finally you
return West
(along the Northern Side of
the North Canal)
back to the Visitor
Center. You may also access the Spicket River
Greenway from the Eastern End of
the Northern
Canalwalk.
The Spicket River Greenway is an urban
trail connecting various parks and trails along the Spicket River. It
consists of paved off road paths, as well as, utilizing sidewalks through
Lawrence. It connects to the Methuen Rail
Trail at its Northwestern
End and the Lawrence
Heritage SP; Canalwalk at its Southeastern
End. A wide White Stripe
guides you along the myriad of twists and turns through urban Lawrence. For more
information visit; SPICKET
RIVER GREENWAY .
Lawrence
Heritage SP; Canalwalk:
Starting from the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor
Center;
After checking out the Visitor Center head out to Canal St and turn right. The Northern
Canalwalk travels West alongside the North Canal utilizing sidewalk and bricked
paths. You may also ride on-road (low volume street). Informational sign boards
are located along the canal. Brick mill buildings line the opposite side of
the canal. Use the cross-light when you reach Amesbury St and continue along the
canal. Come to the junction of Broadway, Canal & Water
Streets at 0.6 miles.
Note; Future
construction in Fall 2024 will construct a trail North from here along the old Manchester & Lawrence RR bed that
crosses Water St straight ahead. The future Lawrence
Rail Trail would then connect to the existing Methuen
Rail Trail, in Methuen, Ma. Both of these trails utilize the rail bed
of the old Manchester & Lawrence RR which continues into NH through
the towns of Salem, Windham, Derry, Londonderry and South Manchester. Trails
have been constructed along this rail bed in all of these towns, however, as
of 2023 gaps still exist. See; Manchester
& Lawrence Rail Trail for more information.
Turn left (South) along Broadway and cross over the North Canal. Check out the old RR
Bridges crossing both sides of the canal.
Continue across O'Leary Bridge over the Merrimack River (Great
Stone Dam on your right) alongside another
old RR trestle from the former Manchester and
Lawrence Branch of the Boston and Maine
Railroad.
Note; Future plans call for constructing
the 1.3
mile
Merrimack River Trail; Merrimack Riverwalk along the
Southern Side of the Merrimack River
along your left. See; LAWRENCE
RIVERWALK & MAP
.
Next you'll cross over the South Canal
before reaching Broadway & Merrimack
Streets at 0.9 miles.
Note; A BIKE
LANE follows Merrimack St East for 1
mile. Only eastbound, not westbound.
Note; To check out
the Lawrence Riverfront SP Loop; From Broadway & Merrimack
Streets; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Continue
along Broadway St and turn right on Shattuck St.
This is on-road with a sidewalk available. Turn right along Rowe St after the
sharp curve and follow to Lawrence Riverfront SP
Loop at 0.4 miles. Continue straight into the park past the playground to your left
and turn right along the paved trail. This will take you Southwest
alongside the Merrimack River. Well shaded. Pass by an intersection at
0.7 miles and continue straight.
This will bring you to the Bashara Boathouse. Return back along the trail
to the intersection and head right up a slight hill through the Park. Side
trails along your left lead to overlooks. Travel past the tennis courts and
playground and exit the Park at 1.2 miles
after a 0.8 mile Loop. Return to Broadway & Merrimack
Streets after 1.6 miles and Broadway, Canal & Water
Streets after 1.9 miles.
[2.8 miles Total].
Continuing from Broadway, Canal & Water
Streets; [Continuing Mileage 0.6
miles] Turn left (South) along Broadway and cross over the North Canal.
Turn left between two brick buildings down N Canal St.
This will bring you to the Pemberton Park Riverwalk.
Follow the paved trail right where it brings you down along the Merrimack
River. The trail now heads Northeast along the
Northern Side of the river before encountering Casey Bridge and
turning left. Travel up to the Pemberton Park parking lot, then right
past the parking lot to a tunnel underneath
Amesbury St on your right at 1.1 miles. Travel right through the tunnel and
continue straight to a large parking lot. Head left through the mill parking
lot, past the large brick chimney, then right alongside the North Canal
to the Pacific Mills Bridge in front of the brick Lower
Pacific Mills building. Here the paved Northern Canalwalk
takes you East alongside
the North Canal to the Washington
Mills Bridge (270 Canal St) in front of the brick Washington Mills.
Continue alongside
the North Canal via a grass path to a
2nd Washington Mills Bridge (250 Canal St). The grass path ahead
is blocked so you'll need to head left across the bridge to Canal & Mill
Streets at 1.5 miles.
Note; You can return to the Lawrence Heritage
SP Visitor Center by continuing
straight up Mill St [4.3 miles Total].
Continue right, East, on-road
along Canal St, next to the North Canal.
Pass by the old North Canal Bridge before coming to a restored
RR bridge over the canal.
Note; Check out this restored bridge that
crosses North Canal to the old Pemberton
Mill building. Check old the clock tower past this mill building. However no
trail on this side.
Continue along Canal St to the Union
Crossing Bridge and turn right across the canal. Old Lawrence
Duck Company mill building (now Duck Mill at Union Crossing building)
here. Head left, East, on-road
(low traffic) along Island St, passing by the Essex Art Center and Union
Crossing parking lot on your right before coming to another *Canal
Bridge on your left. Just past the *Canal
Bridge turn right past the parking lot and continue straight to
the Union Crossing Playground next to the Merrimack
River. Here you'll pick up the stone-dust Ellen
Swallow Richards Park Trail at 2
miles. This trail travels East
along the Northern Side of the
Merrimack
River. Come to an intersection.
Note; Right takes you down to where the Spicket River
enters the Merrimack
River.
Travel left, North,
bearing right above the Spicket River
on your right to a pavilion. Here you’ll find an overlook of
a dam where the North Canal drains into the Spicket River.
Next, the trail continues West, alongside the
North Canal returning you back to the
*Canal
Bridge at 2.4 miles.
Note; If you cross the bridge to Canal St and
head right along the narrow sidewalk up Canal St it
will split. Right will bring you to a small Park overlooking the Spicket
River and North Canal after 0.2 miles.
Note; You can access the Spicket
River Greenway by crossing the bridge to Canal St, then crossing
Canal St to the Everett Mills parking lot. Head right through the
parking lot where you'll pick
up the paved Spicket River Greenway straight
ahead after 0.1 miles.
Continue straight, West,
back along Island St to the Union Crossing Bridge.
Cross back over the canal to Canal St and head left on-road
back to Mill St. Turn right returning to the Lawrence Heritage
SP Visitor Center after 2.8
miles [5.6 miles
Total].
Spicket River Greenway:
Starting from
Manchester Street Park
[Northwestern End]; From the parking lot travel past
the community garden and playground along the paved trail to a promenade that
overlooks the Spicket River with the old Arlington Mills
across the river.
Note; Heading straight, North,
the paved trail quickly comes to an intersection. Here a spur on your left
brings you up to the Methuen Rail
Trail. Continuing straight you cross an old RR bridge over the Spicket River to
the Polartec parking lot after 0.1 miles.
Heading right, East, the paved Spicket River Greenway follows
a wide white stripe alongside the Spicket River. A granite post marks the trailhead.
Travel between the refurbished old brick Mill buildings, across an old iron
bridge by a dam and out to Broadway at 0.3 miles. A cross-walk takes you over to
a sidewalk where you head right, South, through a commercial district.
Note; If biking I would suggest riding on-road
along Broadway and then crossing over at Daisy St. The sidewalk is narrow and
not a good fit for bikes.
Turn left at Daisy St where the trail continues East
along a
sidewalk (Bikes on-road). Pick up the paved trail as you
enter William
Kennedy Community Park. The trail travels around the park and alongside the river. Informational signs
located along the trail. Pass by a promenade overlooking the river before
crossing Hampshire St and continuing alongside the river. Turn left when you
reach Bennington St, cross the river and turn right next to Erving Ave. The paved
trail continues along the river, past Hayden Schofield Playstead and up a
short boardwalk to Lawrence St. Turn right and cross the river, then left to
pick up the paved trail as it travels through a Greenway alongside the river.
Cross Short St and continue along the Greenway where the trail splits.
Note;
If you bear right out to Chestnut & Short Streets you can
cross over to access O’Neil Park (sports
fields & courts).
Continuing straight you’ll pass by an
outdoor amphitheater
before reaching Jackson St. [This next section utilizes sidewalks, so if biking,
it's mainly on-road]. The trail follows a sidewalk left
along Jackson St, then right along Avon St. Cross E Haverhill St where the trail
continues right to Brook St. Head left. Here you’ll find a promenade overlooking the Spicket
River on your left. You soon pick up the paved trail as you
enter Dr Nina Scarito Park at 1.8 miles. Again the trail skirts the park
alongside the river now traveling South, passing by a playground, pavilion and community garden
before rejoining Brook St. Follow the sidewalk left (Bike
on-road) up to Union
St and continue left. Take your second left down Summer St where you'll pick up
the paved trail. Cross Allen St and travel through Misserville Park. Basketball courts and
Skateboard Park. Exit back onto Allen St and head left out to General St. Turn
left along General St, crossing over the river. Cross General St when you come
to the entrance to Lawrence General Hospital. This will bring you to a
paved trail that travels past a parking lot, over the river, through a Greenway
and out to the Everett Mills parking lot next to Canal St at 2.6 miles.
Note;
If you continue straight through the parking lot, then left out to Canal St you'll spot
the *Canal
Bridge across Canal St.
From here you can check out the Lawrence
Heritage SP; Canalwalk
. See Above.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR
MERRIMACK RIVER TRAIL MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR SPICKET RIVER GREENWAY MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER
OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
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