To start from Acorn Park Drive parking lot in Cambridge; From I-95, take exit 45 to Route 2 east to Alewife. Take the exit for Alewife Station Access Rd and take your first right onto Acorn Park Dr. Parking lot on your left. Follow the Alewife Brook Greenway 0.2 miles to the Alewife T-Station "Hub".

To start from Alewife T-Station "Hub"; From I-95, take exit 45 to Route 2 east to Alewife. Take the exit for Alewife Station Access Rd and park at the T-station's parking garage. Or take the subways Red-Line to access this station. See; MBTA for more information. For information about taking your bike on the subway. See; MBTA/BIKES . 

To start from North Point Park in Cambridge; On street parking (Fee). The Mass Central Rail Trail starts from the junction with the Charles River Bikeway. Or take the subways Green-Line to access the Science Park station, which is not far from the park. See; MBTA for more information. For information about taking your bike on the subway. See; MBTA/BIKES . 

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 River Valley Branch , Mass Central Rail Trail; Wachusett Greenway , Mass Central Rail Trail; Wayside Branch & Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont . The Norwottuck Branch includes the towns of Northampton-Hadley-Amherst. The Ware River Valley Branch includes the towns of Ware-Hardwick-New Braintree. The Wachusett Greenway includes the towns of Barre-Rutland-Holden-West Boylston-Clinton. The Wayside Branch includes the towns of  Waltham-Weston-Wayland-Sudbury-Hudson . For more information check out;  MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL .

In Northampton the Mass Central Rail Trail is a "Spoke" for 3 Trails.

• Heading East the Mass Central Rail Trail travels to Boston. 
• Heading Northwest the Mass Central Rail Trail; Williamsburg Branch travels to Williamsburg.
• Heading South the Manhan/New Haven & Northampton Canal Rail Trail will eventually travel to New Haven, CT.

  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-Belmont also known as the Fitchburg Cutoff, will eventually extend to Northampton.

• Heading East the Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont 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 junction with the Charles River Bikeway in North Point Park in Cambridge [Eastern End]; The Mass Central Rail Trail currently begins just east of Education Circle and just west of the North Bank Bridge and just south of the Lynch Family Skatepark. 

Future plans call for constructing a walkway alongside the Bascule Draw Bridge (look east) and across the river to Nashua Street Park. From there the trail will connect to North Station at TD Garden. This will be the starting point for the Mass Central Rail Trail. When the drawbridge is replaced, the bikeway will be constructed at the same time.

Note; From here, the Charles River Bikeway travels West alongside the Charles River and East up the North Bank Bridge over to Revere Park where you can connect to the Boston Harborwalk; Charlestown .

Heading Northwest along the paved Mass Central Rail Trail you travel underneath the highway ramp, past the Lynch Family Skatepark on your right and out to and across Education St. Head left to Education Circle, then right alongside the road. There are lots of BLUEbikes locations along the route. Travel underneath the Gilmore Bridge to Morgan Ave. This brings you to Cambridge Crossing Park. For more information check out; CAMBRIDGE CROSSING . Here the trail continues alongside Morgan Ave. 

Note; Paths wind through Cambridge Crossing Park along your right.

Cross N First St and look right to spot a water bottle filler before coming to Water St after 0.6 miles. Bear left where the trail follows the Somerville Community Path (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail) along the MBTA's Green Line Extension. After 0.9 miles you travel underneath a RR bridge before a bit of an uphill climb where you travel over a large rail yard & RR junction. This next section has very little shade. You'll travel back downhill, passing by the East Somerville Station at 1.4 miles. Spurs all along this section to access streets. Another small hill takes you up and across Walnut St at 2 miles. The trail now travels above the tracks below right. Cross Medford St and come to the Gilman Square Station at 2.2 miles.

Note; As of July 2023, from Gilman Square Station to School St the trail was closed for construction. You'll need to detour down Milford St, then up School St.

Cross Sycamore & Central Streets where the trail travels through a parking lot before passing by the small Somerville Junction Park. Travel underneath Lowell Ave at 2.8 miles. Here the trail no longer follows the rail line, but instead follows a flat, wide, shaded residential corridor. A jogging path also follows alongside the trail. Lots of artwork, micro-parks and gardens along this urban section. Come to a parking lot at 3.5 miles where the trail narrows a lot before crossing Grove St. Here the trail follows a double-wide sidewalk past the MBTA's Red Line Davis Station. Cross College Ave to Davis Square where there are outdoor tables, places to eat, and a Map Board. Davis Square can be very congested. Cross Holland St and a brick lined trail takes you past another Red Line Davis Station. Small park here with lots of artwork. This next section follows the paved Red Line Linear Path (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail) atop the Red Line. You'll pass by a converted old brick building on your right and a trail circle on your left as you cross into Cambridge. Travel through Trolley Square, crossing Cameron Ave and Mass Ave at 4.2 miles. The urban trail is not as wide along this section. Cross Harvey St to Russell Field. Travel around the field to an intersection at 4.7 miles. BIKE STATION and water fountain located here. 

Note; Straight will take you past the swimming pool, playgrounds and restrooms to the Russell Field Park parking lot off of Rindge Ave. 

Turn right past the Red Line Alewife Russell Field Station and travel underneath the Alewife Brook Pkwy Bridge to the rear of Alewife Station and parking garage. 

Note; Left will take you along the Fresh Pond Loop Trail .

Head right out to and across Alewife Station Access Rd. Travel left along the cantilevered boardwalk next to Yates Pond. This will bring you to the Alewife T-Station "Hub" at 5 miles. Spot the massive granite monoliths with the fish carvings. 

Note; This is the start for the Minuteman Bikeway which travels North, passing by the start of the Alewife Brook Greenway; Northern Section which heads Northeast.

Cross Alewife Station Access Rd to the start of the Fitchburg Cutoff (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail). 

Note; Heading North will bring you to the Alewife Brook Greenway; Southern Section .

Cross the old RR bridge and follow the shaded, paved trail, alongside Alewife Reservation. Quickly come to an intersection on your left. 

Note; This paved trail leads to Cambridge park Dr.

Next you'll pass by the Alewife Brook Pathway on your right. 

Note; A series of boardwalks and stone-dust trails traverse the marshes that drain off the Little River. See; Alewife Brook Greenway . 

You'll pass a Map Board and second entrance for the Alewife Brook Pathway on your right. After 5.5 miles you come alongside the Fitchburg commuter rail tracks and follow them out to Brighton St in Belmont at 5.8 miles. Here the trail currently ends as of  2023. 

Check out; BELMONT COMMUNITY PATH to see the planned route through Belmont.