Nashua River Rail Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nashua River Rail Trail |
|
|---|---|
The Nashua River Rail Trail at the Groton School Pond in Groton, MA
|
|
| Length | 12.5 mi (20.1 km) |
| Location | Middlesex County, Massachusetts Hillsborough County, New Hampshire |
| Designation | Massachusetts state park |
| Trailheads | Park St. and Main St., Ayer, Massachusetts (42°33′36″N 71°35′23″W / 42.560083°N 71.589646°W) Gilson Rd. at Country Side Dr., Nashua, New Hampshire (42°42′57″N 71°31′55″W / 42.715919°N 71.531963°W) |
| Use | Bicycling, inline skating, walking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing |
| Right of way | Former railroad line |
| Maintained by | Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Nashua River Rail Trail |
The Nashua River Rail Trail is a cool path that's about 12.5 miles long. It's a paved trail for many activities, found in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in Massachusetts takes care of it.
This trail follows the Nashua River for much of its way. It goes through towns like Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, and Dunstable in Massachusetts. It then crosses into New Hampshire and ends near Nashua, New Hampshire. People use this trail for walking, biking, inline skating, horseback riding, and even cross-country skiing in winter!
Contents
History of the Nashua River Rail Trail
This trail used to be a railroad line. It was part of the Boston and Maine Railroad's Hollis branch. This old rail line even followed an ancient trail used by the Nashaway Native American people.
Early Railroad Days
The railroad line first opened on July 3, 1848. It was called the Worcester & Nashua Railroad. It connected Worcester, Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. Later, in 1874, the line was made longer to reach Portland, Maine. It then became part of the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad. This connected Worcester to places in the east and even to Canada.
In 1886, the Boston and Maine Railroad took over this line. They called it the Worcester, Nashua & Portland (WN&P) Division. Between 1911 and 1912, a second track was added to the line from Worcester to Nashua.
From Trains to Trails
Passenger trains stopped running on this line in 1934. After World War II, fewer people used trains for travel. So, the line was used less and less. The very last freight train ran on it in 1982.
You can still see some old parts of the railroad today. Look closely, and you might find concrete signal bases. You might even find old railroad plates and ties buried in the sand!
The DCR bought the old Hollis Branch line in 1987. Then, between 2001 and 2002, the trail was paved. The Nashua River Rail Trail officially opened on October 25, 2002.
What You Can See and Do
The Nashua River Rail Trail is mostly flat and very pretty. It's a great place to see different kinds of wildlife.
Nature and Wildlife
As you travel along the trail, you'll pass by many natural areas. These include wetlands, ponds, woods, and swamps. You might spot cool animals like beavers, herons, and swans! It's a peaceful place to enjoy nature.
Trail Amenities and Parking
At the start of the trail in Ayer, there's a large parking lot with 60 spaces. There are also public restrooms available there. This spot is close to the Ayer commuter rail station. This means you can even take a train to get to the trail from Boston or Fitchburg.
You'll find other parking lots along the trail too. The trail crosses many roads and goes over several bridges. If you get hungry, you can stop for food in nearby Groton Center. There's also a restaurant and an ice-cream stand in Pepperell right near the trail.
Free parking is also available in Pepperell where the trail crosses Massachusetts Route 113. You can also find free parking at the Nashua trailhead in Yudicky Park.
