Reformatory Branch Trail:
Massachusetts
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Description:
The rugged and beautiful Reformatory Branch Trail meanders more than 4 miles through three natural areas: Elm Brook Conservation Area, Mary Putnam Webber Wildlife Preserve, and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. It is the perfect route for escaping the city to rediscover nature.
Westbound from the Bedford Depot Park trailhead on Railroad Avenue, you'll first reach Elm Brook Conservation Area. Its 19.3 acres of protected wetlands and floodplain offer additional biking and hiking trails through an enchanting red maple forest.
Almost immediately after leaving the conservation area, you'll see signs for Mary Putnam Webber Wildlife Preserve. This 20-acre parcel is also mostly wetland and acts as a wildlife corridor for the many species that live within the surrounding wetland and woodland habitats.
At Concord Turnpike, the trail crosses a gravel parking lot and continues across the street behind the guardrail; it's a very narrow path here, but once you descend the small hill, it opens up again to a proper rail-trail. Regrettably, the wooden bridge that carried traffic over the railroad was removed in 1967. Be careful when crossing the busy turnpike, as drivers are not given warning of the trail crossing.
You will quickly arrive at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. This massive freshwater wetland covers more than 3600 acres and stretches 12 miles along the Concord and Sudbury rivers. Birders take note: The National Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the site, offers an annotated list of the area's 220 avian species. The refuge also shelters white-tailed deer, muskrats, red fox, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, weasels, amphibians, and several nonpoisonous snake species. Bicycles are not permitted on trails within the refuge; to explore, lock your bike to one of several trailside benches and take off on foot.
Back on the main trail, you'll leave natural tranquility behind as you draw closer to Concord. For approximately the last mile of trail, you will cross several roads; the trail ends shortly after crossing Lowell Road at the Concord River. The railroad corridor continues for another 2.5 miles, passing the reformatory for which it was named, but the bridge over the river is now gone.
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Bedford Depot Park trailhead, from Interstate 95/State Route 128, take Exit 31B for State Routes 4/225 north toward Bedford. After 1.1 miles on 225, turn left on Loomis Street. Loomis Street turns into Railroad Avenue; where the road bends to the right, look for the trailhead parking lot. You may park here or in the paved parking lot at the Minuteman Bikeway trailhead back on Loomis Street.
To access the trailhead in Concord, take Interstate 495 to State Route 2 east toward Concord. In town, turn left on State Route 2A east/Elm Street, which soon becomes Main Street. Park in the lot behind the Concord Visitor Center (64 Main Street), then follow the road directly behind the visitor center to the trailhead at Lowell Street.
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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Reformormatory branch trail
By stig in May, 2011
Started out on Concord ctr. end at parking lot. There are no signs at all from keyes rd or the immediate area. We went up monument st and still did not see a sign for trail. I will start at other end next time.
Trail in the Woods
By skywalker in October, 2010
This trail turned out to be much more than I expected. I had plans to Hike Wapack trail, slept through the morning so had to cancel my plans. I was wondering where to go hiking, could not find many places as the Sun sets early these days. I wanted to try this trail for quite some time. I was in no mood to bike. Left the Bike with car and decided to walk the trail. I was a little doubtfull about the trail to startwith as it looked like the trail was unmaintained. I was totally wrong. Walking on this trail is like walking in the woods.
There are houses on one side and trees on the other. It was quite,lot of trees on either side,chirping of the birds, rough path,secluded trail -- was wonderful. There are about 3 wild life conservation areas along this trail. When I was walking back I took a detour into two of the wild life conservation areas. It was worth. There are few more trails amidst the woods.These trails look like they are really into the deep forest like areas and they are marked. Could hear many birds chirping and flying around.I could not walk all the trails but took about a couple of them.My desire to hike in the woods was satisfied as this trail did give me the feeling.
Reformatory Trail
By Fletch6 in June, 2006
Left Bedford west from Loomis St at the start of the Minuteman.
The start is about 200 yards to the west of the station and not marked. Heads off into the wood at what looks like parking area with porta pottie just before school. Nice single track with about 3 short sections of mud. The first road crossing was confusing and I did not see the path down the the next section. Look just to the right of and behind the gardrail. I did not follow to the end because of high water in the concord river by the North bridge. Thanks to two local riders for leading me thru Concord over to the Battle Trail to return.
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