For a second time on November 27th, today, i went on the bike trip with a group of my high school friends, all 16, juniors. We started in Franklin MA and had some slower bikers with us that slowed us down. We left at about 7:45 and made it to the Quaker Highway in Uxbridge at about 10:30. Me and one of the other more experienced bikers kept going but the trail was very muddy and almost unrideable. We were a good 8 miles from CT, which was our goal. We biked a total of about 33 miles, 12 short of the whole thing. The ride back only took 2.5 hours from McDonalds in Uxbridge, but it felt much shorter, and we also dropped the slower riders. This course is not easy but can be tackled with determination and grit. Our goal for the summer is to complete a full round trip, all 45 miles, in one day. The trick is to bring bikers who are the same level as you and know where to stop and how to pace yourself. We think a round trip is do-able but it will really test our strength.

Some side notes:

-The sign for SNETT off of Aldrich street in Uxbridge is in the wrong place. It's a yellow sign with a Horse Crossing sign on it. It leads up to a big electric tower. The sign should be about 20 yards down the road where the trail is.

-All truss bridges are easily avoidable.

-There is a McDonalds on the Quaker Highway

-Best weather to bike this course is on a sunny day with little wind. I am going to try to go when there has been little rain during the week and go on the weekend so that the trail is at its driest.

-McDonalds is about half-way to the turn around

Good luck to all those who give this trail a shot. I wish you the best

I have just completed the entire trail from Douglas State Forest, MA to Franklin, MA on a mountain bike round-trip (42 miles). It took about 8 hours. Im glad I had lights mounted to the bike because it was very dark on the trail during my return to where I started. The trail was actually fun on the bike going over the "whoopdy-doo's"(moguls) and there were only a few short sandy spots. Portions of the trail were wide enough for a two lane road where utilities are buried under trail and then there are single track sections where the branches are lightly brushing your arms and helmet as you go along. There are a couple of short paved road sections and a bit longer detour on paved roads in Bellingham when the trail ends at Route 122. I picked up again on trail behind a church. The trail at this section goes over a bridge that has no surface deck( I did cross the bridge very carefully but would not suggest anyone to do this) If you follow the ATV tracks it will lead you to detours which use a 'real' train track bridge - ah, this brings me to the point where I was almost run over by a speeding train!! There is another bridge on this trail which has no surface deck and it is impossible to cross so I followed the ATV track down a very steep descent to a 'live' train track where I proceded to cross the bridge when a train going about 80mph came around the corner, I had to run off the bridge. The conductor laid on his/her horn. Where the trail meets Route 146 you will again follow ATV tracks(this time no trains) and go under the highway on paved road. The ATV tracks take you right along the side of highway briefly where it then joins the original track line. I am from Rhode Island where all rails-to-trails are paved and greatly appreciated this trail in it's natural setting. I have continued on the trail into Connecticut up to Putnam. There is some beautiful scenery/wildlife and I plan on continuing the trail to Williamantic, CT. Some helpful advice:Google Earth maps were a big help on the paved detour sections, use extreme caution when on 'live' train bridges-the trains travel at high speeds here.

I've hiked the SNTLT from where it is abruptly cut off by route 146 in south Uxbridge at Ironstone Village, through the Douglas Forest, to the Connecticut state line. I've actually gone all the way to Putnam, CT where The Line goes under Interstate 395 for a second time. In Connecticut it is called Airline State Park. Along the way I came across an old abandoned wooden bridge that crossed over The Line. Way cool!!

In Uxbridge near the West Street entrance to The Line there are some wonderful water features with beautiful stone tunnels for water flow. There are also a couple of overgrown roads that angle into The Line from the south, possibly routes used to get to The Line for pick up or delivery of merchandise or for maintenance, etc. In this same area I discovered an old homestead with stone boundaries, an old well and a few other things such as a 16-pound hammer head used to pound in rail spikes and an old horseshoe with the nails still in it. The stone tunnels, the roads and the homestead are a little hard to find. A hiker needs to be willing to look for signs of entry up or down hillsides and be willing to step off the beaten path bit.

There are also some nice water features in the Douglas Forest near Wallum Lake. Near here is where the Mid-State Trail that runs from the northern to the southern border of Massachusetts (and beyond) bisects The Line. I hike The Line as often as possible exploring off-the-beaten-path trails, looking for wildlife and picking up a few rail spikes and other metal pieces along the way. It is one of my favorite local things to do.