The Topsfield Linear Common Trail follows an abandoned rail bed, running from Washington Street in Topsfield southeast to just north of State Route 97. As of late 2011, the trail was newly surfaced with hard-packed gravel and stone dust. The trail begins in urban Topsfield then meanders across Route 1, over the Ipswich River and through a wetland swamp area.
Officially, the Topsfield Linear Common Trail ends about 2,000 feet north of Route 97 at the Topsfield–Wenham town line. Here the Wenham Rail Trail begins, passing through Great Wenham Swamp. Expect to see plenty of wildlife, particularly marshland bird species, as well as wildflowers and wetland plants. The trail also passes by a corner of Danvers' Swampwalk—a conservation area with boardwalk trail—and the former Choate Farm on its way to meet the
Danvers Rail-Trail at Topsfield Road.
The abandoned rail lines were once the Eastern Route Main Line from Salisbury to Newburyport and the Newburyport Branch Line to Danvers. Both the Topsfield Linear Common and Wenham Rail Trail are part of a larger network of trails called the Border to Boston Trail, which itself is part of the East Coast Greenway.
Parking is available at the following: Proctor School off Grove Street by the tennis courts; at Park Street near Main; at the Village Shopping Center off Main Street; at the Rt. 1 crossing.
The trail is great for walking, biking and cross country skiing from the Rte 97 entrance all the way to Danvers Agway for a round trip distance around 6.5 miles. The wooden nature bridges over the Ipswich River are now complete and the views are awesome. ...
I did this nice little trail on a trip to New England. I did it on my Road Bike and because of the great surface I had a great ride. There is a very nice light at Topsfield Rd that lets Drivers coming down this road know that there are people about to ...
A compacted stone dust surface was completed in the 4th quarter of 2011 from Washington St. Topsfield through the Wenham section to the Danvers town line where a rougher stone surface continues on through to Peabody. Danvers expects to install a compacted ...