Explore the best rated trails in Athol, MA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Heritage Trail (NH) and Common Pathway . With more than 73 trails covering 635 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Visiting in lower NY area and had this on my bucket list. It was a well paved and maintained trail. Parked at railroad at in Cheshire and rode to the parking area in Pittsfield and then back and a few miles into the Adams area. All in 18 miles. Plenty of options for parking, bathroom Facilities in a few areas and many benches and picnic tables placed to stop and take a break or enjoy the views of the Lindai a or chechsire reservoir. It was well worth the trip!
Not too busy, was a little buggy but was nice and pretty smooth. We rollerbladed on it with no issues. Also very pretty scenery!
A lot of work has been done to this trail in the spring of 2024. Although most trails in this area took a hit due to bad weather, people have stepped up and cleaned and improved this trail considerably. Several washouts were repaired and the Mason section of the trail was graded and ruts were filled in. This is an easy trail with lots of things to see and explore. An old quarry with a great history is just off the main trail and worth exploring. The trail is well marked and easily assessable. There is ample parking at several spots along the trail.
A very nice paved 10 mile (one way) trip with plenty of birds & turtles. Park at Rivers Edge Parking to get started. Along the way the posted history is interesting, there are 3 large dams to check out and on this beautiful sunny day lots of wildlife. Once you get to Valley Falls area the trail ends and on-street begins. We continued on for maybe 2 miles but the signs were not consistent and the traffic was troublesome enough we turned back. Our rating only applies to the paved 10 mile section.
Smooth paved rail trail, from start to finish. Park at Walmart, for ez access. Saw some turtles, squirrels, and big fat bunny ¿. Friendly people walking, bike riding, and an elderly lady on a mobility scooter. FUN!!!
Over run with cyclists. Many very inconsiderate. They don’t ring their bell until right behind you. Should be a biking speed limit. Many older people can’t move out of the way when there are pairs of cyclists that stay side by side. Extremely inconsiderate. Not all but too many are.
I took my bike over the Canalside Rail Trail while my wife shopped at BJ's, and it was a perfect opportunity to check out this lovely short trail. For the 22nd April 2024, the weather was really good yet there were only few other walkers on the trail at the same time. I was able to park at the southern, McClelland Farm Road, end of the trail where there are only half a dozen spots, but there are many more parking spaces at the northern end.
The trail was in more than satisfactory condition and the signage was also nicely in place, not that it was really needed. I didn't have time to stop in at the Discovery Centre Museum but I did return to BJ's in plenty of time to pay for my wife's shopping that day. I had a lovely time so much so that I plan to take my wife on the same trail whenever I get my old tandem up and running.
The part between Sudbury Rd and the wildlife refuge entrance at White Pond Rd is dirt and can be impassable mud. The rest of the gap is pretty sketchy, two-lane road with no shoulder. The wildlife refuge is great too.
There’s tons of long stretches of trail that doesn’t require you to wait for pedestrians signals. And not many major intersections stops. Trail is mostly flat with a few rolling inclines and declines.
The trail has some muddy patches. Most of them are manageable, except there is one spot immediately west of the Route 62 crossing where you will sink in up to your ankle and there's really no way to get around it.
We walked along the towpath section in Uxbridge and it was lovely. My daughter is in a wheelchair and it was doable, if not perfect. Park and enter from the Visitors' Center, and watch for the rocks and roots.
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