Explore the best rated trails in Athol, MA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail . With more than 74 trails covering 676 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.
We rode from Pittsfield to Adams and back. Very nice trail. 50% shaded. Ate lunch at AJ‘s at Adams. Nice restaurant in an old train depot. Limited parking at the beginning in Pittsfield. Start your ride at the next parking area to the north. Lots of lakes and rivers running next to the trail. Asphalt the entire length of the trail.
The trail map indicates there is parking at the crossing with Pine Hill Road, but it is not really designed as a parking area. There is room for one or two cars to pull off the road. There is a real parking lot with room for maybe a dozen cars at Sweetwater Avenue, the location of the Fawn Lake Conservation Area.
We hoped to do the entire trail by parking in the middle just south of Keene. The signage going through town was minimal and included being on the road quite a bit. The south side noted “road closed” because it’s being paved, but the road dead ended after 2 miles.
Disappointed is an understatement.
We rode the whole trail. It's smooth, scenic, and frequently bathrooms. The leaves are turning, such a beautiful trail. A must ride. It should be a Hall of Fame trail.
This trail is very peaceful and few others are using it. The trail has a lot of protruding rocks, uneven surfaces and branches on it. Best for hiking or if you are going to bike, like we did, just go slowly and enjoy the surroundings
A few too many crossings at the Leominster end, but its a fine trail. Last quarter mile or so on the Fitchburg end isnt so much a trail as it is street riding.
This rider was going Northeast from Willimantic towards Hampton NOT Southwest from Willimantic to East Hampton. Having ridden both stretches I can say his description is completely wrong about the gorgeous and open riding Southeastern route and not completely wrong but somewhat overly harsh about his route which can get iffy for stretches.
Biked end to end on a beautiful summer day. An absolutely beautiful paved trail with lots of water features to see - lakes to the south, river further north, and views of the mountains. Nice trailside pub in Adams and other eateries, including ice cream. Well-loved, with lots of walkers and skaters, as well as riders. Benches and picnic tables aplenty. One of the best trails I've had the privilege to ride. The only way it could possibly be better is if it was longer.
Correction to someone else's review: trail goes gently downhill south to north (not north to south) from Cheshire to Adams.
Yes, the comments about all the root heaves along the paved trail are true, but otherwise a very attractive ride. The TrailLink description is very accurate. Might be special in foliage season.
Biked end to end today. Best described as two very different rail trails that are joined by a squirrelly connection.
Holliston (eastern) end is beautiful stone dust surface. It can be soft in places but is a terrific, well-maintained trail with excellent historical signage (think Casey at the Bat) and an unusually attractive short tunnel. Trail is long and straight and crosses several swampy water features chock full of flowers and wildlife. Sadly, the trail ends abruptly at the Holliston border with Sherborn with a short connector to a small parking lot.
The Holliston segment changes to pavement at the Milford town line and adds another mile or so to that segment. After that, there are a number of road crossings (some major) and sidewalks to make it to the main Milford rail trail.
The Milford segment is better described as a paved bike path that spends some time on a former railroad bed. The pavement is generally excellent, with only a few root heaves. It too is very attractive and an enjoyable ride as it winds through the woods and beside a lake. After an easier-than-expected crossing of the I-495 corridor, the trail continues north for another mile or so of rail trail until ending at the Hopkinton border.
All in all, each segment gets a 5 rating, each for very different reasons. The connection between the two is less interesting and makes the end-to-end experience less desirable. But credit where credit is due: Massachusetts drivers were invariably polite and respectful of the warning lights at all flashing road crossings. I'm not sure I could say the same about drivers in my home state.
If you are a dedicated mountain biker than this would be a 5 star. Don't do this trail if you don't have a mountain bike or those fat tires. I was on a mountain bike, and my son had a regular bike. The beginning of the trail is easy and lovely. Once you connect with the trail (beautiful water views) the trail becomes mostly rock with some sand. Passed 1.8 miles the trail is impassable with our bikes. Somehow we made it out and back without falls or bike damage. I have biked other ski trails that were more compacted sand and dirt with some rock. This is not that kind of trail.
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