Explore the best rated trails in Belchertown, MA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Mattabassett Trolley Trail and Upper Charles Trail. With more than 66 trails covering 564 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.
As for rail trails go, this one the cream of the crop. It is very flat and paved. People with narrow tire road bikes will do just fine. I believe it is a mile or so longer then what they say it is.
An odd thing about this trail. When you pull into the parking area on the Nashua end, there is no clear signage that it is the Nashua River Trail. Heading out of the parking lot, on the trail, I noticed the back of the signs marking it as the Nashua Rail Trail . It seems the signage should be on the other side of the trail with the writing of the sign being in front of you.
I just rode this trail, again. I pleasantly surprise that the trail has been extended about 3/4 mile and now goes up to motor vehicle office in Winsted.
We started in Douglas, MA, at the parking lot on Rt 12/South St and road westward. The SNETT connects to the Airline trail in E Thompson. We finished at a parking lot on Rt 12/Riverside Rd in Thompson, CT, just south of Acme pond. Round trip was 22.5 miles.
The trail in MA is a mix of conditions and needs some grooming. Still some shallow puddles and wet spots, but all rideable. I recommend a gravel bike or mountain bike, something with at least 45mm tires (my bike). My wife road a hard tail mountain bike with 2.20in tires and had no problems. A front shock is a plus, as the trail had occasional rocky stretches, and a shock will help in those parts.
The trail in CT is in good shape, groomed, and smooth. A mountain bike is not needed on this stretch of the trail, but a bike with 30mm tires or less would not be a good idea for the average rider.
Nice cool day to ride from the Chaplin area up to Putnam. Beautiful country with few other folks. 16 miles each way. Trail was in good shape with just a few wet areas. Some nice newer bridges and tunnel for bigger road crossings. A few areas with larger gravel. Easy to go from trial into Putnam for food. Also a nice bike shop in Putnam.
Beautiful trail except for the person that doesn’t clean up from horse riding on the trail.
It’s a beautiful trail. BUT, please beware of the yellow post they have installed at all the road crossings to keep motor vehicles off the trail. As I was crossing the road at one of the crossings, as I came back onto the trail my handlebar caught the post and sandwiched me in my bike and the bike and I went down hard. I ended up fracturing my back. So please be careful on this trail through Southwick.
The pavement is decent, but there’s no marked center line. Biggest complaint is that the trail primarily goes downhill as you go east, and primarily uphill as you go west, so you’re going to hate one direction or the other. Decent views. Poor road-to-trail transitions with broken up pavement and sand which is a nightmare for in-line skates. Much prefer the Cochituate rail trail
I do my run here a few times a month, It is so beautiful I really like it. It is so green and right next to the CT River the air is so clean. It's good for a long run where you can get up to 10 miles and it's a well maintained trail.
Love this rail trail !! Nice easy path , street crossings are easy to get thru. Great job by both cities.
If you ride longboard or inline skate. Get ready for terrible ground. if you start from Bolton State Park.. After 6.5 miles of riding... The ground is so mess up. There is so many cracks on the ground. Just be careful. Beside that, this trails has best downhill and cool turns.
Rode (7/22) from Winchendon to Baldwinville, and then (skipping the part bisected by Rt. 2) from from Rt. 101 in Templeton to Route 122 in Smithville on the Barre/Oakham line. Lots of wet and rutty sections north of Balwinville but still fun (some walking with 1.5" tires). Some sandy section in the southern piece but still fun. It's slow going of course. Didn't pass a single extra person. Good roadside fried food at Lee's in Baldwinville (it's been there for at least 70 years!)
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
