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Cambridge, MA Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Cambridge?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Cambridge, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Length
Most Popular

Air Line State Park Trail

60.3 mi

State: CT

Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Assabet River Rail Trail

10.4 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Blackstone River Greenway

31.6 mi

State: MA, RI

Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Border to Boston Trail

44.1 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

15.7 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Charles River Bike Path

23.4 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Derry Rail Trail

3.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

East Bay Bike Path (RI)

14.3 mi

State: RI

Asphalt, Boardwalk

Goffstown Rail Trail

5.5 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Haggetts Rail Trail

2 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Independence Greenway

5.25 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Londonderry Rail Trail

4.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Mass Central Rail Trail

56.36 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Medfield Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Middleton Rail Trail

4.5 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Mine Falls Park Trails

9.7 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Minuteman Commuter Bikeway

10.1 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Nashua River Rail Trail

12.4 mi

State: MA, NH

Asphalt

Neponset River Greenway

8.2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway

8 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone

Accordion

Province Lands Bike Trail

7.6 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail

5.7 mi

State: MA

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass

South Spencer Rail Trail

1.62 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Ten Mile River Greenway

3 mi

State: RI

Asphalt

Upper Charles Trail

13.9 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Washington Secondary Bike Path

19.2 mi

State: RI

Asphalt

Whitney Spur Rail Trail

1.6 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Windham Rail Trail

4.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Burrillville Bike Path

1.2 mi

State: RI

Asphalt

Groveland Community Trail

3.25 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Marblehead Rail-Trail

3.34 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Mason Railroad Trail

6.7 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Gravel, Sand

Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail

3 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

North Central Pathway

11.2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Northern Strand Community Trail

9.9 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Reformatory Branch Trail

3.9 mi

State: MA

Dirt

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch)

18.3 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Sand

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

28 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Southern New England Trunkline Trail

21.8 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone

Squannacook River Rail Trail

3.7 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Tri-Community Greenway

10.6 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Brookline Rail Trail

4.5 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Gravel

Granite Town Rail-Trail

3 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area Trail

3.4 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Trail Image	Trail Name	States	Length	Surface	Rating
	Air Line State Park Trail The Air Line State Park Trail winds 60.3 miles from the northeast corner of Connecticut, where the state borders Massachusetts, down to East Hampton in the heart of the state. The pathway is nearly...	CT	60.3 mi	Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel	148 reviews
	Assabet River Rail Trail The Assabet River Rail Trail connects five old mill towns that owe their revitalization to present-day high-tech industries. A midpoint gap splits the 10.4-mile trail. It offers a forested escape for...	MA	10.4 mi	Asphalt	49 reviews
	Blackstone River Greenway Throughout history, the Blackstone River has been an important waterway, from its use by American Indians who fished its once-abundant salmon to its role as a major artery for the transportation of...	MA, RI	31.6 mi	Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt	98 reviews
	Border to Boston Trail The Border to Boston Trail is a developing trail network that will stretch 70 miles between the New Hampshire border and Boston—providing a continuous route for a variety of non-motorized uses...	MA	44.1 mi	Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt	48 reviews
	Bruce Freeman Rail Trail A developing rail trail, the route winds for nearly 16 miles through Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, and Concord. The rail trail is paved and is typically about 10 feet wide. About the...	MA	15.7 mi	Asphalt	71 reviews
	Charles River Bike Path The Charles River Bike Path, also referred to as the Charles River Greenway, offers a paved, 23-mile route from Boston to its western suburbs. About the Route A large section of the trail,...	MA	23.4 mi	Asphalt	14 reviews
	Derry Rail Trail Overview This exquisitely maintained 3.6-mile paved rail-trail slices through forested areas and wetlands for a wonderful experience in southern New Hampshire. About the Route Starting at the...	NH	3.6 mi	Asphalt	26 reviews
	East Bay Bike Path (RI) Offering spectacular maritime views and an abundance of coastal wildlife, the East Bay Bike Path is a 14.3-mile trail that connects historic New England waterfronts along several river mouths of the...	RI	14.3 mi	Asphalt, Boardwalk	118 reviews
	Goffstown Rail Trail The year 2017 marks 20 years since a rails-to-trails project was first mentioned in the Goffstown Master Plan, and thanks to work by the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail and support throughout the...	NH	5.5 mi	Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	16 reviews
	Haggetts Rail Trail The Haggetts Rail Trail is a short, but sweet unpaved trail located on the periphery of Haggetts Pond, the local reservoir for the nearby town of Andover. Built on part of the former line of the...	MA	2 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass	5 reviews
	Independence Greenway The 5.25-mile Independence Greenway makes for a pleasant ride, providing access to lakes, parks, and nature preserves. The paved pathway is located in the town of Peabody (pronounced by locals as...	MA	5.25 mi	Asphalt	10 reviews
	Londonderry Rail Trail Overview The Londonderry Rail Trail runs for 4.6 miles between Harvey and Rockingham Road. The smooth paved trail offers a pleasant and tranquil adventure for trail users along an old Manchester...	NH	4.6 mi	Asphalt	16 reviews
	Mass Central Rail Trail The Massachusetts Central Railroad was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938, but the 104-mile corridor is being reborn as a cross-state rail trail. The Mass Central Rail Trail runs for 36.36 miles from...	MA	56.36 mi	Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel	93 reviews
	Medfield Rail Trail Built along the former Bay Colony Railroad line, the Medfield Rail Trail stretches between Ice House Road in the Town of Medfield to the town's border with Dover. Running primarily through woods, the...	MA	1.3 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	1 reviews
	Middleton Rail Trail The Middleton Rail Trail is a trail along the former Essex Railroad. The trail stretches 4.5 miles from the North Andover border, through the town, and will eventually join the Danvers Rail...	MA	4.5 mi	Crushed Stone	3 reviews
	Mine Falls Park Trails Mine Falls Park in Nashua is a 300-acre-plus urban park with a network of approximately 9.7 miles of a variety of trail types. This forested park offers an extraordinary nature experience in the heart...	NH	9.7 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass	12 reviews
	Minuteman Commuter Bikeway For many commuters, the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway provides freedom from congested traffic in the northwest Boston suburbs. For others, the 10.1-mile paved trail between Cambridge and Bedford serves...	MA	10.1 mi	Asphalt	48 reviews
	Nashua River Rail Trail The Nashua River Rail Trail stretches from southern Nashua, New Hampshire, to downtown Ayer, Massachusetts, connecting to the towns of Pepperell and Groton. The trail is built on the former rail...	MA, NH	12.4 mi	Asphalt	159 reviews
	Neponset River Greenway The Neponset River Greenway is a south Boston jewel, utilizing the best in design and construction standards as it winds through the Neponset River valley, offering a low-stress, high-quality...	MA	8.2 mi	Asphalt	16 reviews
	New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway The New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway is an 8-mile rail-trail with a crushed-stone surface that stretches between Portsmouth and the North Hampton/Hampton border. Following a former Pan Am Railways...	NH	8 mi	Crushed Stone	3 reviews

Accordion

Province Lands Bike Trail Constructed in 1967, the Province Lands Bike Trail is the first bike trail ever built by the National Park Service. The trail, located at the northern tip of Cape Cod, features steep hills, sharp...	MA	7.6 mi	Asphalt	13 reviews
Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail The Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail runs on the corridor once occupied by the Southbridge & Blackstone line of the Providence & Worcester Railroad, transforming a corridor once designed to link rural...	MA	5.7 mi	Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass	6 reviews
South Spencer Rail Trail The South Spencer Rail Trail runs for less than 2 miles from downtown Spencer to an area south of town near Spencer State Forest. The path, which is also known as the Depot Trail, occupies a former...	MA	1.62 mi	Crushed Stone	3 reviews
Ten Mile River Greenway Ten Mile River Greenway, named for the waterway it parallels and not its length, runs 3 miles through a serene and green corridor connecting the City of East Providence and Pawtucket. The southern end...	RI	3 mi	Asphalt	10 reviews
Upper Charles Trail Overview Shaped like a checkmark, the Upper Charles Trail links Milford, Holliston and Sherborn—towns in Massachusetts’s bucolic MetroWest suburbs. Ornamented by an eight-arch stone bridge and a...	MA	13.9 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	38 reviews
Washington Secondary Bike Path Overview The Washington Secondary Bike Path offers just over 19 miles of paved trail from Cranston (Providence’s southwestern neighbor) to Coventry. About the Route The rail-trail, Rhode...	RI	19.2 mi	Asphalt	53 reviews
Whitney Spur Rail Trail The Whitney Spur Rail Trail runs from just north of the MBTA’s Cohasset Station through dense woodlands to the edge of Wompatuck State Park. The corridor was originally a spur off the Old Colony...	MA	1.6 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	5 reviews
Windham Rail Trail The Windham Rail Trail passes through the woodsy periphery of Windham in southern New Hampshire, but it sits in the heart of the future cross-state Granite State Rail Trail. The trail is 4.3 miles...	NH	4.3 mi	Asphalt	47 reviews
Burrillville Bike Path Burrillville Bike Path runs for just over a mile through its namesake rural community in northwest Rhode Island. It connects the villages of Pascoag and Harrisville through a corridor that once...	RI	1.2 mi	Asphalt	4 reviews
Groveland Community Trail Running through the town of Groveland for 3.25 miles, this multiuse path provides a variety of opportunities for both recreational and transportations as it connects residential neighborhoods,...	MA	3.25 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
Marblehead Rail-Trail The Marblehead Rail-Trail appears on maps as a Y resting on its side, connecting Marblehead and Salem in the north and the city limits of Swampscott in the west. The 3.34-mile trail knits together a...	MA	3.34 mi	Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand	23 reviews
Mason Railroad Trail The Mason Railroad Trail runs for nearly 7 miles from near the New HampshireMassachusetts border (nr. Townsend, MA) to Greenville, NH. The trail follows a heavily wooded corridor through Russell...	NH	6.7 mi	Ballast, Gravel, Sand	19 reviews
Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail Even though the Narrow-Gauge Rail Trail traces the nation’s first narrow-gauge railroad for 3 miles from Bedford toward Billerica, the mostly crushed-stone path is plenty wide enough now to...	MA	3 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt	21 reviews
North Central Pathway The North Central Pathway is envisioned as a trail network connecting points of interest through and between Winchendon and Gardner. Several completed sections of trail make for a lovely ride or walk...	MA	11.2 mi	Asphalt	26 reviews
Northern Strand Community Trail The Northern Strand Community Trail runs almost 10 miles through the cities of Everett, Malden, Revere, and the town of Saugus and provides a variety of experiences. About the Route Access the...	MA	9.9 mi	Asphalt	24 reviews
Reformatory Branch Trail The Reformatory Branch Trail connects the historical towns of Bedford and Concord along a nearly 4-mile dirt path through wildlife refuges that ends a short distance from the North Bridge, the...	MA	3.9 mi	Dirt	18 reviews
Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch) Crossing through wooded areas and featuring magnificent wetland vistas, the Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch) offers an 18.3-mile trail adventure from Epping to Windham. The northern...	NH	18.3 mi	Dirt, Sand	16 reviews
Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch) Overview The Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail brings at least two superlatives to mind: it’s one of New Hampshire’s longest rail trails at just more than 28 miles, and it runs from Manchester,...	NH	28 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	63 reviews
Southern New England Trunkline Trail The Southern New England Trunk Line Trail (aka the "SNETT") was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1994. It is built upon a segment of the former right-of-way of the New Haven Railroad's...	MA	21.8 mi	Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone	67 reviews
Squannacook River Rail Trail The Squannacook River Rail Trail is 3.7 miles long, from Depot St in the center of Townsend, MA, to the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area in Groton, MA. The trail occupies the Greenville Branch of the...	MA	3.7 mi	Crushed Stone	2 reviews
Tri-Community Greenway The Tri-Community Greenway is a 10.6-mile multiuse trail that connects Stoneham, Woburn and Winchester. Part of the route runs along a former railroad corridor. About the Route At its southern...	MA	10.6 mi	Asphalt	3 reviews
Brookline Rail Trail The Brookline Rail Trail winds through the New Hampshire woods and passes by several small bodies of water, including the Potanipo Pond. The rail-trail has two segments, known as the Brookline Rail...	NH	4.5 mi	Crushed Stone, Gravel	1 reviews
Granite Town Rail-Trail The Granite Town Rail-Trail runs for 3 miles in Milford, New Hampshire. Portions of the route are unpaved and surfaced with sand, gravel, and/or dirt, while short concrete sections can be found along...	NH	3 mi	Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	4 reviews
Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area Trail Note: This rail-trail is prone to frequent flooding and may be challenging to navigate at times. The rail trail through the Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area begins at the Massachusetts Bay...	MA	3.4 mi	Dirt, Gravel, Sand	11 reviews

Recent Trail Reviews

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

RRT Portsmouth Branch

June, 2025 by lynchdrl1951

Great trail. Bad culverts!!!

I bike rode Rockingham Rail Trail, Portsmouth branch for the first time today 6/29/25. Headed from Manchester east out 15 miles and back. Very nice trail, good base and I enjoyed the trail very much. HOWEVER, those underpass culverts 7-8 miles east of Manchester are DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS!!!!! Very low clearance, terrible visibility, and a deteriorated and uneven riding platform all contribute to a recipe for a terrible accident and injury. I am a good rider, and I crashed today. I was barely creeping along and fortunately I was not seriously Injured. Something needs to be done to make these less dangerous. I do not know who is responsible for maintaining these underpass culverts, but please consider my concerns. I would volunteer to assist in improving these hazards. Reread the description and walking bikes in these culverts was recommended and I would agree. On site signage would be a good idea also. The trail gets 5 stars the culverts get 0 stars.

Air Line State Park Trail

Beautiful seclusion

June, 2025 by robert.richter89

I rode 20.5 miles of the southern section of the Air Line Trail from East Hampton to Willimantic on a very hot day in June. This section of the Air Line Trail offers gorgeous scenery, peaceful seclusion and a tightly packed gravel surface that is in very good condition throughout. Despite the heat the trail is very shaded which provided much needed relief from the sun. There are a fair amount of road crossings, most are very small, quiet roads and all of the busier roads have warning lights that can be activated to let motorists know you are crossing.

The only two small complaints I have is there is a lack of signage along the trail. There is one very short on road section that I almost missed getting back on the trail due to there being no signage, I just rightly assumed the small unmarked path on the road was the way to get back on the trail. The gates at the road crossings are on the narrow side which can make navigating through the road crossings difficult. I feel these two issues do not at all detract from what this section of the Air Line Trail has to offer.

Assabet River Rail Trail

Great but discontinuous

June, 2025 by yw8km5gp4n

The Assabet River Rail Trail is varied and enjoyable. The tricky thing about it is that it exists as two disconnected sections, separated by 2 miles of fairly busy road that's only suitable for confident road warriors. And that's a shame because both sections are marvelous and have much to recommend them.

The northern section runs from South Acton, through Maynard, and barely into Stow. It passes right through downtown Maynard, where you can find some decent food options and a bike shop. Proceeding south, it turns into a wide, hard-packed dirt road, and then finally ends as a slightly rougher dirt path. You can also easily access the Assabet River Wildlife Refuge from here, which has miles of wonderful off-road bike paths.

The southern section starts in Hudson and passes through the eastern end of its downtown, where there are more services and some worthwhile shops, including a bike shop. As of 2025, this part also connects to a new 8-mile eastbound section of the Mass Central Rail Trail. But if you continue on the Assabet River Rail Trail, you'll climb up into Marlborough -- it's pretty consistently uphill as you head south, but it's good exercise and has at least one excellent view. The trail more or less ends in the center of Marlborough, near the library, and where there are a few more spots you can grab a bite or get a drink.

So although this one isn't a straight shot, it's easily the most pleasant way to tour these towns and see what they have to offer. I hope finish it some day, and make it a single continuous Acton-to-Marlborough trail it's meant to be.

Accordion

Nashua River Rail Trail

Awesome exercise route

June, 2025 by yw8km5gp4n

The Nashua River Rail Trail is terrific. It's long, smooth, well-maintained, and beautiful. Since it lies in a relatively rural part of Massachusetts, I find it to be a lower-key ride than its eastern cousin, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, but still well-used. There's less to see and do along it, but that might be exactly what you're looking for. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Top-notch in every way

June, 2025 by yw8km5gp4n

Without question, this is one of the best rails trails in Massachusetts -- maybe even New England as a whole.

The northernmost section, closest to Lowell, are clearly older -- it's fairly narrow and the way through the center of Chelmsford isn't super well thought-out. As you head south, it quickly turns into a wide, well-maintained, gorgeous trail with beautiful scenery and a serene vibe. There are places to stop for food; a couple of swimming holes; NARA Park in Acton; the fabulous bridge over Route 2; the convenient access through West Concord, and more as you proceed -- including an intersection with the future crown jewel of Massachusetts rail trails (the Mass Central Rail Trail). The BFRT is now mostly complete as of 2025, and I think the only section still waiting to be built is the southernmost section in Framingham. I love the Bruce Freeman and I bet you will too.

Derry Rail Trail

I ride my bike & walk this trail & downtown Derry is a great bike ride to Salem, 14-miles round trip and always free parking ¿

June, 2025 by n8urelvr67

I ride my bike & walk this trail & downtown Derry is a great bike ride to Salem, 14-miles round trip and always free parking ¿

World War II Veterans Memorial Trail/Norton Rail-Trail

almost complete

June, 2025 by teamfiona

Great local path. It is all paved except for a short area near the Norton line. It has gravel for about 50 feet. Flat with lots of trees. Some finishing touches needed at the crossing but they have lights set up for safety. It’s about 13 round trip. Used by walkers, runners, bikers. Great place to teach kids how to ride a bike. Not too crowded.

Roland Bergeron Bike Path

Nice trail, but a little bumpy

June, 2025 by 7v7p9qb8yj

This was my first time on this trail, and I really enjoyed it. The views were amazing but there was one big take away I have for next time. If you can, bring a bike with suspension. I had my road bike and REALLY felt the poor condition of the path. It was still very bike-able though.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

wonderful trail with great variety

June, 2025 by teamfiona

I parked at NARA park and biked to Chelmsford. Today parked in same place and biked to west concord. Path is in great shape. Lots of trees, waterways, bridges, towns. Got to “the end” to discover that it actually goes several more miles which I’ll save for another day. I liked the poetry booth in West Concord- very original. I highly recommend this for scenery, safety, convenience of restaurants and bathroom stops. My favorite find this year.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Trail now extends almost to Route 20 in Sudbury!

June, 2025 by suebl

Yesterday we decided to see if the trail, south of West Concord, was finally open. Last year, there was a locked gate under an overpass, and the only way to get past was to drag the bike down a hill. But, to our delight, the gate is open, and we biked all the way to Sudbury, nearly to Route 20. The new leg of the trail is glorious, beautiful scenery, well-marked, great resting spots, with blinking lights at road crossings. At the end, it connects to the Mass Central Rail Trail, itself under construction, but people were biking on it anyway through a gap in the fence. The only thing missing: portapotties!

East Bay Bike Path (RI)

Great trail to do...

May, 2025 by jcenh

We just got back from doing this trail yesterday.
We started at the north end at the Fort Hill Parking area.
There were plenty of spots to park when we arrived.

Being a very nice day, there were LOTS of people out enjoying the trail.
We only went as far as Police Cove Park where the trail was closed.
There was a detour route that continued but we decided that was enough for the day and headed back.

We did take the side trail out to the carousel, which we knew would be closed from checking on the web.

We were a little surprised that a trail so nice didn't have ANY restroom facilities. It wasn't easy to go into the woods between lots of poison ivy and people on the trail.

We'll go back and go from south to north and enjoy the rest of the trail

East Bay Bike Path (RI)

Update to my 2024 review

May, 2025 by andrix

Just rode this trail today 5/27/25. My previous 5* review (2024) still stands with two additional comments. 1. There are virtually no port-a-potties on the trail. However, right near the southern end in Bristol there are some nice benches and just across Thames St is a very nice town facility. 2. The north end parking (India Point) is very busy and biking the first mile getting to the East Bay Path is involved with some unpleasant street portions. Use GPS to locate the parking at 66 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, East Providence. A much better option - in my opinion.

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