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
















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I was involved with the development of this trail so my review is somewhat biased. The eastern half in Merrimack County (Danbury to Boscawen) is in beautiful shape (due to federal financing) with a nice stone dust surface. The western half (Grafton to Lebanon) is much more scenic but was done mostly by volunteers with some local funding so has a highly variable surface, great in areas and poor in others.
Highlights include the trail in Lebanon as it crisscrosses the Mascoma River, in Enfield where it runs several miles alongside Lake Mascoma and downtown, and all of Merrimack County thanks to its trail surface.
I dearly wanted to give it a 5-star rating but had to admit that it was a bit of a slog going through the central (and high point) towns of Grafton and Orange. Wish the state of New Hampshire would put some resources into this trail, which would truly make it a premiere destination and top-rated trail.
This trail gets better and better as you get closer to downtown Boston. It also gets more crowded. Very scenic with lots of views of the river and such, but as always in Boston, there will be detours here and there due to construction. Probably gets better the more times you ride it and get to know its quirks. Not a trail if you are looking for speedy biking due to the number of pedestrians, runners, and other folks - it is certainly well-loved by Bostonians!
Western end beyond the Galen Bridge to Waltham gets squirrelly with odd and sometimes confusing routing and signage - not recommended unless you've got all day like I did.
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.
Pretty nice, short portion of paved trail. I parked at IHOP to check it out, lots of parking. Methuen did a good job with their section, now is time for Lawrence and Salem to pave their sections to connect with Windham and Derry. With just this one section finished it is likely only locals that currently use it but it will be great when it is part of the larger network.
I have ridden the Methuen/Salem/Windham/Derry links of this former rail line and today did this section. It is flat, nicely paved with good parking options, traveling through some suburban and commercial stretches, a few wooded areas, even past a former reservoir but is mostly uninteresting. However, when the missing pieces are connected, and the embarrassingly poor Salem section is finally paved it will be great to travel all the way from the Lawrence, MA line to at least Manchester airport and then hopefully on to Lebanon some day.
Beautiful 1st ride on the Norwottuck Rail Trail. We parked at the Marshalls in Hadley (trail starts right behind the building) and road a little over 10 miles into EastHampton and back. It was a very easy ride (my 1st ride of this length) on asphalt.
Trail lacked any evidence of maintenance. Rode from Hinsdale to Winchester.
I haven't been on this trail for a few years so was disappointed to find there is still an issue with bumps from tree roots and small sink holes. I did not do the entire trail because of this. It is too bad because it is a nice trail.
Rode this trail today (7/17/26) in combination with several other adjacent trails. Smooth, well-paved, lots of rest stops, beautiful marsh lands, continued onto the Clipper City trail at the southern end in Newburyport. One of the nicest trails I've ridden.
Outstanding trail wandering through Newburyport, great mix of quiet woods and urban setting. The Trail has been completed to include the piece from the cemetery to the train station, making the entire route complete. Wonderful experience today!
Assabet is a 5 mile or so paved trail in good shape. We started at 72 Jefferson St. in Marlborough, MA where there was plenty of parking spaces and a path to the trail. The Assabet is pretty much a city/suburb experience with a few road crossings that need to be executed with care. Just recently it has been joined in Hudson by the 7 mile spanking brand new Hudson to Sudbury Trail (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail system). Then, in Sudbury the Bruce Freeman trail joins making for all sorts of possibilities for some great rides. My wife and I plan next time to park in Sudbury at the spot where the Bruce Freeman and Hudson to Sudbury connect (there's parking near) and make our riding choices from there.
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