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Ipswich, MA Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Ipswich?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Ipswich, 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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Name
Length
Most Popular

Assabet River Rail Trail

10.4 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Border to Boston Trail

44.1 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

20.1 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Charles River Bike Path

23.4 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Derry Rail Trail

3.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Goffstown Rail Trail

5.5 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Groveland Community Trail

3.25 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Haggetts Rail Trail

2 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Head's Pond Trail

1.75 mi

State: NH

Gravel

Independence Greenway

5.25 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Londonderry Rail Trail

4.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Mass Central Rail Trail

64 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Medfield Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Merrimack River Greenway Trail

0.33 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

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

9.2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

New Boston Rail Trail

3.9 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Accordion

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway

9.6 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone

Upper Charles Trail

13.9 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Whitney Spur Rail Trail

1.6 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Windham Rail Trail

4.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Dover Community Trail

4.2 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

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

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

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

Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail

6 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

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
	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	50 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	20.1 mi	Asphalt	75 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	17 reviews
	Derry Rail Trail 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 southern...	NH	3.6 mi	Asphalt	27 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
	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	2 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
	Head's Pond Trail The Head’s Pond Trail (formerly known as Hooksett Rail Trail) is a 1.9-mile rail-trail that visits two scenic ponds, including the eponymous Head’s Pond, in a woodsy area of Hooksett. The trail’s...	NH	1.75 mi	Gravel	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 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 and Lawrence...	NH	4.6 mi	Asphalt	18 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 64 miles between...	MA	64 mi	Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel	95 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	2 reviews
	Merrimack River Greenway Trail The Merrimack River Greenway Trail (MRGT) will stretch from Boscawen southward through Concord to Pembroke, offering scenic views of the Merrimack River, the city and the surrounding landscapes. The...	NH	0.33 mi	Asphalt	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 Closure Notice: The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway is experiencing weekday closures between Bow St. and Maple St. through Spring 2026, but the trail will remain open during weekend hours. For many...	MA	10.1 mi	Asphalt	51 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	163 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	9.2 mi	Asphalt	16 reviews
	New Boston Rail Trail The New Boston Rail Trail follows the former railroad corridor of the same name for 3.9 miles through densely wooded areas in the town of New Boston. The railroad was in operation from 1893 to 1931,...	NH	3.9 mi	Dirt	9 reviews

Accordion

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway The New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway is an 9.6-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	9.6 mi	Crushed Stone	5 reviews
Upper Charles Trail 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 historic...	MA	13.9 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	41 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	49 reviews
Dover Community Trail The Dover Community Trail snakes its way through the heart of the Garrison City—so nicknamed for the fortified log houses, or garrisons, built by 17th-century settlers—-offering a variety of trail...	NH	4.2 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt	17 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 Although the Narrow-Gauge Rail Trail traces New England’s first narrow-gauge railroad for 3 miles from Bedford toward Billerica, the mostly crushed-stone path is now plenty wide enough to accommodate...	MA	3 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt	22 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) 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, the state’s...	NH	28 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	66 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	3 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
Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail The Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail runs for 6 miles between the towns of Rochester and Farmington. The trail parallels the Cocheco River and State Route 11 through a wooded corridor. The trail is...	NH	6 mi	Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand	12 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

Charles River Bike Path

Skip the Western End

August, 2026 by trylondm

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.

Nashua River Rail Trail

Still a 5 Star Trail

August, 2026 by trylondm

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.

Upper Charles Trail

Tale of Two Trails

August, 2026 by trylondm

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.

Accordion

Methuen Rail Trail

Important future connection

August, 2026 by dh7yh9mwbz

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.

Londonderry Rail Trail

Good piece to larger network

August, 2026 by dh7yh9mwbz

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.

Mass Central Rail Trail

Hadley to EastHampton- Norwottuck Rail Trail

August, 2026 by jlwinetrout

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.

World War II Veterans Memorial Trail/Norton Rail-Trail

Fantastic trail!

August, 2026 by nrr2xdb5j4

I rode round trip from Mansfield to Norton which was 14 miles. It’s an absolutely beautiful trail, perfect for solo riders, couples, and families. Crossings are well marked and vehicles tend to stop immediately. Kids and adults might enjoy a detour to the airport in Mansfield. And ending in downtown Mansfield provides opportunity for a snack or beverage as there are several options readily available.

Nashua River Rail Trail

Nice but bumpy

July, 2026 by ellenkillam

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.

Old Eastern Marsh Trail

Beautiful experience

July, 2026 by 62lark

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.

Clipper City Rail Trail

Loop completed

July, 2026 by 62lark

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 River Rail Trail

Very nice Marlborough to Hudson ride

July, 2026 by andrix

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.

Needham Rail Trail

Quiet and well maintained

July, 2026 by jobu1138

It was a warm summer day. We were one of two cars in the almost empty trailhead parking lot. The trail was cool and mostly in the late afternoon shade. There was enough space to ride bikes next to each other or walk 3 across. The gravel is not so deep as to slow you down. We saw two deer meander through a field. A great time was had by all.

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