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 communities in New England to accomplish that goal by different means. Plans are in the works to hopefully extend the trail to fully connect through Thompson, CT, and back across the state line into Webster, and the trail is part of the route of the even more ambitious Titanic Rail Trail project, which would form over sixty miles of trail between Franklin and Palmer. For now, the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail offers just over five miles of trail on a variety of natural surfaces - biking may be difficult depending on your tires and when it rained most recently, so keep that in mind before hitting the trail.

The trail follows in the footsteps of the railroad along the tranquil Quinebaug River, traversing largely flat and wooded land on its way northwest from the Connecticut border to the town of Southridge. Keep your eye out for local wildlife along the way, as the area teems with deer and a variety of critters. An additional segment of the rail trail is open from the southern end at the state line in Dudley to Hill Street in Webster. A great place to go for a quiet walk in the woods, and a great route to get some quality mileage on your run, the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail will hopefully become an asset for the entire region as the trail continues to grow.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking is available at the trailhead in Dudley on Mill Road, just east of State Route 131. Additional parking is available along the trail in West Dudley, on W Dudley Road at the boat launch area.