Topsfield Linear Common

Massachusetts

1 Reviews

The northern end of the Topsfield Linear Common is not directly accessible as it dead ends in the woods. Access the trail mid-route or from its southern end, where it has a seamless connection with the Danvers Rail Trail.

From its southern end on Topsfield Rd/MA-97 (just southeast of the Topsfield border), the Topsfield Linear Common continues north through the woods.

In about a mile from its southern end, the rail-trail connects with the Salem-Beverly Canal. Also known as the Grand Wenham Canal, this trail offers a scenic and peaceful side excursion as it heads southeast along a canal built in 1917.

Curving northwest, the rail-trail crosses the Ipswich River via a pedestrian/cyclist bridge with a boardwalk surface and sturdy railings. The Topsfield Linear Common then crosses High Street/MA-97 and runs through the center of Topsfield.

North of Washington Street, the trail transitions back to a more wooded and secluded experience, and you’ll come across hiking trails that connect to the main trail. After crossing Washington Street, you only have 2.4 miles to go. In this final leg, the width of the path narrows and the surface becomes packed dirt, so this section is better suited for bikes with wider tires. The trail's northern end is a dead end as it approaches I-95.

Note that the Topsfield Linear Common permits equestrian use, though the Danvers Rail Trail section does not.

The Topsfield Linear Common is part of the Border to Boston Trail, a developing trail network that will stretch 70 miles between the MA-NH state line and Boston. The Border to Boston Trail is itself a part of the East Coast Greenway, a connected network of trails that will stretch from Maine to Florida when complete.

Parking and Trail Access

At the southern end of the trail on Topsfield Rd/MA-97 (just south of Topsfield border), there is a gravel parking lot.

Mid-trail, there is a small gravel parking area as the trail crosses Boston Street/Newburyport Turnpike/US-1; a larger linear paved parking lot along Park Street between Summer Street and Main Street; and a paved parking lot at the small park by the Proctor City Elementary School (off Grove St, just south of Gail St).

Visit the TrailLink map for detailed directions.

Topsfield Linear a lovely ride

May 2024 suebl

We have been riding this trail for at least seven years. I am surprised to be the first reviewer. Topsfield Linear Common trail is one of the most consistently scenic trails I have ridden in eastern Massachusetts. At some point it merges with the Danvers Rail Trail so maybe most of the reviews are there. On Saturday, we parked in Topsfield Center as usual, across from St. Rose of Lima Church (that is the easiest way to find the parking lot via GPS) and decided to go north, which in the past was not at all finished and became quickly impassable. But to our surprise, work had been done on this part of the trail since we last checked, so we were able to ride the full two miles to the end in Boxford. You can't go any further because Rte. 95 is in front of you. In Topfield, it is still a narrow packed dirt trail, but the grass on both sides has been mowed. When you cross over to Boxford, the trail becomes small gravel. At the very end, for a short distance, it reverts to dirt track.

We returned to Topsfield and rode south. You pass the fairgrounds, then the Ipswich River, and The Wenham-Danvers swamp, which has a lovely .3 mile scenic scenic boardwalk through the swamp. We were probably on the Danvers trail by now. We went as far as the playground which purports to be in Wenham, and has a place to refill your water bottle as well as equipment for kids.

The part of the trail from here to the end of the Danvers trail is, to my mind, not so scenic, so I have stopped riding it.