Mass Central Rail Trail- Boston to Northampton (MA-USA)

Coming soon... Bike across the great state of Massachusetts!

Moderate

Overview

As of 01/01/2026 - The Mass Central Rail trail is ~65% complete. There are several local organizations working hard to support this major effort to complete the remaining segments. Read more about it here: https://www.masscentralrailtrail.org/

The Mass Central Rail Trail is an evolving cross-state trail envisioned to stretch ~104 miles from Northampton to Boston along an old rail corridor. Currently over 60 miles are open, weaving through rural farmland, small towns, wetlands and suburban commons. It blends smooth paved sections with classic crushed stone rail-trail surfaces that appeal to cyclists, walkers, runners, families and even commuters. Completion is supported by local communities and land trusts aiming to unlock healthy recreation, local commerce and environmental connectivity.

Difficulty Explained

Once the route is completed, this route will be listed as Easy. For now, there are several sections that take you on quiet roads with limited shoulders which are not for the faint of heart. That being said, there are several portions of the trail that are complete and make for great rides if you are looking for nice day ride!

Notable completed sections:

Boston to Wayland- ~20 mile section taking you thru the heart of the city to surrounding towns.
Norwottuck Rail Trail- a 12 mile section from Belchertown to Northampton (And Beyond if you choose)

Cycle route 17984418 - via bikemap.net

Interactive map showing the complete route. Green marker indicates start point, red marker shows the end point.

Local Businesses

Food/Drink

Abandoned Building Brewery (Easthampton, MA): Great brewery inside a newly renovated old mill building. Also makes for a cool stop to enjoy the various small businesses. . Directly off the trail.

New City Brewery (Easthampton, MA): Great brewery inside a newly renovated old mill building. Also makes for a cool stop to enjoy the various small businesses. . Directly off the trail.

Cushmans Cafe (Amherst, MA): Awesome local cafe with a great brunch menu to fuel up on the ride. Also a mini grocery store for some essential needs. . 1 mile North of the Trail.

Hadley Scoop (Hadley, MA): Awesome ice cream spot where you can literally pet the cows where the cream comes from!!. 500 ft south of the trail.

Lodging

Suggest Local Businesses

Resources

Northampton Bicycle (Northampton): Local bike shop with a connected bar which is open for special events. Highly Recommend!. .5 mile from the trail .

Farina’s (Watertown, MA): Family owned bike and repair shop. Directly off the trail.

UMass Bike Co-Op (Amherst, MA): Super-friendly bike shop run by UMass students. Offer great community and awesome services. Also a lovely place to take a stroll as your bike is getting worked on!. .5 mile from the trail .

Frank’s Spoke’n Wheel (Sudbury, MA): Local bike shop. Directly off the trail.

Assabet River Bicycles (Hudson, MA): Bike Shop. Directly off the trail.

Green Light Bicycle Shop (Belchertown, MD): Local bike shop. Directly off the trail.

Laughing Dog Bicycles (Amherst): Local Bike Shop. .5 mile from the trail .

Notable Sites + Highlights

Esplanade(Boston, MA)- The unofficial start of the trail. Right in the center of Boston, you gotta make this a point to stop in. If you get lost, just ask someone!

Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)- Very nice campus. It's about 15 miles from the start so could be a potential resting point and spot to grab a snack.

Wachusett Reservoir (Worcester, MA)- Very large body of water that makes for some nice views. Unfortunately you can't swim in it.

Quabbin Reservoir (Belchertown, MA)- Largest body of water in MA. Very gorgeous scenery out here and nice place to get some rest and take in some views before that final push to the Pioneer Valley.

5 College Region (Pioneer Valley)- This is not a single point but a general region with a high density of universities (Amherst College, Hampshire College, UMass, Smith College, Mount Holoyoke). All are very pretty campuses that provide you the quintessential New England college feel. Amherst, Smith and UMass are directly on the trail. Hampshire and Mount Holyoke will require a detour.

Logistics

Transportation To & From

To start (Boston): Boston is obviously a major city so there are a TON of options to arrive at the starting point. Ironically, if you don't have a parking permit, a car is probably not recommended since parking in Boston is notoriously hard and expensive!
Some options include, but not limited to:
- MBTA Regional Rail - enter from multiple parts of the state. Bikes are allowed during non-rush hour times
- MBTA Subway - Bikes are allowed on some lines but only at certain non-rush hour times. These keeps changing so check the website(Red, Blue and Orange, NEVER Green)
- MBTA City Bus - This is typically easy as all city buses have a free rack in the front where you can put your bike for free
- Amtrak + Regional buses - Sooo many options here if you are coming from further away. You may need to book ahead if packing a bike and pay an extra fee.
To End (Northampton): Despite being a small town, it is surprisingly well-connected by public transit and bike-friendly.
- There is a direct Amtrak line from NYC to Northampton.
- Otherwise, for more flexibility, timings and options, your best bet is to take a PVTA local bus to Springfield, MA. From there you will be able to catch several trains + regional buses to all around the region.
From End to Start: There is no direct line from Northampton to Boston. 2 easiest options:
- Take PVTA or Amtrak to Springfield. From there take a Bus to Boston
- Bike back to UMass Amherst (~10 miles). From UMass they have occasional buses from campus to Boston. Although they do not run as frequently so plan ahead if you choose this option.

Recommended Gear

Bike Type: Hybrid, gravel, or mountain bike best for mixed surfaces. Road bikes are NOT recommended for the full route, but totally doable for the fully paved sections (Esplanade, Norwottuck Trail) if you're just looking for a quick day ride.

Safety: Given sections will be on the road, some safety gear such as lights, mirrors, and reflective visible vests are critical.

Navigation

Signage: Varies by section — urban paved pieces are marked; rural/dirt sections may lack clear wayfinding. Detours off the official route are NOT clearly signed. You can use certain pre-created apps but PLEASE use caution as they may not contain the latest updates

Resources Along the Way

Massachusetts is a densely populated state so you will never be too far from Cell Signal, Food, and Water. Pro Tip: When planning for lodging, Have a few options at different distance intervals (30, 40 and 50 miles). This way if you are feeling tired, take one of the earlier stops; but if you're feeling great push on thru to the further option.

Local Notes

Best Seasons:

Late spring–early fall for dry conditions and vibrant scenery. Fall is the best for awesome colors!
Winter offers snow activities but requires fat/touring bikes or potentially Cross-Country skis if that's your thing.

Tips

Emergency Numbers (USA): 911 (ambulance, fire, police) +1 country code.

Important Warnings

NOTE: The map provided here will likely change as sections of the trail get added!

Using GPS Apps: You can use certain pre-created routes but PLEASE use caution as they may not contain the latest updates

Trail gaps and closures: Some segments are incomplete or temporarily closed due to construction; detours often lead onto roads.

Road crossings: Several urban segments require careful road navigation.

Route Details

Distance(Miles)

105 mi

Duration

1-2 Days

Elevation(ft)

Countries

United States

Start/End Points

Boston, MA -> Northampton, MA

Route Format

Point to Point

Bike Lane Types

Bike Path

65%

Separated Bike Lane

Shared Lane

35%

External Resources

Official Trail Campaign

Mass Central Rail Trail interactive map

Mass Central Rail Trail Alliance

Terms of Use: Cycling any route featured on this website is done entirely at your own risk. Before setting out, always check current route conditions, and any public or private land closures. While riding, obey all applicable laws, rules, and land-use restrictions, and ensure you carry appropriate safety and navigation equipment. The information provided on this site including route descriptions, maps, and recommendations is intended solely as a planning and inspirational resource and should be used in conjunction with your own research, judgment, and due diligence. The accuracy, completeness, and suitability of the information, and the judgment of the author(s) cannot be guaranteed. Spokenlocal.com, its partners, affiliates, and contributors assume no responsibility or liability for personal injury, property damage, or any other incidents that may occur while riding or following any route featured on this website.

Spoke N Local