NORTH CENTRAL PATHWAY:
GARDNER-WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 12, 2026
Length: North Central Pathway; Northern Section; 7 miles
North Central Pathway; Southern Section; 2.3 miles
Mount Wachusett Community College Spur; 1.9 miles
Difficulty: North Central Pathway; Northern Section; Easy. Paved, relatively flat rail trail.
North Central Pathway; Southern Section; Moderate. Partially developed, flat rail trail. Consists of different surfaces. Crushed gravel, hard packed dirt & gravel, some rough gravel sections.
Mount Wachusett Community College Spur; Easy. Paved, flat trail.
Directions: Take exit 90 off of Route 2 to Route 140 north.
To start from the Park Street parking lot in Gardner [Southern Section; West Side]; Travel 2.7 miles and turn left on Route 101. Travel 2 miles, continue straight on Park St. Parking lot will be on your right.
To start from the Green Street parking lot in Gardner [Southern Section; East Side]; Travel 4.6 miles and turn left on Green St. After 1 mile parking lot is on your right.
To start from the Route 140 parking lot in Gardner [Northern Section; Southern End]; Travel 5 miles and turn right into the small parking area.
To start from the Old Gardner Road parking lot in Winchendon [Northern Section; Central]; Travel 5 miles and turn right on Old Gardner Rd. Parking lot is on your left, trailhead is across the road.
To start from the Clark Memorial YMCA parking lot in Winchendon [Northern Section; Northern End]; Take Route 140 north to Route 12 (Spring St) and continue straight. Pass by the Spring Street parking lot on your right just before Glenallen Street on your right where you'll find a 2nd parking lot. Continue along Route 12, cross a pond and turn right on Beech St. Follow to Summer St and travel right around the Clark Memorial YMCA to the trail head straight ahead. Parking on your left.
To start from the Railroad Street parking area in Winchendon [Northern Section; Northern End]; Take Route 140 north to Route 12 (Spring St) and continue straight for 2.3 miles to Central St. Head right for 0.4 miles and turn left on Railroad St. Parking along your right.
The North Central Pathway links the historic downtowns of Gardner & Winchendon. Route 140 is the dividing line between the Northern & Southern Sections. The paved, Northern Section, which is mostly complete, travels South from Winchendon to Route 140 in Gardner and follows sections of two old rail beds. The Southern Section continues from Route 140 South, along the old rail bed, along the Western Side of Crystal Lake to Gardner. From Gardner, the paved Mount Wachusett Community College Spur travels North, along the Eastern Side of Crystal Lake, to Green St. It then continues North, past Mt Wachusett Community College.
In Winchendon three RR lines met where the Millers River flowed out of Whitney Pond into Tannery Pond. The former Baldwinville & Winchendon RR and B&M RR Worcester & Hillsboro Branch continued North, into NH, while the former Ware River RR traveled Southwest.
North Central Pathway; Northern Section:
Starting from the Railroad Street parking area in Winchendon [Northern End]; Crosswalk over Central St to the trailhead.
Note; The trail has been extended North, to Jackson St, however, I'm not sure how you access it from Central St as I have not checked it out yet.
Note; Past Jackson St, the old rail bed continued North, 1.5 miles into NH, however it has not been developed.
Note; Here, you can access the Central Street BIKE LANE, which travels from Front St North, 0.5 miles through downtown Winchendon to Maple St. Places to eat and get refreshments.
The paved North Central Pathway travels Southeast, past a ball field, quickly bringing you to an intersection.
Note; Right, a paved spur trail takes you South, to Summer St and the Wendell P. Clark Memorial YMCA parking lot on your right and the old Goodspeed Machine Company building on your left.
Cross an old RR bridge. This was a double line, thus, a second old RR bridge is along your right. This brings you to an overlook on your right of Tannery Pond, part of Millers River. To your left is Whitney Pond. The old Ware River RR merged here from the West. The North Central Pathway continues straight, East along the former RR beds, however you quickly leave the old rail bed as the trail follows the shoreline along Whitney Pond. Lots of benches overlooking the pond. The trail then bears right rejoining the old rail beds and crossing a short causeway. Pass by the Glenallen Street parking lot, where you'll find a Map Board at 0.9 miles, before crossing Glenallen St and a 2nd parking lot. Picnic tables and a bike sculpture here. Past here you'll follow the former B&M RR Worcester & Hillsboro Branch rail bed just below Route 12. Left, spot the old Baldwinville & Winchendon RR bed below. At 1.4 miles the trail bears left across a road. The former B&M RR Worcester & Hillsboro Branch rail bed continues right alongside Route 12. You now follow the old Baldwinville & Winchendon RR bed through the Millers River wetlands. You quickly cross the first of 3 bridges over Millers River. You follow a berm alongside the river and marsh and cross a second bridge. Finally you cross your third bridge over the river before coming to N Ashburnham Rd at 3 miles.
Note; The old Baldwinville & Winchendon RR bed continued straight.
To reach the next section requires a short 0.8 mile on-road detour. Turn right on N Ashburnham Rd (residential), then right on Route 12 (narrow shoulder) and cross back over the river. Take your first left along Old Gardner Rd (low traffic). A slight hill brings you back to the trail on your left at 3.8 miles where you'll find a Map Board. Across the road is the Old Gardner Road parking lot. This section follows the rail bed of the former B&M RR Worcester & Hillsboro Branch. Across the street you can see where the old rail bed continued. The paved trail heads into the woods crossing Teel Rd at 4 miles (last road crossing until you reach Route 140). Woodland and marsh corridor with a slight upgrade. Pass by an old granite RR Mileage Marker W32 (32 miles to Worcester) on your left at 4.5 miles. These old RR Mileage Markers were located every mile along the railroad. Travel through a tunnel underneath Commercial Dr at 4.8 miles. Pass by RR Mileage Marker W31 at 5.5 miles. Here the trail levels out before a slight down grade. You cross into Gardner at 6 miles (BIKE STATION) and follow a causeway through a marsh. After passing by RR Mileage Marker W30 at 6.5 miles you'll come to the end of the trail after 7 miles next to Route 140 where you'll find limited parking.
Note; Caution; To reach the Southern Section you'll need to cross busy Route 140. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 to build a bridge over Route 140 here.
North Central Pathway; Southern Section:
The North Central Pathway continues across Route 140. [Continuing Mileage]
Note; Caution; you'll need to cross busy Route 140. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 to build a bridge over Route 140 here.
Note; The next section is scheduled to be upgraded and paved South, to Jackson St, but as of June 2026, is still in development.
The trail starts out following a gravel road through the woods. Travel around a power sub-station, where you'll pass by RR Mileage Marker W29 at 7.5 miles. The hard packed dirt, grass & gravel trail briefly follows a causeway between Perley Brook before heading back into the woods. You follow a high berm above Perley Brook Reservoir down along your right. The trail briefly improves to a wide, crushed gravel surface, although there are short sections of large gravel where washouts occur. Pass a kiosk and cross Park Street at 8.3 miles. Parking located here. Cross the road and pass by the RR Mileage Marker W28. The trail follows a power line along your left. At 8.7 miles you'll come to a 2nd power sub-station.
Note; The old rail bed continues straight, but is inaccessible.
Here, a paved trail continues left. I have not checked out this new trail. Follow the trail as it winds East, through the woods over a slight hill, then South, along the Western Side of Crystal Lake. Come to Crystal Lake Dr at 9 miles. Travel on-road (low traffic) between the lake and Crystal Lake Cemetery. Exit the cemetery, where you'll find some picnic tables and benches overlooking the lake and you'll soon pick up the paved trail again on your left. On your right you can still spot the old RR tracks heading into the woods along the old rail bed. The trail continues alongside the lake, passing by Greenwood Memorial Pool and bringing you to the Park Street Park parking lot after 9.5 miles. Picnic tables located here.
Note; The old rail bed continues across Park St, but tracks long gone. Look to the left of Lake St and to the right of a parking lot to spot the old RR corridor.
Mount Wachusett Community College Spur:
Starting from the Park Street Park parking lot in Gardner [Southern End]; Picnic tables overlook the Southern tip of Crystal Lake. Travel East, along Park St (narrow paved trail available) and turn left down Veterans St and the entrance to the Gardner Veteran's Arena. Travel right around the rink and you'll pick up the paved Mount Wachusett Community College Spur at the back of the rink. Here the trail follows the Eastern Shore of Crystal Lake North, through the woods. Pass by the Crystal Lake Water Treatment Facility. Pass by a BIKE STATION and informational signs before coming to the Green Street parking lot after 1.1 miles. Map Board. A crosswalk over Green St brings you to a paved trail which travels North, alongside Green St. Check out the 2 huge wind turbines on your right. Pass by Mount Wachusett Community College and come to a road. Just ahead is a paved path that leads right to an intersection at 1.7 miles. Head right where a trail travels past a track and around sports courts for the college. The trail then travels North, out to Kelton St, ending after 1.9 miles.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT