MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL; BELCHERTOWN SECTION:

CHICKADEE TRAIL:

BELCHERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:      June 30, 2026

Length:                Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown Section; 4.3 miles.

                               Chickadee Trail; 2.3 miles

Difficulty:            Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown Section; Easy. Partially developed, flat, hard packed dirt & cinder rail trail w/the occasional rock & tree root.

                               Chickadee Trail; Moderate. Flat hard packed dirt, sand, cinder rail trail. Unimproved.

Directions:

To start from Maple Street for the Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown Section [Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 181 & 202 in Belchertown travel west, on Route 202 and come to Maple St on your right,  just before the bridge over the RR tracks. Follow Maple St down to a dirt road next to the active RR tracks. The rail trail travels through here. Isolated location.

To start from the Route 181 parking area Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown Section [Southern End]; From the junction of Routes 181 & 202 in Belchertown travel south, along Route 181 for 4.1 miles. Parking area will be on your right, where the old rail bed crossed.

To Start from the Depot Street (Route 181) parking lot for the Chickadee Trail [Southern End]; From I-90 take Exit 8 to Route 32 and turn right. Continue straight on Route 20 west and follow to the intersection with Route 181. Follow Route 181 north to Bondsville. Turn left over the river on Depot St (Route 181) and on your right will be the dirt parking lot next to the river.   

Mass Central Rail Trail; Belchertown Section:

The Mass Central Rail Trail is a planned 104 mile trail from Northampton, East, to Boston. It will follow the old Central Mass Branch of the Boston & Maine RR that ran between the two cities. The railroad split into two after the1938 hurricane shattered the line. The trail today exists in many unconnected sections and with differing surfaces. Starting from Northampton heading East, the sections that are complete include the Mass Central Rail Trail; Norwottuck Branch , Mass Central Rail Trail: Belchertown , Mass Central Rail Trail; Ware River Valley Branch , Mass Central Rail Trail; Wachusett Greenway , Mass Central Rail Trail; Wayside Branch & Mass Central Rail Trail; Boston-Cambridge-Belmont . The Norwottuck Branch includes the towns of Northampton-Hadley-Amherst. The Ware River Valley Branch includes the towns of Ware-Hardwick-New Braintree. The Wachusett Greenway includes the towns of Barre-Rutland-Holden-West Boylston-Clinton-Berlin. The Wayside Branch includes the towns of  Waltham-Weston-Wayland-Sudbury-Hudson . For more information Check Out;  MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL .

In Northampton the Mass Central Rail Trail is a "Spoke" for 3 Trails.

  In Cambridge at Alewife T- Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston is a "Hub" for 5 Trails (plus interconnecting Trails). 

Starting from the end of Maple Street [Northern End]; Straight ahead will be the active RR tracks and to your left an old drive-on scale.

Note; North, the next section has been funded and will extend the trail 1.2 miles to Austin Gaughan Memorial Field. Future construction will continue the trail Northwest, connecting into the Mass Central Rail Trail; Norwottuck Branch , in Amherst. 

Note; I have not checked out this section. To your right you'll see an opening in the brush and a trail marker where the trail travels North, another 0.4 miles to Jackson St. 

Heading South, the hard packed dirt & cinder Mass Central Rail Trail follows alongside the active RR tracks underneath Route 202. This will bring you to a RR crossing. Bear left to a dirt road and follow it South, paralleling the RR tracks. Orange arrows are posted along the trail for guidance. Cross Old Springfield Rd after 0.5 miles. Continue through the woods along the hard packed dirt & cinder rail bed alongside the RR tracks before the trail takes you down to and across North Washington St at 1.75 miles. On your left is parking for a couple of cars. Use Caution crossing the street as there is a bridge and blind curve. Head up the embankment and bear right back up to the trail. The hard packed dirt and cinder trail travels through heavy woods, along an active rail line. You pull away from the active RR and cross a short causeway through a marsh. A short berm brings you to an old RR bridge across Jabish Brook at 2.9 miles. Use Caution as the deck consists of old RR ties w/gaps between them. Next, cross a long causeway through a marsh before coming to the Route 181 parking area after 3.9 miles. 

Note; The trail continues across this busy road, which has no cross-walk. Use Caution. This section is single track and not as well maintained. I don't know how far you can ride or what the conditions are. I have not checked out this section.

Chickadee Trail:

The Chickadee Trail follows the rail bed of the old Boston & Albany RR-Athol Branch and travels North, along the Swift River. You can still see the bridge abutments where the old Central Mass Branch of the Boston & Maine RR crossed high above both the river and tracks. 

Starting from Depot Street [Southern End]; The Chickadee Trail travels North, past the gate and alongside the Swift River. Travel past some old mill building remnants and an old RR Siding bridge at 0.25 miles. At 0.5 miles you'll see the old stone bridge abutments on both sides of the river from where the old Central Mass Branch of the Boston & Maine RR crossed the river & rail bed. After passing by a small dam on the river the trail enters a small rock cut, which, after heavy rains becomes a mud hole. The trail improves after the cut, although some obvious ATV use has left some rutting. The trail then ends after 2.3 miles at the Cold Spring Road parking lot.  

HH

CLICK HERE FOR BELCHERTOWN LAND TRUST MAP

CLICK HERE FOR MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL MAP

CLICK HERE FOR OLD MASS CENTRAL RR MAP

 

BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER

 

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