QUINEBAUG VALLEY RAIL TRAIL:
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
QUINEBAUG RIVER RAIL TRAIL:
DUDLEY, MASSACHUSETTS
WEBSTER RIVERWALK:
WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: April 14, 2026
Length: Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail; 5.9 miles
Quinebaug River Rail Trail; West Section; 2.7 miles
Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section; 1.4 miles
Webster Riverwalk; 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail; Easy. Paved & stone-dust rail trail.
Quinebaug River Rail Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.
Webster Riverwalk; Easy. Paved trail.
Directions:
For the Quinebaug River Rail Trail; West Section & Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail [Southern End]; From Route 131 in Southbridge, continue southeast on Route 131 passing the Route 169 south turnoff (Here you'll find the paved section of trail). Continue southeast on Route 131 into Dudley. Just after you cross over the Quinebaug River, take a left on Mill Rd. The Mill Road parking lot will be along your right.
For the Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section; From the junction of Routes 12 & 197 in Webster travel south on Route 12 for 0.8 miles to the parking lot on your left where the trail crosses the road.
For the Webster Riverwalk [Western End]; From the junction of Routes 12 & 197 in Webster travel north on Route 12. Cross the river and come to some RR tracks. Turn left past the tracks on Davis Street and park by the old train cars.
The Quinebaug River Rail Trail & Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail follows the rail bed of the former Southbridge & Blackstone Railroad, which had been providing connecting rail service to Boston from 1857 to 1921 and Freight services from 1857 to 1997. The Quinebaug River Rail Trail; West Section in West Dudley travels Northwest, from the CT border, to Southbridge, where it continues as the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail through Southbridge. The Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section travels from the CT border North, through Dudley to Webster. In Webster you can check out the short Webster Riverwalk, further North. A GAP exists between the Quinebaug River Rail Trail West & East Sections as it Loops through CT. For more information visit; QUINEBAUG RIVER RAIL TRAIL & WEBSTER RIVERWALK .
Quinebaug River Rail Trail; West Section:
Starting from the Mill Road parking lot in West Dudley [Southern End]; A Map Board is located in the parking lot.
Note; Heading Southeast, the paved Quinebaug River Rail Trail travels 0.3 miles through a wooded, residential corridor before terminating at the Connecticut border. Look left to spot the granite 1906 border post. Old RR ties still embedded in CT section.
Note; The portion of the old rail bed in CT has not been developed, creating a 3.4 mile gap to the Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section back in MA. The rail bed looks like a horseshoe in CT.
Heading Northwest, across Mill Rd, past the yellow gate, the flat, paved Quinebaug River Rail Trail enters the woods. Pass by a quarry, then a kiosk at 1.2 miles. Pass by a Spur Trail on your right, before the trail ends at an old RR bridge over the Quinebaug River at 1.9 miles.
Note; I assume future plans call for rebuilding this bridge. For now, you'll need to follow the Spur Trail to detour around the bridge.
Follow the hard packed dirt & gravel Spur Trail out to W Dudley Rd. Then head left, on-road (low traffic) across the W Dudley Rd bridge. Turn right past the sign for the trail and you'll come to the West Dudley Road parking lot.
Note; A boat launch for the QUINEBAUG RIVER WATER TRAIL is located here along with a picnic table and Map Board.
The Quinebaug River Rail Trail continues straight, Northwest, alongside the Quinebaug River Reservoir. You follow the hard packed cinder & grass trail along a causeway between the river and wetlands before re-entering the woods at 2.4 miles and crossing into Southbridge.
Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail:
Here the stone-dust trail continues Northwest, as the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail.
Note; As of April 2026, they were still constructing the bollards at all entrances and crossings. I'm still not sure if the trail will be paved or stay as stone-dust.
Cross a bridge at 3 miles and you'll soon be traveling alongside the Quinebaug River. Cross a second bridge at 3.5 miles. Pass by an old cement RR Whistle Post, + See; RR Whistle Post Below, before crossing Sandersdale Rd (Route 131) in the Sandersdale section of Southbridge at 3.8 miles. Cross light. Pass by an old RR Switch, + RR Switch, before crossing over Lebanon Brook and passing by another old RR Switch, The trail becomes paved, as it takes you down to and across N Woodstock Rd at 4.25 miles. You then travel briefly alongside E Main St and up a slight hill back into the woods. Your now traveling above E Main St. Nice views of the Quinebaug River and old Southbridge Mill across E Main St. Pass by a **Spur Trail down to a possible future parking lot at 4.6 miles. Pass by another old RR Switch, before crossing a bridge over Morris St and coming to Main St after 5 miles. Overlook.
Note; As of April 2026, the trail ends here, at the old Southern Bridge abutment, as the old RR bridge is long gone. I assume they will replace this bridge in the future. The trail continues along the opposite side of Main St from the old *Northern Bridge abutment.
Note; To connect to the next section of the trail requires an on-road detour. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Return to the parking lot **Spur Trail and travel out to E Main St and head left on-rod (sidewalk available). Turn left up Main St at the traffic circle. Take your second right on Walnut St. At the end of the street a ***Spur Trail brings you down to the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail after 0.7 miles. Right leads to the *Northern Bridge abutment.
Starting from the *Northern Bridge abutment; Overlook. The stone-dust Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail travels Northwest, up a slight hill through an urban corridor. Pass by a ***Spur Trail that takes you up to Walnut St. Cross Foster St, where two sets of tracks still cross the road. A short dirt road follows alongside some old RR tracks to Central St. The now paved trail continues past the old RR Depot and an old RR Caboose at 0.4 miles. MVD parking lot located here. Next, cross Hook St, where the paved trail continues. Briefly spot the river below right. On your left will be the Crane Street parking lot. The trail turns out to Crane & River Streets, ending after 5.9 miles.
The trail will change to on-road bicycle accommodation/lane with adjacent sidewalk heading West, to West St crossing into Sturbridge. At the West Street School, the trail may be a foot path to the Westville Dam access road with an on-road bike component, or a multi-use path along the river to the Westville Dam access road.
Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section:
Starting from the Route 12 parking lot in Dudley [Central Section]; A Map Board is located here.
Heading North; The paved Quinebaug River Rail Trail travels North, through the woods along Potash Brook. Cross a bridge over the French River, where the trail is hard packed dirt & grass and come to the Webster Sewer Treatment plant road after 0.3 miles in Webster where the trail ends. The old RR tracks cross the road and enter the woods but join an active RR line.
Heading South; The paved Quinebaug River Rail Trail travels South, into the woods along a residential corridor. Cross Carpenter Rd at 0.4 miles. Here the trail is more isolated as it follows a small berm. Come to a Map Board and connection to Blue Heron Rd at 0.9 miles. Cross a small bridge over a brook and come to a yellow post after 1 mile. This is the CT border and end of trail. Rail ties still in place in CT.
Webster Riverwalk:
Starting from the Davis Street parking lot in Webster [Western End]; An active RR line is just behind a series of old train cars. Head past the train cars along Davis Rd (low traffic) and come to a parking lot just past a building on your left. Head left through the parking lot to the cement Webster Riverwalk next to the French River. Informational signs and seats overlooking the river. Train bridge crosses the river to your left. Continue East, along the river to a gazebo with more informational boards. Travel right back to Davis St and head left to another parking lot. Turn left into the parking lot where a narrow paved trail travels through French River Park back to the river. Canoe launch. Continue right past picnic tables and you'll come to a wide paved trail.
Note; The narrow paved trail Loops right around the park.
Head left along the wide paved trail. Overlooks of the river. This paved trail quickly ends, but continues along a grass & gravel base (This section is scheduled to be paved) to Peter St after 0.5 miles.
Note; A future phase will continue the trail out to S Main St. Long term plans call for creating the French River Greenway, which would connect the Quinebaug River Rail Trail; East Section to the Midstate Trail. See; FRENCH RIVER GREENWAY .
Old Railroad Equipment:
+
RR Whistle Post:
The Whistle Post,
was a post with a large "W" engraved or painted on it. This
meant the railroad engineers were to start sounding the trains Whistle.
The Whistle posts
were usually placed 0.25 miles
in advance of a road crossing,
bridges, tunnels and other points. Usually, there would be a post placed on both
sides of the crossing, covering both directions.
+ RR Switch:
A RR Switch is a mechanical
installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at
a junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR QUINEBAUG RIVER RAIL TRAIL; WEST MAP
CLICK HERE FOR QUINEBAUG RIVER RAIL TRAIL; EAST MAP
CLICK HERE FOR WEBSTER RIVERWALK MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT