WW II VETERANS MEMORIAL TRAIL:

MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

NORTON RAIL TRAIL:

NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:      December 26, 2025

Length:                WW II Veterans Memorial Trail; 1.6 to 1.9 miles 

                              Norton Rail Trail; 4.2 miles

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.

Directions:

To start from downtown Mansfield for the WW II Veterans Memorial Trail [Northern End]: Take exit 30 off of I-495 and travel north on South Main St. When you enter downtown on North Main St, look for Old Colony Rd on your right. A public parking lot is located here.

To start from Fruit Street parking lot in Mansfield for the WW II Veterans Memorial Trail [Southern End]; Take exit 30 off of I-495 and travel north on South Main St. Take your first right onto Hall St (green airport sign) and follow until it merges and become Fruit St. Follow Fruit St past the Mansfield Airport and spot the parking lot on your left.

The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts, USA. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Provincetown, the tip of Cape Cod, and Providence, Rhode Island via its Boston and Providence Railroad. The first railroad known as the Old Colony Railroad was incorporated April 13, 1838 to run from the end of the Taunton Branch Railroad - which ran from the Boston and Providence to Taunton - to New Bedford. This however was renamed as the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad on March 26, 1839, before construction began, and only became part of the Old Colony system in 1879, when the Old Colony leased the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad into which it had been merged. The Taunton Branch Railroad was incorporated in 1835 as a branch of the Boston and Providence Railroad from Mansfield to Taunton. It was built from 1835 to 1836, and operated at first by the B&P. The New Bedford and Taunton Railroad was incorporated in 1838 at the Old Colony Railroad, changing its name in 1839 to the New Bedford and Taunton. Construction ran from 1839 into 1840, extending the line to New Bedford, at which time the Taunton Branch split from the B&P and ran concurrently with the NB&T. 

Norton Rail Trail:

Starting from the Crane Street parking lot in Norton [Southern End]; 

Note; The old rail bed continues South, but is not developed.

The paved Norton Rail Trail heads North from the parking lot. I have not checked out this new section. The trail travels through the woods along the old rail bed. Cross Plain St, followed by E Main St at 2 miles. Old RR Depot located here, along with a Map Board. Next cross N Washington St and Arrowhead Dr before crossing N Washington St and passing by the Johnson & Henrich Woods parking lot at 2.9 miles. Pass by a Map Board before crossing Cobb Street to a parking lot at 3.4 miles. Here, the trail has to bypass the old rail bed which is blocked by I-495. A paved trail heads right East, alongside Cobb St to N Washington St. Here, a SEPARATED BIKE LANE continues North, alongside the road, crossing over I-495.

Note; A narrow paved trail follows along the opposite side of the road.

Come to the Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve parking lot on your left at 3.7 miles. Map Board. A stone-dust  trail then takes you West, back to the old rail bed where the paved trail continues North, through the woods. Cross the Mansfield town line at 4.2 miles and pass by the Fruit Street parking lot (Map Board) at 4.7 miles. Cross the street and pass by a 2nd parking lot and Map Board.

WW II Veterans Memorial Trail:

Starting from the Fruit Street parking lot in Mansfield [Southern End]; [Continuing Mileage] The paved WW II Veterans Memorial Trail heads North from the parking lot. A Map Board is located here. A stone-dust path parallels the paved trail. This is a straight trail with no turns and although wooded on both sides is wide open. White Mileage Markers are painted on the pavement in both directions. Continuing along the trail, an open field is now along your left side followed by a residential corridor. Come to East St after 1.6 miles. Map Board. Here the trail follows a double-wide sidewalk through residential Mansfield, past resident parking lots. Several road crossings before you cross Court Street where you'll find public parking. Pass by the Harry B. Chase Jr. Place (picnic pavilion along with informational signs about the Old Colony RR) before coming to Main St after 1.9 miles.

HH

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