Assabet River Rail Trail

Assabet River Rail Trail
Bridge completed in 2017 on Assabet River Rail Trail in Maynard
Length10.4 miles (16.7 km), 12.5 miles (20.1 km) when complete
LocationMarlborough, Hudson, Stow, Maynard, and Acton, Massachusetts
Established2001
UseHiking, bicycling, inline skating, wheelchairs
DifficultyEasy
SeasonAll
SurfacePaved, dirt road
Right of wayFormer Marlborough Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad
Maintained byMarlborough, Hudson, Stow, Maynard, Acton
Trail map
Assabet River Rail Trail
South Acton MBTA station
Maple Street
South Acton trailhead
South Acton parking lot
site of former railway turntable
Fort Pond Brook
Sylvia Street parking lot
boardwalk over wetlands
Cedar Swamp Meadow
Marble Farm house site
access path
Acton Street
Concord Street
Acton Street
Maplebrook Park
Summer Street
Maynard Municipal Parking Lot
Assabet River
Florida Road
site of former Maynard railroad station
Route 62 (Main Street, Maynard)
Sudbury Street
site of Maynard train wreck, April 16, 1911
Route 117 (Great Road)
Ice House Landing (water access)
Maynard trailhead
White Pond Road (parking and water access)
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Crow Island Airport
Sudbury Road parking lot
Sudbury Road
Magazu Landing (water access)
site of former Whitman Crossing railroad station
Assabet River (proposed crossing)
private property
Assabet River (proposed crossing)
Marlboro Road
under construction connection to
Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside
Route 62 (Wilkins Street)
Hudson trailhead / Wilkins Street parking lot
Cox Street
Mackin Street
Route 62 (Main Street, Hudson)
Assabet River
Main Street Landing (water access)
Priest Street
proposed connection to
Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside
Hudson Main Street parking lot
Assabet River Rail Trail caboose
Vila do Porto Boulevard
Route 62 (Main Street, Hudson)
site of former Hudson railroad station
Broad Street
South Street
Assabet River
Route 85 (Washington Street)
Washington Street parking lot
Fossile access path easement
Farmer's Bridge abutments
Route 85 Connector
Crowley Drive parking lot
Fitchburg Street
Luman Fairbanks memorial
Sasseville Way parking lot
Fort Meadow Reservoir overlook
Boston Scientific Way
Ash Street
40 Hudson Street parking lot
Hudson Street
Kelleher Field parking lot
site of former Marlborough railroad station
Marlborough trailhead
Sources: Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT),
Mass Central Rail Trail maps,
Maynard Historical Society Archives
and Final Report of the Ad-hoc Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee

The Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT) is a partially-completed multi-use rail trail running through the cities and towns of Marlborough, Hudson, Stow, Maynard, and Acton, Massachusetts, United States. It is a conversion of the abandoned Marlborough Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad. The right-of-way parallels the Assabet River in the trail's midsection. At the north end it veers north to the South Acton MBTA train station while the south end veers south to Marlborough. When fully completed, the end-to-end length will be 12.5 miles (20.1 km). As of June 2020, the southwest 5.1-mile (8.2 km) portion of the trail from Marlborough to Hudson and the northeast 3.4-mile (5.5 km) portion running from the South Acton MBTA station to the Maynard–Stow border are completed. A recreational easement exists for users on the 1.9-mile (3.1 km) dirt road portion of Track Road in Stow. A paving easement for Track Road was acquired by 2021, but this project has not begun. No current plans exist for completing the 2.1-mile (3.4 km) gap from Sudbury Road, Stow to Wilkins Street, Hudson.