Mass Central Rail Trailβ€”Wayside
Massachusetts

Mass Central Rail Trailβ€”Wayside

Available Activities
  • Hiking
  • Biking

πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ† Cross-State Rail Trail β€” Multi-section rail trail spanning central MA β€” part of an ambitious coast-to-border trail vision

Mass Central Rail Trail (Wayside section) follows the former Massachusetts Central Railroad corridor β€” part of an ambitious vision to create a continuous trail from Boston Harbor to Northampton (over 100 miles). The Wayside section in Weston and Wayland passes through scenic wetlands, meadows, and suburban woodland. The full Mass Central Rail Trail, when completed, will be one of the longest rail trails in the Northeast.

Visitor Information

DetailInformation
LocationWeston/Wayland, Middlesex County, MA
Entry FeeFree
Vision100+ mile coast-to-border trail!

About Mass Central Rail Trail

Mass Central Rail Trail follows the former Massachusetts Central Railroad corridor through the scenic Wayside area near Weston and Wayland. The trail passes through forests, wetlands, and historic villages in the western Boston suburbs. When fully completed, the trail will span 104 miles from Boston to Northampton.

Things to Do

Cycling and walking on the paved trail, birdwatching in the wetland areas, and enjoying the pastoral New England landscape. The trail connects to other greenways for extended cycling routes through the Boston suburbs.

About Mass Central Rail Trail

Mass Central Rail Trailβ€”Wayside section follows the former Massachusetts Central Railroad corridor β€” a 19th-century line that attempted to connect Boston to the Hudson River. The railroad went bankrupt before completion, but its level, graded right-of-way now provides one of the finest multi-use trails in the state. The trail passes through the colonial-era landscapes of Weston and Wayland β€” towns settled in the 1630s.

Things to Do

Biking and walking the rail trail, birdwatching along wetland sections, cross-country skiing in winter, connecting to the regional trail network, and tracing the route of a 19th-century failed railroad.

🚴 Visit Mass Central Rail Trail

Future 100+ mile trail β€” coast to border across Massachusetts.

πŸ“ MA DCR

Sarah Mitchell

About the Author

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

Sarah Mitchell is an outdoor writer and trail researcher with over 8 years of experience exploring state parks across America. As the lead editor at AmericasStateParks.org, she has personally visited more than 200 parks in 42 states, logging thousands of trail miles and hundreds of campground nights. Sarah specializes in detailed park guides, accessibility information, and family-friendly outdoor planning. Her work focuses on helping first-time visitors feel confident and well-prepared for their state park adventures.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

Last updated: May 10, 2026

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