BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL LETTERBOX:
CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: September 19, 2009
Length: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail; 5 3/4 miles.
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.
Directions:
To start from Lowell (northern section); From Route 3 southbound, take exit 31 to Route 110. Turn left and travel under Route 3. Turn right into Cross Point. Follow the entrance and turn right. Park in Lot F. The trail heads through a tunnel under Route 3. From Route 3 northbound, take exit 30 to Route 110. Turn right on Route 110, then turn right into Cross Point. Follow the entrance and turn right. Park in Lot F. The trail heads through a tunnel under Route 3.
To start in Chelmsford (central section); From I-495 northbound, take exit 33 to Route 4 south. Just before the junction of Routes 4 & 110 turn left into the parking lot located next to the trail and the old Town Hall. From I-495 southbound, take exit 34 to Route 110 south. At the junction of Routes 4 & 110 turn right into the parking lot located next to the trail and the old Town Hall (now the Chelmsford Community Center).
To start in Chelmsford (southern section); From the junction of Routes 27 & 225, take Route 27 north. Travel past Hart Pond and turn left along Pond St. Cross over the trail and the parking lot will be on your right.
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is being built along the former rail bed of the New Haven Railroad Farmington & Lowell Line. It passed through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham. Phase I has been completed from the Chelmsford/Lowell line to the junction of Routes 27 & 225 in Westford. Phase II will continue south through Westford-Carlisle-Action-Concord and Sudbury. Phase III will finish the trail through Sudbury and Farmington. Future plans call for continuing the trail north into Lowell and connecting into the Concord River Greenway, which is currently under construction as of September 2009. For more information visit; BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL and CONCORD RIVER GREENWAY . The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail will also be a link in the regional 200-mile Bay Circuit Trail. See; BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL .
Starting from the Lowell/Chelmsford line; The paved trail travels through a tunnel underneath Route 3 and continues west along the old rail bed. This section travels behind industrial and commercial areas. After traveling over a stream you travel underneath I-495. You follow a small berm by a stream and wetlands before emerging along Route 110. Turn left and follow the narrow trail along the road, past some ball fields to a cross-light a 1 mile. Cross over Route 110 and turn left along the narrow trail, then right back along the wide trail. The trail heads behind some commercial buildings, up an incline and past the Old Town Hall parking lot at 1.3 miles. You then come to downtown Chelmsford and the junction of Routes 4 & 110. Turn left, then right using the cross-light to cross this busy road. Head right and you'll connect back to the wide trail. Check out the murals along the cement retaining wall before you head into the woods. The trail now travels through wooded wetlands leaving the urban setting behind. Beaver Brook flows along on the left before passing below the trail at 1.7 miles. At about 2 miles you'll spot an old RR Mileage marker on your right reading 22 on one side and 4 on the other. No letters, which most old RR markers contained, however, I believe the numbers represented 4 miles to Lowell and 22 miles to Farmington. At 2.2 miles, just before a berm that travels along the Beaver Brook marsh, look left to spot a green sign reading "Bovey Woodlot". Follow the dirt hiking trail up a switchback until the trail makes a sharp right and levels off. Along your left is the remnants of a stone wall. Take 5 paces (2 steps = 1 pace) along the trail and on your left will be two large flat rocks that are part of the wall. Go to the backside and remove a small flat rock leaning up against the rocks. Underneath you'll find the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Letterbox. Return to the paved trail and continue past the marsh along your right. You'll cross High St at 2.5 miles. Note; the yellow posts at all road crossings contain the street names. You'll quickly cross over a culvert and if you look to your left you'll spot an old RR Whistle Stop marker. There are old RR mileage markers every mile along the trail so look for #21/5 coming up. Travel under a power transmission line at 3.1 miles and cross Maple Rd. Refreshments are available at the Agway located here. You come to the Pond St parking lot at 3.5 miles located next to Hart Pond. The trail then travels along the pond and past all the "camps". Look right at 4 miles for an old RR rail tie holder. The trail then pulls away from the pond and back through wooded wetlands. After 5 3/4 miles the trail currently ends. The trail will be continued south in the future.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
OCTOBER 10, 2009
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING