CONCORD RIVER GREENWAY:
LOWELL RIVERWALK:
LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK; CANALWALK:
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: September 2009
Length: Concord River Greenway; 1 3/4 miles when completed.
Lowell Riverwalk (Canalwalk to Northern Canalwalk); 1 mile
Lowell NHP Canalwalk; 1 1/4 mile loop; 1 3/4 mile with Swamp Lock spur.
Northern Canalwalk (Pawtucket Dam to Canalwalk); 1.1 miles
Lowell Riverwalk/ Northern Canalwalk Loop; 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved trails.
Directions:
From I-495 take exit 38 to Route 38 (Main St-Rogers St-Nesmith St) north. You'll eventually come to the junction of Routes 110 (Church St) & 133 (Andover St). Continue straight on Routes 38 & 110 for a couple of blocks. Turn left onto E Merrimack St. Just past the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, turn left on Davidson St and into the Davidson Street parking lot. Note; As of September 2009, this parking lot has not yet opened for business Continue along E Merrimack St and you can park downtown or at the NPS Visitors Center parking lot. See link for directions.
The Concord River Greenway is being constructed primarily along an abandoned spur of the Guilford RR paralleling the Concord River. It will connect Lowell's largest open spaces, including Rogers Fort Hill Park and Shedd Park with Lowell Cemetery and the city's cemeteries. It will also connect to the center of the city and a network of walkways that have been developed by the Lowell National Historic Park. See; LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK . You can also connect to the Lowell Riverwalk that travels alongside the Merrimack River. The Concord River Greenway will close a missing 5-mile link in the regional 200-mile Bay Circuit Trail. See; BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL . Future plans call for connecting into the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Chelmsford. For more information visit; BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL and CONCORD RIVER GREENWAY .
Starting from the Davidson St parking lot; The paved Concord River Greenway travels south along the Concord River but is still a work in progress. As of September 2009, only two sections have been completed. The northern end (Davidson St parking lot) has a short paved section along the river and the southern end has a 1/4 mile paved section that ends at Lawrence St next to the Lowell Cemetery.
Note; From the Davidson St parking lot you can access downtown Lowell, the Lowell NHP Canalwalk and the Lowell Riverwalk. Simply head back out Davidson St to E Merrimack St, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium is across the street and turn left. Cross over the river, pass by Middlesex Community College on your left and the Federal Building on your right and you'll come to the Lowell NHP Canalwalk next to the Eastern Canal after only 0.1 miles.
Lowell NHP Canalwalk; Starting from E Merrimack St next to the Eastern Canal you can head either north or south along this loop trail. I headed north. A blue Canalwalk sign is located here and all along the route, as well as, informational signs. Follow the boardwalk and Trolley tracks over the canal and head right between the canal and the Jack Kerouac Commemorative Park. Across the canal are the Massachusetts Mills. The trail comes to Bridge St and heads left to a cross-light that will get you across Bridge St. Turn right and travel back to the canal, turning left past the tracks. Across the canal are the Boott Mills. After about a 1/4 mile you'll come to the entrance for the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. Even if you don't visit the museum, be sure to cross the canal and check out the courtyard between the mills.
Note; From here you can access the Lowell Riverwalk by continuing straight through the building's arch towards the river. See; Lowell Riverwalk below.
Continuing along the Eastern Canal you pass by Boarding House Park on the left and then the Working People Exhibit. At the next corner the Eastern Canal meets the Merrimack Canal and an overflow canal drains them into the Merrimack River. Turn left. The Trolley Line bears right over the canal, but you stay to the left and come to French St.
Note; To access the Northern Canal and the opposite end of the Lowell Riverwalk you head right over the canal from here and along Father Morrisette Blvd. See; Lowell Riverwalk below.
Utilize the cross-walk over French St and you'll then travel alongside the Merrimack Canal through Lucy Larcom Park. Lowell High School is across the canal. Take a right when you hit Merrimack St over the canal. The Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse is on the right. Use the cross-light over Merrimack St, turn left over the Trolley tracks and right along the trail. The canal is covered here and showcases an old Boston & Maine engine and passenger car. You cross back over the canal and come alongside the National Streetcar Museum. When you reach Market St, turn left for the cross-light and this will bring you to Market Mills at 3/4 mile. Turn left for the NPS Visitors Center and to continue the loop.
Note; If you head right, you can continue south along the canal, past the NPS Visitors Center parking lot to Swamp Locks, where the Merrimac & Pawtucket Canals meet. Travel across the bridge and turn left along the Trolley tracks and you'll come to an overlook after a 1/4 mile. Here, the Western, Pawtucket, Hamilton & Merrimack Canals all come together.
Heading east along Market St brings you to the NPS Visitors Center located inside the Market Mills. A courtyard, gallery and restrooms are also located here. After getting your NPS Passport Book stamped, continue east along Market St. You'll pass by a small park on the right, cross a long drive and come to a small circular park on the right, next to a parking garage. Head right through the bench lined park to a narrow trail that travels alongside the parking garage. You emerge next to the Pawtucket Canal. Across the canal are the Hamilton Mills. Head left along the canal and you'll come to a set of stairs.
Note; If biking, you'll want to detour left, back to Market St and turn right out to Central St as their are two more sets of stairs you'll encounter.
Continuing along the canal, you'll encounter two more sets of stairs before coming to Central St a 1 mile. Turn left up to Market St and then right across Central St utilizing a cross-light. Then head right back down Central St to the canal. Cross over the canal and turn left following the ramps down along the canal and you'll come to the Lower Locks. The two locks are constructed of massive granite stones and drain into the Concord River. Continue straight to an overlook of the river and the Davidson St parking lot on the other side. Turn left and cross over the canal via a pedestrian bridge and you'll come to Middlesex Community College. Here you'll find a map of Lowell. Next head left along the opposite side of the canal and you'll come to the Eastern Canal.
Note; Heading straight over the bridge brings you back to Central Street.
Turn right and follow the Eastern Canal back to E Merrick Street for a completed loop of about 1 1/4 miles (1 3/4 miles if you checked out the Swamp Locks).
Lowell Riverwalk; Starting from the Boott Cotton Mills Museum's courtyard, head north through the open arch in the mill building to a ramp that brings you down to the paved trail along the Merrimack River. Head left between the mill and the river. The landscaping is sparse along this section. You pass by an outlet for the Merrimack & Eastern Canals. Next you head up a wooden ramp to a promenade overlooking the river. A park with picnic tables are located here. You pass by the site of the old Merrimack Mill where three wooden covered water tunnels? face the river. Next you pass over the discharge for the Western Canal into the river and come to a large smokestack by the Lawrence Mills at a 1/2 mile. The trail now travels between the river and mill, passing underneath the iron Ouelette Bridge. At the intersection bear right as left heads out to Aiken St. You now travel around the backside of LeLacheur Stadium and come to a 911 memorial at 0.9 miles. The trail heads out to Pawtucket St next to the UMass Lowell North Campus.
Note; To access the Northern Canal, cross over Pawtucket St and head right. Take a left along a paved path and then bear right at an intersection. This will bring you to the Northern Canal after 0.1 miles.
Northern Canal; You have two options from here: You can head right or left along the canal. Left takes you back to the Canalwalk while right takes you out to the Pawtucket Dam. I chose to head right and travel out to the dam, then loop back via Pawtucket St and then follow the canal back to the Canalwalk. I highly recommend this route.
Head right along the paved Northern Canal trail and a boardwalk takes you underneath the Pawtucket Street bridge where you cross over a power canal that feeds the Hydroelectric Plant to your right. Note; The causeway section of the Northern Canal is open from May 15-October 15. Next travel along a causeway that runs between the canal and the Merrimack River. Note how dry the riverbed is here as most of the water is diverted for the canals upstream. Shocks would be nice for this next short section (less then 0.1 miles) where the trail surface consists of granite blocks before returning to cement. Another short granite block section jars your senses before you enter a narrow island trail at 0.3 miles that consists of stone-dust. This brings you to a ramp that leads up to Mammoth Rd/School St bridge. A cross-light to your left will take you across the road to the Pawtucket Gatehouse at a 1/2 mile. A white gate leads down to an overlook of the Pawtucket Dam, as well as, a walkway around a lock and the gatehouse. To your left is the 1847 Gatekeepers House. You may return the way you came or loop back by heading left along School St to Pawtucket St. Then turn left and follow Pawtucket St back to the Northern Canal for a mile loop.
Heading left along the Northern Canal the trail is paved. You pass by the Wannalancit Mills (formerly the Suffolk Mills) which also house the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit. Next comes the Tremont Gatehouse & Powerhouse after 0.3 miles. This is where the Northern Canal enters the Western Canal. Head right to the Trolley Line, then turn left and follow the tracks along Father Morrisette Blvd, passing by the Tsongas Arena. You cross over the Merrimack Canal and return to Canalwalk at 0.6 miles. Head left to return to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum at 0.7 miles. The complete Lowell Riverwalk/Northern Canal Loop is about 2.7 miles.
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CLICK HERE FOR CONCORD RIVER GREENWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR LOWELL NHP CANALWALK MAP
(INCLUDES THE LOWELL RIVERWALK)
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