NASHUA RIVER RAIL TRAIL LETTERBOX:
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: June 20, 2004
Length: Nashua River Rail Trail; 12.2 miles
Ayer Center to Letterbox; 4.5 miles
Drive by; Groton Sand Hill Road parking lot.
Difficulty: Easy. Paved, flat rail trail.
Directions:
Starting from CT; From Route 2, take exit 38B to Route 111 north. When you come to the rotary, exit onto Route 2A west and take into Avery Center. Go through town and you'll see the start of the trail to your right across from a Mobil gas station. Route 2A takes a sharp right here. Across from the Exxon gas station and to your right is Groton Street. This will take you to the Ayer Center parking lot.
For a Drive-by; Continue north up Route 2A, then north along Route 111, where it merges into Routes 111 & 119. After crossing through the trail, keep an eye out for Nod Road to your right. Take Nod Road to a right down Sand Hill Road. This will take you to the Groton Sand Hill Road parking lot.
Starting from NH; From Route 3 in Nashua take exit 5 to Route 111 east for 2.8 miles. Turn left on Country Side Drive, which will bring you to Gilson Rd. The Gilson Road parking lot is located straight ahead.
The Nashua River Rail Trail is built along former Hollis branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad. It started life out in 1848 as the Worcester & Nashua Railroad running between the two cities. In 1874, an extension was opened up to Portland, Maine. In 1982, the last freight train ran the rails and today the only section still operating is between Worcester and Ayer. The 10 foot wide, paved rail trail was opened in 2002 and includes a 5 foot wide equestrian path for 7 of the 12 trail miles. For more information visit; NASHUA RIVER RAIL TRAIL .
Starting from Ayer Center; There are bath rooms located at the parking lot, along with a sign board. The trail heads north from the parking lot and includes mileage markers along the way. At almost 3/4 of a mile, you'll see an old Whistle Stop marker along the right side of the trail. These let the conductors know it was time to sound the trains whistle. There are several along the trail and are numbered, ending with #39 near the New Hampshire border. The trail travels through mostly wooded terrain with numerous marshes along the way. At the 2 mile mark, you'll see a beaver hut in a large marsh on your left. Just past this marsh, look up to your right to spot a wind mill above the orchards. At 3 miles, the trail opens up and you pass by a parking lot at 3 1/4 miles (Broadmeadow Road). You'll then pass by a second parking area and just before 4 miles you'll pass through an old stone abutment. You cross over an old railroad bridge at 4.4 miles and come to the Groton Sand Hill Road parking lot after 4 1/2 miles. At the backside of the parking lot you'll see a sign that reads Groton Conservation Trust-Shepley Hill. Go to the sign and proceed up the trail for approximately 40 paces (2 steps =1 pace) to a 4 way intersection. Continue straight through the intersection and take 4 paces. Look to your left for a pile of logs. In the center of the logs, under three rocks is the Nashua River Rail Trail Letterbox. Please replace the rocks gently so as not to crack the box. Continuing north along the trail, after about the 7 mile mark, you'll come to a large pond formed from the dammed Nashua River. You'll pass by a granite marker on your left inscribed with a G and P. The G stands for Groton, the P for Pepperell. This marks their boundary. You'll come alongside the Nashua River at 7.4 miles. Very scenic. You then come to the dam at 7 3/4 miles and into the small town of East Pepperell, with another parking lot and food available. You then cross over Route 113, which needs, but doesn't have a traffic cross walk, so use caution. You pass alongside another big marsh at 8 3/4 miles and a horse corral at 10 1/4 miles that the kids will love. You come to a fork in the trail at 11 1/4 miles. Right brings you to the Dunstable parking lot on Hollis Street. Continuing straight takes you into New Hampshire and S Depot Rd. A small parking area is located on your left. Continue over the cross-walk and you'll travel through an open field and back into the woods passing by an old granite railroad mile marker. You come to the Gilson Road parking lot and the current end of the trail at 12.2 miles. Future plans call for extending the trail to your right past the small pond and on towards Nashua.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
NOVEMBER 12, 2008
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING
