WAUSHACUM PONDS RAIL
TRAIL:
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted:
NO LETTERBOX PLANTED AT THIS TIME
Length:
Waushacum Ponds Rail Trail; 1.6 miles
Route 140/Bean Road Connector; 3 miles
Difficulty:
Easy. Flat, stone dust trail.
Directions:
From I-190, take exit 6 to Route 12 south
into Sterling's town center.
To start from the Cider Mill Complex parking
lot; From the town green in Sterling on Route 12, head south. Look for
Waushacum Ave on your left before you come to the Route 62 junction. Head up
Waushacum Ave until you spot a sign for the Cider Mill Complex on your right.
Just past this sign will be a smaller sign for the Rail Trail. Turn into the lot
and head left to where a dirt parking lot is located at the trails start.
To start from the Gates Road parking lot;
From the town green in Sterling on Route 12, head south, passing by the Route 62
turnoff. When you come to Hebert's Candies on your right, turn left down Gates
Road. The parking lot will be on the right hand side across from where the trail
currently ends.
The Mass Central Rail Trail is a
planned 104 mile trail from
Northampton
Massachusetts
to
Boston
. It will follow the old Mass Central Railroad Line that ran between the
two cities. The railroad was abandoned in 1938 after the 38 hurricane
shattered the line. Some sections that are completed today include the Northampton
Bike Path (See; Northampton
Bike Path Letterbox ), the Norwottuck Rail Trail (See; Norwottuck
Rail Trail Letterbox ) and the Mass Central Rail Trail (See; Mass
Central Rail Trail East Letterbox ). For more information check out; MASS
CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL , WACHUSETT
GREENWAY or EAST COAST
GREENWAY .
Starting from the Cider Mill parking lot;
proceed past the gate along the stone dust trail. There are wetlands located
along both sides of the trail to start. At a ¼ mile there is a narrow detour
around a bridge they are building over a stone culvert. There is a stone bench
here, as well as others scattered along the trail. You'll also spot some stone
mileage markers left over from the railroad days along the trail. The trail
eventually travels through woodland, with an abundance of Red and White Pine
trees. After about 1.3 miles, you'll come to Waushacum Ponds. Here, a
path branches left along the shoreline, while stone and wrought iron benches
beckon you to sit a spell and enjoy the view. So, head to the black, wrought
iron bench that is closest to the trail and sit a spell. Continuing along the
trail, you travel along a berm that separates West Waushacum Pond on your
left from The Quag on your right and cross over a steel bridge. This
bridge was surplus from
Boston
's "Big Dig" project. A lot of trails have benefited from surplus
bridges from the "Big Dig". At 1.6 miles, the trail currently ends at
Gates Road
. The
Gates Road
parking lot is located directly across the road.
Route 140/Bean Road Connector;
To connect to the next section of the Wachusett Greenway in
West Bolyston
, which also consists of stone dust, you have the option of on-road biking to
reach the trail head. It's a distance of about 3 miles along residential roads
and a section of hard packed, grass covered "woods" road. However,
because it contains some steep hill sections and some rough surface areas I only
recommend it for mountain bikes. Also, a short section is along busy Route 140
and so it is not recommended for children. From the
Gates Road
parking lot or trailhead;
Head west up
Gates Road
to Route 12 and cross over. Use extreme caution as there is no crosswalk over
this busy road. Continue along
Gates Road
to
Bean Road
and turn left. This is a residential road with low traffic volume. Cross
through the intersection and soon, the road narrows and becomes rougher. The
road crosses an invisible boundary and becomes
Prescott Street
as it enters West Boylston. After about 1 ½ miles you cross over some railroad
tracks and then a brook. Look to your right for a yellow MDC gate. This takes
you up a hard packed, grassy "woods" road that was formally
Pleasant Street
. The road heads uphill for roughly a half mile and then back downhill until you
reach another yellow gate where the road is paved. Turn right when you reach
Route 140 after about 2 ½ miles. This takes you over the Wachusett Reservoir.
Use caution, as the shoulder is narrow in spots. At the intersection where Route
140 turns right, you turn left down
Thomas Street
. Just before the Wachusett Reservoir parking lot on the right, will be a
paved drive that will take you to the trailhead. See; Mass
Central Rail Trail East Letterbox .
HH
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
I
CLICK
HER FOR MAP II
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER
OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
LETTERBOXING
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