Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a rail trail through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury, and Framingham in Massachusetts — following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven Railroad Framingham & Lowell line. The trail has a 10-foot wide pavement with a 2-foot wide packed shoulder on each side.The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is open to non-motorized uses such as cycling, jogging, walking, rollerblading, and skiing.
Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
P.O. Box 1192
Concord, MA 01742
Concord Parking
Commonwealth Ave, near the rotary & Concord MCI, Concord
West Concord Center, trail parking near Nashoba Brook, Concord
One handicap parking space near Williams Road, Concord
Download a Phase 2C Trail Map (PDF)
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Reviews
Katie S. August 26, 2025
We took our new puppers on a walk on Saturday and it was such a great trail! I loved that there was parking nearby, and the portapotty near the central...
Will P. July 1, 2025
This is a great trail. I've taken it from Lowell all the way to Sudbury. We're at connects to MA Central Trail. St Sudbury you can extend your on Central...
Mia Taylor February 8, 2025
My favorite bike path, and the best thing that has happened to Chelmsford since I was four years old, is this. Beautiful, handy, and well-kept, this route is a real gem.
Near the end of the trail, there were a few spots that were tough to ride, but those were soon replaced. A considerable new segment has been added to the route that crosses Route 2 in West Concord, and its extension is ongoing. It is a pleasure to bicycle along this lovely and easy trail.
Penny Hoene October 28, 2024
I've been on parts of it and it's coming along wonderfully.
Lucinda October 21, 2024
Fantastic rail trail, ablaze in fall foliage. Beautifully paved, past fields and wetlands and ponds and suburban houses. In 2024 it's about 15 miles long one way. They are constructing an additional 10 or so miles through Sudbury to Framingham, which will open in summer of 2025.
So very grateful to the folks that persisted to set aside the rail line, planned and found the funding to build this beautiful rail trail
Be sure to check out the town center of Chelmsford. Had a superb lunch at the Simply Khmer noodle house restaurant. Food was so fresh, healthy and authentic
Adina S. September 12, 2024
Big fan of the Bruce Freeman! I actually took the Commuter Rail to the West Concord stop to hop on the trail, bonus points for accessibility! The path was...
James Morgan July 17, 2024
Well maintained trail, great resource!
Sampath D June 22, 2024
Beautiful nature walk or bike on a paved trail with tree cover. Enjoyed the 5 mile walk ( and 5 miles back) and quite surprised how well maintained the trail is. Spotted deer along the way.
Julie's bites March 17, 2024
Very pleasant walk. Paved walk with trees. There are a lot of bicycles and roller skates to watch out for.
Anshita S. December 13, 2023
Love this trail so much, definitely one of my favorites in Mass.We prefer it over minuteman its is not as busy, perfectly shaded in the hotter months and...
Phillip Carmichael September 4, 2023
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Massachusetts is a cycling and walking paradise. Spanning 11 miles, it winds through scenic landscapes, with well-maintained asphalt and gravel paths. The trail offers picturesque views of ponds, wetlands, and forests, making it a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Frequent benches and informative signage enhance the experience. Ample parking and access points ensure convenience. Overall, it's a fantastic resource for outdoor recreation, offering a blend of natural beauty and user-friendly amenities.
Jin Song September 3, 2023
Great new biking trail that I think finished during COVID years. Very well maintained biking path.
Connie Mashock August 25, 2023
Nice paved, extended distances. Yea!
David Horrigan May 13, 2023
This recently completed section of this rail trail is marked along the way with signs and markers of the history of the trains and how they operated in this area.
The paved trail runs for a short distance near one of the walls of MCI Concord and into the business district of town with shopping and restaurants.
Betsy Olsson-Mackowski February 7, 2023
Excellent except for the lack of a ramp near the handicapped parking space at the Phase C bridge.
Daniel Chen December 30, 2022
Great rail trail and biked here countless times during the pandemic days. Very pedestrian friendly.
Lincoln Green October 28, 2022
Great rail trail
Bella J. October 22, 2022
nice place to go on a walk or definitely bike ride. there's some water nearby which is nice to look at. kinda on the busier side.
TARUN REDDY October 18, 2022
This is a wonderful paved trail for activities like walking, running, biking, rollerblades, skateboards, boosted boards or whatever fun stuff..
Very well maintained.
Road crossings are well marked with warning lights for traffic.
Louis Ebarb September 3, 2022
A very comfortable, quiet woodland Massachusetts walk. Recommended for everyone.
Melody N. August 18, 2022
Smooth bike rail trail with lots of trees. We usually park in the downtown Chelmsford area to access, Heart pond, or Acton. The downtown area and heart...
Cheese August 2, 2022
Great trail with a new paved path and great views.
Dan Brennan July 3, 2022
Very well kept,nice easy shaded trail for all levels
Brent Siniawski June 4, 2022
Fantastic paved rail trail for running or biking with the kids.
Nick Benoit May 29, 2022
The BFRT is a great place to bike or walk. The intersections with the roads are well marked and feature motion activated crossing lights; some major roads are crossed with bridges. The trails are in good repair and run largely through quiet wooded areas.
Andrew Halloran May 22, 2022
Great for walking and bike rides.
I D April 14, 2022
Perfect spot for a nice relaxing walk. Nicely paved and even so if biking is your thing..it is perfect too.
Flavio Jesuino November 16, 2021
Jeff Vigil September 6, 2021
c t August 15, 2021
This is a fantastic bike trail! Long enough, but not too long. Can start and stop in multiple places. Porta potties, even. Not a zillion street crossings. I don't like to bike, really, so for me to call this fantastic, it is!
Van Chuon August 4, 2021
One of my favorite bike trails. I recommend the making a stop at Heart Pond during sunset.
Anne Scott June 22, 2021
Great bike trail. My only complaint is the excessive number of streets you have to cross and the busy area where you ride streets thru the center of Chelmsford
Herb Philpott June 2, 2021
Beautiful, smooth bike/run/walk path.
Carol Szabo May 21, 2021
A nice long trail.
James Pope May 9, 2021
Kathy Cariaga May 6, 2021
The best bike trail I've ever seen! Infrastructure is good: there's a place to stop for a break, and the crossroads are well-lit and visible from the road.
Carol Szabo May 3, 2021
Very nice, very well maintained trail. There is currently a closure at around mile 7 starting in Acton, but many people ignore it.
brittany ford April 6, 2021
Great place to get some exercise!
Alex G. April 1, 2021
:WARNING: as of around 3/20, parts are being repaved, so if you are planning on using it to get to places, highly reconsider, because you may need to walk sections it take detours
prasanna rajiv March 27, 2021
Love this trail and frequent this place with my kids but it is under construction and the roads were taken apart when we went last weekend 03212021.
Heather L. March 21, 2021
This is our favorite bike path. Not many road crossings on most of the trail. Lots of parking options. The path is pretty wide and not many hills. We like...
Darlene LaValle-Didier March 13, 2021
Beautiful place to
Walk ,Ride Bikes ,Skate .. right next to my home
Reviewer 101 November 30, 2020
Beautiful trail to go on walks, jogs, run or cycling in all seasons - stretches over ten miles on either side from heart Pond Beach.
Dogs/pets on leash.
New Englander November 30, 2020
Beautiful trail to go on walks, jogs, run or cycling in all seasons - stretches over ten miles on either side from heart Pond Beach.
Dogs/pets on leash.
The Same November 30, 2020
Beautiful trail to go on walks, jogs, run or cycling in all seasons - stretches over ten miles on either side from heart Pond Beach.
Dogs/pets on leash.
Te Liu November 11, 2020
about 4 miles long, very straight trail. north end still under construction.
Trevor S. October 5, 2020
A well paved trail through the woods of metro west. We picked a day when the leaves had started turning and any chilliness was refreshing once the pedals...
Kevin Blanton September 27, 2020
One of the best in eastern Massachusetts for cycling or running. Broad path, paved the whole way with a cinder path alongside four runners who prefer that. Gorgeous nature along 99% of the way, very few road crossings.
Ara Jeknavorian July 14, 2020
Last week (7/10), My daughter and her family were up from New Jersey bringing their bikes. The kids - ages 13, 11, and 6 - all had a great time riding the trail, which is a hidden gem.
Darl blais June 20, 2020
Beautiful Trail. Very shaded. Gorgeous ponds, wildlife, we'll maintained. We watched a blue heron fishing right off the trail
Michelle S. June 1, 2020
This was great! Really pretty. Less crowded than Minuteman, and it seemed liked fewer road crossings. Goes by a nice brook and then a pond. Seemed totally...
Karen R. April 16, 2020
Love walking this trail and I live right around the corner. The biggest issue are the bikes that think it's a race track. Someone is going to get seriously...
Atul Nautiyal February 23, 2020
Very nice and well maintained trail for walking or biking. Trail is mostly flat and shaded. Benches along the trail for taking rest.
Trevor November 7, 2019
Great place to walk/bike especially in peak foliage. I walked beyond the end under the bridge. Nice water views down there.
yeshads August 10, 2019
Excellent place for a peaceful walk or cycling. Almost covered with green trees and shaded. A few benches scattered to rest, if you feel like.
Wish they would provide some rest rooms here and there.
Lucky to have walked for an hour plus.
yeshads August 10, 2019
Excellent place for a peaceful walk or cycling. Almost covered with green trees and shaded. A few benches scattered to rest, if you feel like.
Wish they would provide some rest rooms here and there.
Lucky to have walked for an hour plus.
Anrana S. July 2, 2019
As of July 2019 - the bridge over Rt 2 is not yet constructed. So you are limited to about 11 miles. From Rt up to the former Wang tower in Chelmsford....
