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.
A beautiful October day on the trail in Acton.
Phase 1 (6.8 miles in Lowell, Chelmsford, and Westford) opened in 2009. Download a Phase 1 & Phase 2A Trail Map with Parking Information here (PDF)
Lowell Parking
Crosspoint Towers, 900 Chelmsford St. (Weekends and holidays Only)
Chelmsford Parking
Stop & Shop lot, 299 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford
Chelmsford Center for the Arts, 1A North Rd. (Rt. 4), Chelmsford
Chelmsford Center Artwalk, Cushing Place, Chelmsford (public restrooms, seasonal)
Byam School (off school hours), 25 Maple Rd, Chelmsford
Town Land at Heart/Baptist Pond, 2 Pond St., Chelmsford (public restrooms, seasonal)
Phase 2A – (4.9 miles in Westford, Carlisle, Acton) – opened on April 3, 2018. Download a Phase 1 & Phase 2A Trail Map with Parking Information here (PDF)
Acton Parking
Across from 1000 Main Street (Rte. 27), Acton
NARA Park off Rte. 27, Acton (seasonal public restrooms)
At Goulds’ Plaza (behind Donelan’s Supermarket) on Great Road (Rte. 2A), Acton (public restrooms, seasonal)
Patriot Square, 179 Great Road across from Pedal Power Bike and Ski, Acton (Weekends and holidays only)
Ice House Pond, 120 Concord Road, Acton
Phase 2B (Concord – Rte 2 Bridge) – Construction began in June 2020 and this section is expected to open by May 2023. More information about Phase 2B is available here.
Phase 2C ( 2.5 miles in Concord) This section of the trail opened on September 27, 2019.
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)
Phase 2D (Sudbury from the Sudbury/Concord line to the MassCentral Rail Trail – 4.4 miles). The 25% design was completed in November 2019. The virtual Design Public Hearing was held in July 2020 and approved by Mass DOT. The design has been completed and construction began in January 2023.
Phase 3 Sudbury finalized the purchase of 1.4 miles of CSX rail corridor from the CSX Corporation, from the MassCentral, just north of Route 20 to the Framingham line on November 30, 2020 This will ensure the Town’s control of the corridor for expansion of the regional Bruce Freeman Rail Trail system. Framingham is negotiating for the purchase of the remaining 3.2 miles of the CSX corridor in that municipality.
