Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
 

do we not have a thread for this trail? I know of another that mentions it, but none just for it?

anyway, got out on it tonite. it was pretty empty. nice to have good weather & clear dry trails. not much to see but I have some video frames
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I think we have the BFRT pretty well covered (perhaps even overrepresented?) in the Metro Boston thread. Most of my rides involve the BFRT in some form but I'd still prefer to follow the other thread and post there.

Acton 4pm

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...da12c68040.jpg
very wet, very compactable, good for snowmen but your gloves would get soaking wet

I’m not far from there and that pic could’ve been taken in my driveway. Definitely the heavy wet stuff. Let’s see how tomorrow shakes out. I am firmly in the Zwift camp this time of year, but I’d love to get out for a solid run on the BRFT this weekend if at all possible. A storm might be brewing Thursday into Friday though, so who knows what that will look like at this point.

:thumb: gonna be melt/refreeze, melt/refreeze w/ dashes of more mixed precip this week & next. timing will be everything

First day of work on the Sudbury section today! Clearing vegetation. Photo shamelessly grabbed off the BFRT Facebook page.

https://scontent-bos5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...TA&oe=63D3D210

commendable! is that a gas line right there in the middle sticking up?

Wouldn’t that be nice? Place to warm your hands in the winter, or make a hot dog in the summer!

Looks like some real scenic rail to trails there. Most of the ones around me are dead straight, no hills and not much scenery. It is nice to not have to deal with any cars though, and there are quite a few routes to choose from.

yeah definitely nice to eliminate the "cagers" from the equation!

from Ice House Pond to a little past the 44 marker. wherever that is
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...12995db790.png

I've been wondering about the significance of those markers myself. I don't see them on any trail map that I'm aware of.

it can't mean 44 miles from Boston, can it? I think this was in Westford or Chelmsford. maybe next time I'll use my bike computer & at least measure the distance from the trailhead in Acton

If they're mile markers I'm joining Strava after all, and go on to win TT gold at the Paris Olympics :lol: They're much too close for that. I've been trying to count pedal revolutions in between them but never seem to manage. Yes, that's out here in Chelmsford/Westford.

closed just South of Elderberry Way, Westford, for tree removal at 8am
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fa1e1c982.jpg
https://goo.gl/maps/moWm76XRKSEcw4n59

you absolutely can park near the condos in Chelmsford
at marker 34

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b5b30af59.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f457f6ba5.jpg

saw this on FB

Message from the Town of Sudbury:
"Preliminary vegetation clearing and invasive species removal has been mostly completed in the southern portion of the corridor from its intersection with Haynes Road down to the Station Road area. Rail removal will commence during the week of February 13, 2023. This work will start in the area where the corridor intersects with Hudson Road and head northward. Rails will be cut and removed in sections, and immediately followed by the installation of erosion control measures to allow additional vegetation and tie removal, and grading to get underway."
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9478c5e990.jpg
Read the entire message and sign up for trail construction updates here:
https://brucefreemanrailtrail.org/fe...DMLp-UrirJxyMg

Been to the BFRT a bunch of times the last few years. I'm there on half day Fridays so it's not very busy and just a fun out and back ride away from the steel bulls.

wonder how long that stretch of railroad track is where they just cleared the brush. there was a section I rode one summer that crossed route 117. that was fun but rough

When I rode this path in 2012, the Southern end was at the Rte 225 crossing. TrailLink is showing that it continues further south to Powder Mill Rd now. Is that legit, and would be a good start point to head north next time?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6b7be84d18.jpg

Officially, Phase 2B, the bridge over Route 2, is not open yet, leaving a gap from Wetherbee St in Acton to Commonwealth Ave in West Concord. In reality, it's basically done and folks are using it. I walked from West Concord to Acton, over the bridge, about 10 days ago.
The area south of your photo, from 225 down to Wetherbee St has been open for awhile - I have biked it many times. Took me a bit to understand what I was seeing in your old photo!
Bottom line, you should be able to ride from Powder Mill Rd up to Chelmsford/Lowell, assuming they haven't blocked off the bridge to do whatever work remains.

Good info, thanks. And while scrolling Google Maps to find potential parking areas, it shows a Radio Flyers field nearby. I'll have to check that out also.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5ece811b9.jpg

Wifey & I got out late this afternoon. parked at West Concord. you park on the North side of the train station. lots of parking. went SOUTH toward 117 & nice to see the brush clearing over the old rail bed
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stopped at Fairview Farm, that's route 117 in the center / distance
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4fd966c28e.jpg
then turned around & headed NORTH crossing route 2, aka route 111, aka Union Turnpike, aka Massachusetts Ave. that was fun to experience for the 1st time. it blew my mind to reach Ice House Pond, by the car wash, Trader Joes & Dominos. I guess I don't have to drive to that lot anymore, I can just drive to West Concord, which his much closer to my home.
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google street view heading west on route 2, approaching the overpass
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Nice time, and good info on the trail status. Did you ride the swirly ramp up to Powder Mill Rd?
If not, it is posted "no parking" around that bridge, and at the beginning of Stone Root Ln.
Probably on Mitchell Rd as well, but I don't recall.

So I parked on Indian Pipe Ln (green star) , and was quickly approached by a resident. The wife was polite,
and pleaded with me to move it to a designated parking area. I thanked her for her concerns (many times),
but did not feel it was illegal to be there. The husband came out and attempted a little attitude tho. He said
that parking is not allowed despite the lack of posted signs. Smelled like BS.

I road to the trail and spoke with another rider about this. She mentioned a farm on Plainfield Rd where
they park. I was going to move over there, but decided to blow off the bike ride altogether since it was a late
start already, and I wanted to check out Conte's shop in Lexington.

When I called Concord PD a couple days later, they confirmed that parking is allowed on that street.
Of course the right thing would have been to call them at the time of the incident.

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