Norwottuck Rail Trail

Norwottuck Rail Trail
Looking east from the western trail head
Length	9.5 miles (15 km)
Location	Northampton, Massachusetts to Belchertown, Massachusetts
Trailheads	42°20′07″N 72°37′19″W / 42.335208°N 72.621872°W / 42.335208; -72.621872 to 42°20′32″N 72°29′14″W / 42.342179°N 72.487215°W / 42.342179; -72.487215
Use	Hiking, biking. No motor vehicles or horses.
Trail difficulty	easy
Season	year round
Sights	beaver pond near the eastern end with various birds and other critters, former rail bridge

The Norwottuck Rail Trail is a 9.5-mile (15.3 km) combination bicycle/pedestrian paved right-of-way running from Northampton, Massachusetts, through Hadley and Amherst, to Belchertown, Massachusetts. It opened in 1992. No motor vehicles or horses are allowed.

Use

This trail is used by bicyclers, rollerbladers, and hikers. Both recreational and commuter traffic occurs here.

Sights to see include the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge over the Connecticut River. The beaver pond near the eastern end of the trail is host to a number of different kinds of birds including great blue heron and various woodpeckers, as well as ducks, turtles, and various other critters.

Extension

The trail has been extended to the east approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and currently ends at Warren Wright Road south of North Road and north of Wilson Road. A westward extension from Damon Road to Woodmont Road in Northampton opened in 2007. The trail ends close to the Northampton Bikeway, which runs from the other side of King Street to Florence and Look Park. Construction of a rail with trail project southward to downtown Northampton and Easthampton (to connect with the Manhan Rail Trail) is in the planning stages, as is a tunnel underneath the active rail line to join with the Northampton Bikeway. There are various other possible connections being considered, such as a connection to the Canalside Rail Trail.

There is a movement in progress^[1] to create a 104-mile (167 km) bicycle path from Boston westward, which would incorporate the Norwottuck Rail Trail as part of its length.

Reconstruction

The trail has degraded over time. One aspect of the problem is that the original pavement was an attempt at being "green", and incorporated crushed used glass bottles as part of its aggregate. This material has been slowly emerging over time, causing flat tires and other issues. The pavement is due for replacement within the next year.^[2]

Another item under consideration is widening the trail from its current 8 feet (2.4 m) to 10 feet (3.0 m) to better accommodate busy traffic, especially on weekends. Widening would lessen the impact of traffic as on any other kind of road.

In-term activity was scheduled for May 2008 to remove buckling due to root growth under the trail, with further work being considered for later in 2009. Yellow bills were posted at various points along the trail containing details about the scheduled work. At the time, trail users were advised to look for these.^[3]

See also

• Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge
• Central Massachusetts Railroad

References

1. ^ The Mass Central Rail-Trail
2. ^ Bike trail falls into disrepair (retrieved 2008-05-15)
3. ^ Bikepath due for repairs, then overhaul (retrieved 2008-05-15)

External links

• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Video of trail
• Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways
• Norwottuck Rail Trail Survey report
• On a Google map