MCRT: Berlin
About MCRT Berlin
Berlin is an agricultural and residential community that once supplied Boston with vegetables, eggs and dairy products, with a large shoe factory. Agriculture has shifted to equestrian farms and orchards. Several large conservation areas provide opportunities for hiking.
The MCRT in Berlin
The MCRT corridor in Berlin is about 4 miles long. The Easternmost 2.3 miles is former MBTA corridor now leased by DCR for future development as part of the Wayside section of the MCRT. Much of this is currently a walking path. The majority of the Western 1.7 miles (to Clinton) is privately owned, and a MCRT route in this section is not yet established. The Berlin Trail Trust is actively working to develop the MCRT in Berlin as a valuable community resource.
Visiting the MCRT in Berlin
Access Points:
​Currently there is limited access to the MCRT in Berlin. The Town of Berlin Website has a description of the future trail across the town. You can find out more about it here.
Additional Resources
Suggested Itinerary and Sights to See
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The MCRT route through Berlin is entirely on road at this point. Most of the roads are busy, some with high-speed traffic, and limited visibility.
Lester Ross Flood Control Dam and recreational area - extensive trails for hiking and mountain biking, just south of the MCRT corridor.
Wachusett Aqueduct Trail - Dirt path extending from Rt 62 at West Street South toward the Sudbury Reservoir in Southboro, connecting to several other trails.
Clark Conservation Area - Hiking, rock climbing, with varied terrain, just north of the MCRT corridor.
Other open conservation areas in Berlin include Forty Caves, Berlin Meadows, Gates Pond and Mt Pisgah. See more.
Trail Guide (West to East)
Mile
0.0 mi - Berlin / Clinton town line on Route 62 - traveling East
0.2 mi - Coldwell’s Heart - South side of the road
1.0 mi - former location of a cutlery factory and large railroad viaduct that spanned over North Brook - only the bridge abutments and dam under the roadway remain.
1.7 mi - Coburn Rd - Western end of the former MBTA tracks from Boston - the ties and rails can still be seen on the embankment on the north side of the road.
1.9 mi - Bear left onto Carter St.
2.2 mi - Right on Highland St.
2.4 mi - Left on Walnut Street. Staying straight on Highland St for 0.2 miles for the Town center and a small food store.
3.0 mi - Old MCRT tracks near the road on the left, in the woods
3.3 mi - Extensive orchards on the right up the hill
3.5 mi - Right onto Sawyer Hill Rd
3.7 mi - Left onto Route 62 (busy and narrow!). Farm store and farmstand nearby, ice cream available during the summer.
4.7 mi - Enter Hudson on Route 62 after Route 495 interchange (careful - cars entering and leaving ramps)
A Brief History of the MCRT in Berlin
The Mass Central railroad started service here in 1885, and last operated in the late 1970s. DCR obtained a lease from the MBTA to develop a rail trail as a linear state park from Berlin to Waltham in 2010.
For more information on the MCRT in Berlin
For more information on the MCRT in Berlin, contact the Berlin Trail Trust and the Town of Berlin.​
Explore Other Communities Along the MCRT
Geographical west to east
Northampton Hadley Amherst Palmer Belchertown Ware Hardwick New Braintree Barre Oakham Rutland Holden West Boylston Sterling Clinton Berlin Bolton Hudson Stow Sudbury Wayland Weston Waltham Belmont Somerville Cambridge Boston
For each MCRT town, we’ll connect you with maps, resources, suggested routes and trail status.