MCRT: Hardwick
About MCRT Hardwick
Hardwick is a bustling agricultural community along the Ware River. Iron ore from the Ware River marshes supplied a foundry at Old Furnace that manufactured cannon balls during the American Revolution. Gilbertville, the largest population center of Hardwick, hosted numerous woolen manufacturing buildings, several of which still exist today. The Hardwick Community Fair is the oldest continually-running farming fair in the US, begun in 1762, and held on the third weekend in August on the town common.
The MCRT in Hardwick runs along the Ware River, crossing three times between Hardwick and New Braintree, for a total of almost 6 miles of developed trail. These sections include old mill buildings, areas overlooking a fast-moving river, wetlands, farms, wooded areas, and 2 historic railroad bridges. The MCRT route in Hardwick crosses the Ware – Hardwick Covered Bridge, although the actual rail line was on the west side of the river until it was washed out by the hurricane of 1938. The Hardwick – New Braintree section of the MCRT is maintained through the diligent efforts of the East Quabbin Land Trust.
Visiting the MCRT in Hardwick
Access Points:
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Old Gilbertville Road and Bridge St /MCRT intersection (1-space parking at covered bridge) (Ware)
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Ware River Park – 89 Main St, Gilbertville/MCRT intersection (10-space paved parking available)
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70 Creamery Rd, MCRT intersection (parking available on adjacent field) (Hardwick)
1741
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Hardwick Road/MCRT intersection (10-space parking available)( New Braintree)
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Maple Street, Wheelwright– on-street parking. (Hardwick)
Additional Resources
Connecting Trails:
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In Gilbertville an informal trail winds up the steep slopes of the Dougal Range providing an overlook on the village.
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The East Quabbin Land Trust’s River’s Edge Preserve includes a loop trail to the Ware River accessed from the MCRT in Wheelwright.
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​Suggested Itinerary:
This route includes New Braintree sections.
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​The Town of Hardwick has an excellent online interactive Story Map that includes tourism and historical features throughout the town. Most of these features are North and West of the MCRT, as the MCRT and Ware River form the southeast border of the town.
RideWithGPS Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53521492
Trail Guide (West to East)
Mile
0.0 mi – Enter Hardwick from Ware on Route 32 traveling North.
1.0 mi – Turn left onto Bridge St after passing the town library, the Stone Church cultural center, a bakery, stores and restaurants. Cross the 1886 Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge over the Ware River.
1.2 mi – Immediately after the bridge, turn right onto Spring Street. This is an unpaved street, it becomes a packed dirt path behind a former Gilbertville Textile Mill building.
1.4 mi – The trail crosses North St. and continues on the right side of the Hardwick House of Pizza – the former Mass Central RR train station. This is the historic village of Gilbertville. A convenience store is located 0.3 miles northwest of the MCRT on Hardwick Rd / Rt 32A. The old Town center with its historic buildings is 2 miles further North
1.5 mi – Continue east, diagonally across Route 32 towards the MCRT – follow the signs across the street for MCRT. The Town of Hardwick’s gazebo on the Ware River Park provides views of the Ware River. This section runs high above the river with sweeping views over the valley, and includes a fence mural recounting the natural and human history of the area, along with ten stationary fitness stations.
1.9 mi – Continue east (bear right) onto Route 32, continue for 1 mile.
2.9 mi - Turn right onto River Run. Old abutments for the Mass Central RR are to your left. This is a relic of times when competing railroads would run parallel or cross each other numerous times.
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3.5 mi – Turn left on Creamery Rd.
3.6 mi – Turn right onto the MCRT. Parking in the field opposite this trail entrance on Creamery Rd. You’re entering a very scenic section of the Ware River – eagles, otter, deer and foxes are often spotted here.
4.7 mi – The historic Lattice Truss bridge crossing the Ware River (entering New Braintree).
5.4 mi – Hardwick Road crossing, (New Braintree) with parking at the site of former New Braintree train station. Once a busy depot where milk from over 40 area dairy farms was shipped to Boston. Old Furnace General Store is 0.2 mi West on Hardwick Rd.
5.8 mi – Historic Pony Truss bridge crossing of the Ware River (entering Hardwick).​
6.3 mi – On street parking at Maple Street, Wheelwright (Hardwick). The village of Wheelwright includes the site of a former paper mill, turned into a tissue product manufacturer. Unfortunately, many of the buildings burned in a 2001 fire, leaving the brick ruins still visible.
Head 700 feet to the east for the site of a future bridge crossing over the Ware River.
Look to the left – you’ll see a dam that is scheduled for removal, to improve water quality and fish access to the upper Ware River.
Current MCRT Projects in Hardwick
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Develop 2+ mile section of MCRT in New Braintree heading east into Barre.
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Apply for permitting for Ware River bridge in Wheelwright (Hardwick to New Braintree).
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Complete feasibility study for alternatives along Rte. 32/Lower Road (Hardwick).
A Brief History of the MCRT in Hardwick
The railroad in this corridor last operated to Wheelwright in the late 1970s. In 1999 the Town of Hardwick acquired the ½ mile of former railroad corridor in Gilbertville as conservation land. The formal MCRT trail opening occurred in 2023. The East Quabbin Land Trust acquired 3+ miles of former railroad corridor in 2007 in Hardwick and New Braintree, and spent the following decade building the MCRT and repairing four historic bridges. Approximately ½ mile of missing trail segment along Rte. 32 (Lower Road) is currently under an alternatives analysis for sidewalk development.
For more information on the MCRT in Hardwick
The East Quabbin Land Trust has successfully acquired and developed the MCRT in Hardwick, and is leading the effort to complete the missing sections in the town. Learn more about their work at eqlt.org. Donations are welcome – visit https://eqlt.org/support/
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up at https://eqlt.org/about-us/volunteers/ - there are many great opportunities to help complete and maintain the MCRT.
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.