MCRT: Oakham
Photo credit John Phelan
About MCRT Oakham
Through the late 1600s, Nipmuck Indians occupied the Oakham area for hunting, fishing and seasonal agriculture. Over the next two centuries, Scotch-Irish settlers introduced sawmills, grist mills and farming, followed by wagon and wire manufacturing. From the 1860s the Coldbrook mineral spring and spa, with several hotels and houses in the area, hosted visitors seeking healing from the waters. Travelers arrived by the Mass Central railroad in the 1880s. In the 1930s, the Massachusetts District Commission (now DCR Water Supply Protection) purchased land surrounding the Ware River and Parker Brook in Oakham and removed all the Coldbrook structures to protect the watershed for the Quabbin Reservoir. Oakham, with plentiful woodlands and outdoor recreation, is poised for natural preservation in perpetuity and thriving as a community. More on the history of Oakham can be found here.
The MCRT in Oakham
The Mass Central RR served Oakham from 1877 to 1938, when the rail line was abandoned. The Mass Central Rail Trail in Oakham was built by Wachusett Greenways in collaboration with the DCR and regional towns. The trail welcomes visitors year-round.
Visiting the MCRT in Oakham
There are almost 9 miles of continuous MCRT trail in Barre, Oakham and Rutland.
Additional Resources
Access Points
Parking at Route 122, Barre rest stop West of MWRA brick maintenance buildings. Trail parallels Route 122 and Ware River East to White Valley Bridge. Access the Oakham section of the MCRT from the West in Barre from this location.
Large parking area at Coldbrook Road, Oakham, 0.4 miles south of Route 122 near old Coldbrook Station, with year-round accessible portable restroom
Parking on Route 122 on left just west of the rumble strip trail crossing.
Parking at Route 122 horseshoe rest stop in Oakham on left, with picnic tables and ramp to the MCRT.
Parking at Route 122 on left at an opening in the guardrail, with a ramp to the MCRT at the Muddy Pond outlet just before the Rutland town line.
​Suggested itinerary and sights to see
The MCRT in Oakham starts to follow the Central Mass railroad line route near the Oakham / Barre town line, and continues on the railbed past the site of the old Coldbrook Railroad station, along Parker Brook, across Route 122, and enters Rutland at Muddy Pond, a total of 2.6 miles of trail in Oakham.
RideWithGPS Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53692431
Trail Guide (West to East)
Mile
0.0 – Parking at Route 122, Barre rest stop along Ware River. Trail parallels Ware River.
0.3 – turn right to cross White Valley Bridge, installed in 2012, over the Ware River. MCRT continues East on the former Barre - Templeton railroad line along the Ware River.
0.6 - MWRA dam and maintenance buildings on your left.
0.8 - Near the Barre/Oakham town line, the trail bears right along a serpentine route to join the other railroad in the valley, the old Mass Central line.
1.0 - Trail turns sharply left to continue east on the MCRT.
1.4 - Cross Coldbrook Road and pass the former Coldbrook Springs railroad station, marked by an interpretive plaque. Once a busy area with hotels, houses, and mineral springs – all removed in the 1930s. Large parking area and year–round accessible portable restroom here. (You will intersect the Route 11 Interstate Snowmobile Trail here).
2.1– Note a ramp on the left to parking on Route 122.
2.2 - Cross Parker’s Brook on a 110’ long bridge. Then STOP and cross Rte.122 with caution. Rumble strips here warn trail users and motorists.
2.6 – Continue east traveling along Parker Brook with three bridge crossings. Note several benches and even a fishing spot along the brook.
2.65 - There is a ramp on the right on this section to parking and picnic tables on Route 122.
3.4 - Approach Muddy Pond, with a crossing over the outlet at the Rutland line. Here you’ll see lovely pond and wetland views, and several benches. Continue East, or bear right at the ramp to the parking at Route 122.
A Brief History of the MCRT in Oakham
The Mass Central railroad opened its station in Oakham at Coldbrook in 1887, which led to more development of the resort area around the Springs, as it became easily accessible from Boston or Northampton by rail. Passenger service ended in the 1930s and the station was removed soon afterward.
For more information on the MCRT in Oakham
Wachusett Greenways constructed the MCRT in Oakham with support from DCR, MassTrails and regional town partners. Wachusett Greenways continues as the MCRT steward for the Oakham section. Please visit the website to contribute and volunteer.
Explore Other Communities Along the MCRT
Geographical west to east
Northampton Hadley Amherst Belchertown Palmer 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.