MCRT: Sterling
About MCRT Sterling
Native Americans lived in the Sterling area as far back as 7000 BC. In the 1600s, the powerful Nashaway tribe sold land including the West and East Washacum lakes to settlers. Incorporated as Sterling in 1781, Chocksett was an earlier name, meaning “land of the foxes”. In the early 1900s, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts MDC purchased the lake for Wachusett Reservoir watershed land. Today visitors continue to enjoy paddling and fishing on West Waushacum and the Quag.
The MCRT in Sterling
The Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad arrived in Sterling in the 1850s. The railroad led to a large operation cutting ice from West Lake Waushacum for transport to large cities. The lake became a destination offering hospitality for train travelers who enjoyed steamboat touring, watching rowboat racing regattas, amusements and picnic grounds.
The Mass Central Railroad started service to Oakdale with a spur to Sterling in 1881, and with the relocation of the Mass Central Railroad for the Wachusett Reservoir, the MCRR opened a station at Sterling Junction in 1903. Passenger service ended in 1932. The former MCRR tracks were merged with the Fitchburg and Worcester RR, currently an active freight line, thus an alternative route for the MCRT through Sterling is required.
Visiting the MCRT in Sterling
Access Points
The MCRT is not yet built in Sterling, so on-road alternatives are necessary.
The former Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad section has been developed by Wachusett Greenways as the Sterling Spur of the MCRT. They collaborated with the DCR Division of Water Supply Protection, the Cider Mill owner, generous Sterling contractors and donors to initiate construction of this spur in the early 2000s.
You can visit the completed 1.7-mile trail, between 23 Gates Road and 15 Washacum Street in Sterling. There is trailhead parking with accessible portable restrooms year-round at each end.
Additional Resources
Suggested itinerary and sights to see
Mile
0.0 - Start at MCRT Sterling Spur parking lot, 23 Gates Rd., Sterling
0.2 - Enjoy views of West Washacum Lake on your right from granite benches. DCR DWSP has installed interpretive signs for a sensory trail here.
0.3 - Cross the West Washacum/Quag bridge. Walk to the water’s edge for nature observation and fishing.
0.4 - Across the bridge there are numerous benches for resting, watching kayakers and canoeists, and visiting with friends.
1.3 - Cross a smaller bridge built through a Sterling Eagle Scout project. A stream winds here through wetlands.
1.7 - Current ending for the Wachusett Greenways portion of the MCRT. MCRT parking lot and accessible portable restroom behind 15 Washacum Street. See antique shops here and follow Washacum St. to the left toward Route 12, Main Street for shops and restaurants and a lovely common.
Traveling the MCRT temporary on-street route from West (West Boylston) to East (Clinton) in Sterling.
RideWithGPS Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53700880
Trail Guide (West to East)
Mile
0.0 - From the Northern end of Pleasant Street at the Sterling/West Boylston line, turn left onto Bean Road.
1.01 - Right on Gates Road, then cross BUSY Route 12.
1.3 – Parking lot on the right, and entrance to MCRT Sterling spur at 21 Gates Rd on the left, with accessible rest room on the trail.
1.65 – Cross the CSX Worcester railroad line, which carried MCRR trains after a portion of these two railroads were merged in 1903.
1.7 – Location of the former Sterling MCRR station.
1.8 – Cottages of the former Sterling Methodist Campground, a religious retreat location from 1850 to the 1940s.
2.8 – Go left on Squareshire Road.
3.3 – Right on a short connector lane, and in 200 feet, another right onto Chace Hill Rd.
3.9 – Left onto Metropolitan Road / Rt 110. Caution – very busy road, high speed traffic, no shoulders.
4.6 – Enter Clinton.

Current MCRT Projects in Sterling
From the end of old Pleasant Street at the West Boylston/Sterling line, Wachusett Greenways anticipates future potential trail connections leading North and/or East:
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Trail connections for the MCRT route, including DCR Watershed land, will lead from Pleasant Street in West Boylston to Route 110 at Chase Hill Road, Sterling near the Clinton town line.
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Another set of trail connections will reach 21 Gates Road, Sterling at the parking and entrance to the MCRT Sterling spur where the trail now continues to Sterling center. From Sterling center, Wachusett Greenways anticipates future connections North to Chocksett Road where MassDOT has established a shared use path north along Route 12.
For more information on the MCRT in Sterling
Wachusett Greenways (WG) leads the construction and maintenance of the MCRT in Sterling in partnership with the Town of Sterling, the DCR DWSP with support from MassTrails plus seven regional towns.
For construction of the MCRT Sterling spur portion in the early 2000s from Gates Road to the Sterling cider mill, amazing donors provided a trail easement, construction services, a bridge from the Boston Big Dig, transportation for the bridge (twice) and special painting for the original West Washacum/Quag MCRT bridge. Today WG volunteers are key to maintaining the trail.
Join us!
Visit Wachusett Greenways to participate.
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.