Wayland | MassCentralRailTrail

MCRT: Wayland

About MCRT Wayland

Wayland is a charming suburban town with a rich Revolutionary War history, scenic conservation lands, and a vibrant town center. The MCRT passes through Wayland for 3.8 miles, winding through wetlands, woodlands, and past historic sites, offering a peaceful escape with easy access to amenities. Visitors can spot wildlife like deer, foxes, and waterfowl, admire seasonal wildflowers and ferns, and explore glacial boulders and stone walls from the area’s farming past. Wayland Center, directly adjacent to the trail, features cafés, bakeries, a pub, and shops with outdoor seating—perfect for a mid-ride break. Historical highlights include the former Wayland train depot site and nearby Revolutionary-era landmarks.

The MCRT in Wayland
Wayland has 0.5 miles of compacted stone dust trail from Russell's Garden Center on Route 20 to the Weston Depot, and another 1.5 miles of the MCRT that is paved in Wayland. This connects to Weston and then Waltham, in total providing 5.2 miles of continuous rail trail from Wayland to Jones Road in Waltham.

DCR manages the Wayland section as part of the MCRT Wayside section.

Visiting the MCRT in Wayland

Access Points:

From Sudbury – continuing East on the MCRT
Route 20 Russells Garden Center (limited parking in lower lot)
Old Connecticut Path / MCRT intersection (limited municipal parking and roadside parking)
Plain Road / MCRT intersection (limited parking)

Additional Resources

MassTrailTracker
Ride with GPS

Connecting Trails:

At the Eastern end of Wayland, the trail connects to the Weston Woods.
Several conservation lands are close by the rail trail - Cow Commons, Mill Pond Park, Barberry Homes Conservation Land, and Rowan Hill. (See: https://www.wayland.ma.us/conservation/pages/trails).

RideWithGPS Route - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53661645

Trail Guide (West to East)

Suggested Itinerary and Sights to See

Scenic Power Line Corridor: The unique open views of the active power line area are a defining feature of the Weston section. Because no herbicides are used, this open area has prolific growth of wildflowers, with different species in bloom from late April through September.

Russell's Garden Center: Nursery with plants, garden tools, gifts, seasonal items, and snacks since 1876.

Wayland Town Center Plaza: Includes Stop & Shop, restaurants, and specialty shops. Other restaurants south of the MCRT along the north side of rt 20.

Wayland Museum and Historical Society/Grout-Heard House: Exhibits on local history, Revolutionary War sites.

Wayland Library

Historic Wayland Depot and Gift Shop: A charitable organization established and incorporated in the state of Massachusetts in 1980, and is a member of the Women’s Federated Exchanges.

Thanks to The Wayland Museum, the Town of Wayland Historical Commission, the Wayland Cultural Council, and Rick Conard for this Tower Hill Station information.

Current MCRT Projects in Wayland

Completion of the MCRT from the Wayland Train Station to the Sudbury Town line, about 1.6 miles, is scheduled for 2028 (See: https://www.wayland.ma.us/planning-department-board/files/masscentralrail-trail-mcrt-%E2%80%93wayland-sudbury-%C2%A0shared-use-path-virtual )
Installing wayfinding signage to town center amenities.
Improving trailhead accessibility at Route 20.
Planning interpretive panels on railroad and Revolutionary history.

A Brief History of the MCRT in Wayland

The Central Massachusetts Railroad completed its tracks through Wayland in 1871, with the line fully operational from Boston (North Station) to Hudson by October 1, 1871. In 1952, the Boston Edison Company (BECo), acquired an easement along the Central Massachusetts Railroad right-of-way in Wayland and Weston and installed the power lines above the railroad tracks. The railroad last operated in the late 1970s. The railroad tracks in Wayland were removed in 2017. DCR completed paving from Wayland Center to the Weston segment by 2019.