Middleton Rail Trail Alliance

Middleton Rail Trail Alliance Trail Description-
Going West to East the trail starts at Sharpner's Pond Road at the N. Andover-Middleton line, near Essex/Salem Road.

The Middleton Rail Trail Alliance is dedicated to turning the old Essex Railroad that runs through Middleton from Danvers to North Andover into a multi-use trail to serve as both a recreational & alternative transportation resource for everyone to enjoy. There is a sign at the entrance. Total distance is approx. 4.5 miles. At approximately .5 miles, you will cross through some boulders on the tra

il, which currently present a modest challenge to carry a bike or stroller. While traveling over this 2-mile section from Sharpner’s Pond to Leitner Way, you will cross three narrow foot bridges. The next intersection, at approximately 1.5 miles, is with Leitner Way, a new subdivision street. After Leitner Way, Boston Brook turns east away from the railroad bed. At approximately 1.6 miles, the wooded trail briefly ends and comes out on Old Essex Street. Go left on this road until it ends at Essex Street. Cross the street and go left about 200 feet and the wooded trail resumes. During this stretch, you will notice an area with high cliff walls on both sides of the trail. This is a place where the railroad engineers had to blast through a few hundred yards of granite ledge using black powder. A few drill holes for the explosive can be seen in the mini-canyon walls. After a short distance, you will once again see water on both sides of the trail. This is now the Emerson Brook watershed, which also flows to the Ipswich River. You will have a crossing at DeBush Avenue and soon after, a second crossing at Essex Street at the 2.3-mile mark. The trail next crosses back over Essex Street where there are breathtaking views of the Emerson Pond area from both sides of the road. The trail then leaves from Emerson Brook and crosses Park Street. Shortly after Park Street are a couple of scenic ponds on the right and then the recreational fields at Howe-Manning School, also on the right. The trail then bears left on a long road/driveway that runs next to Howe-Manning school and the former Central Street Train Station. The trail crosses Central Street at approximately 3 miles and resumes a wooded walk, through a somewhat more settled area. The trail passes near the Old Town Hall and Tramp House on Maple Street and behind the Congregational Church on Webb Street. Soon, the trail comes to Maple Street (Route 62). Go briefly left on sidewalk past Liberty Street and look for the trail across the street. Cross Maple Street and continue on the trail to Oak Street, where it briefly ends. Go left on Oak Street until it ends at Maple Street. Go right on the sidewalk on Maple Street and over the bridge across the Ipswich River, where there are extensive views of the river. At this point you have traveled roughly 3.9 miles along the trail. The state is currently planning to replace the existing bridge in 2024 with one that includes a separate pedestrian bridge that will re-connect the trail over the Ipswich River. Go right at Perkins Road (next street), and then go left where the trail restarts. The trail crosses Gregory Street, behind the former Howes Train Station. You will soon see extensive farm fields on the right. The Middleton trail ends after 4.5 miles at Hathorne in west Danvers. Danvers will be extending their rail trail to join with Middleton’s in the upcoming years.

Thank you to Officer Henry Bouchard for responding to a call for dangerous tree limbs on wires. MELD and DPW have been ...
05/30/2026

Thank you to Officer Henry Bouchard for responding to a call for dangerous tree limbs on wires. MELD and DPW have been notified.

Love seeing the trail be enjoyed by everyone 👣 😀
05/15/2026

Love seeing the trail be enjoyed by everyone 👣 😀

👟👟 Looking to get your steps in? Check out this great public health initiative! Thanks for Public Health Nurse Katie Kurpaska for coordinating.

We love our community! This week we had volunteers from Magical Beginnings help clean up our trail! Thank you so very m...
04/25/2026

We love our community! This week we had volunteers from Magical Beginnings help clean up our trail! Thank you so very much for all that you did! We are so thankful for all their hard work!

We love when people share how much they love our trail!
03/14/2026

We love when people share how much they love our trail!

Exciting Update!!!! We have received over 110 brick purchases. Late spring installation is anticipated. To secure your p...
03/14/2026

Exciting Update!!!! We have received over 110 brick purchases. Late spring installation is anticipated. To secure your place in the initial installation, please place your order soon.

https://www.middletonrailtrail.org/brickprogram

As we celebrate Thanksgiving week, we would like to express our appreciation to our community for your ongoing support. ...
11/23/2025

As we celebrate Thanksgiving week, we would like to express our appreciation to our community for your ongoing support. To date, we have received 96 brick orders. Who will place the 100th brick order? For ordering information, please visit https://www.middletonrailtrail.org/brickprogram.

Sponsor a brick on the trail! Thank you for your support! Your generous assistance will help us maintain and improve the Middleton Rail Trail!

Beautiful morning on the Rail Trail today!! Special thanks to John LeBlanc for fixing our “Free Library” door. We are s...
10/21/2025

Beautiful morning on the Rail Trail today!! Special thanks to John LeBlanc for fixing our “Free Library” door. We are so thankful for him!
WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!
The Middleton Rail Trail Alliance is looking for volunteers to help with managing and improving our rail trail program. The primary areas of need are administrative, trail maintenance and various projects.
If you have potential interest please email us at [email protected].
Please include your name and phone number.

Lots happening on the Middleton Rail Trail the past couple of weeks. Thank you to our volunteers John LeBlanc & Charli...
08/23/2025

Lots happening on the Middleton Rail Trail the past couple of weeks. Thank you to our volunteers John LeBlanc & Charlie Costigan. There is still time to get a brick -order them soon!

08/19/2025

Brush Fire Alert- Stay safe on our trails!

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Central Street
Middleton, MA
01949

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