For equestrians, the rail-trail serves as an important conduit to the J. Harry Rich State Forest as well as other conservation lands and riding trails in the area.
They left an unpaved trail that parallels the bike trail. For her fellow trail-goers, Lorimer recommends calling out when passing a horse, as a bicyclist coming up fast and quiet behind them might give a horse the impression that a predator is approaching and make them fearful.
A human voice is also preferred over a bell, which could startle them. Another volunteer, Marion Stoddart, also exemplifies this unfaltering work ethic and dedication to the cause.
Even at 91, she rarely misses a trail cleanup event organized by the Friends group. After being used as a dumping ground for decades, the river was in terrible condition when Stoddart first moved to Groton back in Skip to Main Content. Loading Close.
Do Not Show Again Close. Sign In. Cycling Bike Mania has hit the city of Nashua! Bring a few dollars with you so you will be able to stop and get some cold refreshments, ice cream or food along the way in the towns of Pepperell or Ayre. So whether you walk, ride, run or roller blade, the Nashua River Rail Trail is something you should consider.
Directions to the Nashua end of the bike trail are spot on - too bad there isn't a sign of some sort on ? We got there around and there were around 4 parking spots, so we knew this would be busy. Most of the people using this trail "get it" with trail rules.
Nice easy predominately flat trail. We did the trail back and forth in about 2 hours. Thank goodness for the white paint marking the frost heaves - nice job to whoever does that - wish more rail trails would do this. All in all, one of our best experiences in a rail trail. I recommend highly!
Very nice ride. Partial shade, very clean, bumps are marked with white spray paint alerting you to a rift in the trail. Enjoyed the trail immensely. Unfortunately, didn't find the ice cream stand along the trail, but will definitely visit again! This is the fastest mile rail trail we've ever ridden. We started in Nashua, and to our surprise, found out in Ayer that it was the end of the trail.
We were able to ride it at a great pace, despite several rode crossings. It is very flat and well maintained. There are several large parking lots along the way. By noon, the Nashua lot was full.
You can't miss it. This trail is very fun. We saw a fawn on the way to Nashua. There is not much off the trail except in Pepperel where there are a few stores and an ice cream shop. There is also a restaurant.
It is pretty easy to bike both ways because it is very flat. There are no road sections and only a few road crossings. In one of the bridges you go under there are some paintings on one side that you should stop to look at. Though it may seem long it really isn't. It took us a little over 6 hours to do the whole trail from Ayer to Nashua and back to Ayer. This is definitely worth doing.
My husband and I rode this for the 1st time last Sunday. A few people that didn't know trail rules but otherwise wonderful ride on our bikes! Mostly shaded with some great views. I went biking here this past Friday. We started in Nashua. There was a turtle, a snake, and a turkey seen by my husband and I on the path and seen by bikers on our return to Nashua also a bear crossing the path! Such beautiful scenery too. The path Is shaded, quiet, and marked well for bumps in road this time of year.
Rode this on a drizzly weekday, so the trail was not busy. Asphalt is a bit bumpy in spots, but these are well marked. All in all a good ride. Some sections are pretty scenic and quite fun. I went to this trail 2, 3 times so far. On a nice day, it's a little crowded but availability of dedicated parking lot, quite nice view.
This trail is one of my favs. I've been trying to figure out the mile markers without finding out the description, and still have not gotten. Plenty of places to park, very few interruptions and only one slightly difficult crossing rt in Pepperell. Great scenery. Don't forget to go a little bit further on the north end to the pond. For a nice side-trip visit Bancroft Castle in Groton, about a mile off the trail.
From the southern terminus travel north up the trail 3 miles to Broad Meadow Rd and turn right. When you get to the on-coming one-way turn right and then a left onto Main St and a quick right onto Lowell Rd.
Look for the trailhead less than half a mile up on the left. It's a little bit of a climb but completely worth it. We were able to get out on one of the first weekends with comfortable weather shortly after the snow had melted.
The bike path is a real asset to this area, and was once again an enjoyable outing. The most scenic stretch was from Pepperell to Groton. We turned around just below Groton where the salt marshes are. The southbound stretch from Pepperell to Groton was slightly uphill. It's still a rail bed, so it's not at all hilly, but just be advised when planning. There was about a two gear difference between the two directions.
Roots continue to be an issue. They are marked, but they are a problem in the making. We also wished that there were a few more spots to sit down and take a break.
With younger children, we sometimes need to relax for a few minutes. We stopped for ice cream in Pepperell at the restaurant with a window across the street from the trail. It was awful! It tasted like it had been stored since the fall - and was more ice-like than creamy.
If you've never ridden it, this is very pleasant because of all the trees, and the nearby rivers; you'll never feel scorched on a hot summer day not to mention an ice cream stand in Pepperell. There's some up and down but even a beginner should enjoy this ride. We started in Nashua and went as far as Pepperell. It is a paved trail, nice and wide, and very popular.
It isn't close to the river initially. The road crossings have good visibility. I have walked a bit on this trail in Groton as well. Horses are allowed on this trail. It goes through neighborhoods butthere are trees between the houses and trails for the most part. The are a few defects in the pavement and they are marked well so it not a surprise when you go over them.
I liked this trail and will try to go further next time. I've ridden this trail on numerous occasions, and it it is very, very well maintained, scenic and only relatively busy on busy days. Even the few potholes and bumps are spray painted. The parking in Ayer hold about cars, but there are several paring spots along the way although not nearly as large. This trail was a pleasant surprise. We rode the northern half, and parked at the northernmost trailhead in Nashua.
The trail width was ample for two-way traffic, and the road crossings were reasonable. We had difficulty finding the parking area, since information online was not at all consistent. There are no signs until you get to the actual parking lot. Crowds were reasonable considering this trail is close to Boston. My only complaint is that roots and potholes are really starting to take their toll on this trail.
If they let things go much longer, I will have a hard time recommending the trail. I hope they have a plan to resurface in the next couple of years. We rode this from N. For a weekday I was surprised at the traffic on the trail. Completely asphalt paved, any rough areas painted, making them easy to avoid. Scenery was awesome the entire route. Most all of the trail is covered by trees making for a cool ride on a sunny day.
Being from Kansas and flying into the area I wasn't able to bring my own bicycle and had to rent one. We went to Goodale's Bike Shop in Nashua.
I was expecting a rental bicycle to be a piece of crap, but not a Goodale's. They asked me what I usually rode. I used my Map my ride app and the ride was just over 25 miles with a foot gain. No hills to speak of. Wonderful ride would love to do it again. Happy riding. Highly recommended!
We are casual bikers as opposed to racers so the relatively flat topology suited us just fine. One of the prior reviews mentioned and we concur that there are LOTS of places to stop and enjoy the scenery.
In fact, we're planning a return around mid-October as that should be peak "leaf-peeping" time. As an aside, if you'd like to stop for lunch along the way, we found a charming place on Main Street in Groton called the Main Street Cafe.
Park your bikes in the rack by the way station behind Birmingham Bus Company. Walk up Station Ave. This is unquestionably the best paved bike trail east of the Pioneer valley. Nice length, well-maintained paved surface. Can be crowded, but all the bikers and pedestrians seem to have good trail etiquette.
Beautiful scenery and lots of places to stop for ice cream or pizza. Don't miss this great riding experience! It is paved and flat. Most of the users of this trail seem to know bicycle courtesy and yield to those "passing on the left". It crosses just a few streets and all the drivers are aware of the bicycles and yield appropriately. The trail is well maintained and the bumps and heaves are painted white, which is a nice heads up since most of the trail is almost perfect.
The only thing this trail lacks is adequate scenery. It is mostly wooded with some views of the rivers and wet lands, but in my opinion to far and in between. Stop for an ice cream in Pepperell or ride to Ayer, go down town to the only sub and ice cream shop in town. It is 12 miles in each direction and riding with my wife who is a novice rider, we easily did each direction in one hour with no strain.
One of the best trails I have found in New England. I often take the children for rides along the NRRT. There are many great starting points along the 12 mile trail, but our favorite is to start at the trailhead in Hollis, NH. From there we ride down about two miles, where some wonderful locals have installed a coke machine and put out chairs and a recycle bin during bike season.
The children and I find something magically incongruous about finding a coke machine out in what feels like deep woods though there are private residences abutting the trail at this point behind the trees. From there we continue on past some beautiful views of the Nashua River. There are some neat mile markers left over from the 19th century rail road that ran through here from Worcester to Portsmouth, NH.
There are also some side trails, including some well-suited for mountain biking, and many opportunities for geocaching. About five miles down the trail, you'll come to downtown Pepperell and Rail Trail Ice Cream, a frequent stop of ours. There's also good parking there, if you'd like to start from Pepperell. Just past downtown Pepperell are some lovely views of the dam and some good stones to sit on for a picnic, if you're so inclined.
Soon you'll come to the Station Avenue parking area, and if you venture up Station Ave a short way, you'll find pizza and other amenities in downtown Groton. The trail then heads on to Ayer, past some lovely wetlands, sometimes on both sides of the trail. And then you'll reach the terminus at Groton Street in downtown Ayer. Ride over to Main Street and its quaint wooden sidewalks and grab a bite to eat at one of several restaurants.
This trail is as good as it gets to enjoy a ride, walk or run. It is great for a family or just a ride on your bike to get some fresh air. People were friendly and the ride is beautiful. This is what you want in a rail trail, comfort low impact riding, and mother nature at its best.
It is worth the drive and you will have a great day. This is a nicely maintain trail and the paving is great for biking. My only complaint is that it is a fairly boring ride, almost completely enshrouded in trees. This makes for a cool ride unless it is a hot hot day. Very little sun and not a lot the see unless you like looking a miles and miles of woods. On the plus side, there are plenty of places to pick up the trail with easy parking.
It is well maintained. And please anyone riding any trail, if you must ride abreast be aware that there are other people on the trail and might be passing you.
Don't act like it is a complete shock each and every time a rider comes from behind and alerts you "on your left". This goes for every trail. Easy ride mostly flat with slight inclines. Plenty of parking available in all locations. Need to improve the port-a-potty's, Nashua end trail facilities was unusable. We're a family with 2 little ones, ages 2 and 8 months, who love biking in their trailer with dad. We parked in Groton off of court street, there were plenty of parking spaces in the dirt lot, not overly busy for a weekend.
Being right in the center of town proved helpful when we realized we forgot our water bottles at home! The path is wide enough for the traffic, we were never concerned. Our kiddos enjoyed watching the trees and river and there are plenty of spots to pull off for lunch or the ever-needed diaper change lol. And on top of it being a really well paved trail, they've even gone to the trouble to spray paint mark all the bumps, holes, and roots along the way so you have some notice before your little guys get jostled.
The whole ride was well shaded, so even on a hot sunny day it's doable for kids. Check it out! As we were driving home today , after our ride, my husband asked what my favorite trail is so far.. We try to ride a new trail every weekend.
I couldn't decide, and we both agreed that all the trails have been great. The Nashua River trail is no exception. Well groomed, pleasant scenery, and several small towns offering opportunity to stop for snacks.
Saw lots of ice cream cones in Dunstable! Many cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and everyone very friendly. This will definitely be a trail we return to. This is a wonderful trail for walking and biking. As one who bicycles this trail frequently I have read a lot of fellow bikers making comments about pedestrians not sharing the trail with bikers and not moving over so they could pass. Common courtesy always works best and I think you will find that with the measure of courtesy you measure out to others they will measure back to you.
Most people don't know what "On your left" means and others may take offense to it as sounding like you are ordering them to move. I find an "Excuse me please" always works everytime. All people understand that and there is no room to take offense. Try saying "Excuse me please" the next time and you will find that everyone will promptly move for you. I speak from experience. Happy trails!!! This trail is my regular weekend ride and it provides a nice scenic experience with minimal road crossings.
I tend to go very early in the morning to avoid the pedestrian traffic. For the most part early joggers and walkers I encounter are pretty good about following the rules, however, there are the occasional folks who still think it's a road and run or walk on the left side which keeps you guessing until you have to slow down and make sure they are not going to switch sides. My Wife and I love this trail.
We go back to this trail every year. It's a good workout if you pick this trail to ride for the first time in the season. Finding trail head in Nashua was hard with traffic behind you. Recommend a good sign with city ok.
Got out on the trail for the first time this year and found some rough areas. I got to the Nashua trailhead about 4pm and found the parking lot closed up and locked. I'm not sure if the parking lot was closed for the season, I've never seen it locked up before. I parked off the side of the road, along with 3 other cars. On the trail there was quite a bit of tree litter and you could see where large trees had come down and were cut back.
There was also patches of snow and ice left that slowed me down. It's still early so hopefully things will improve in the next few weeks. I always start this trail in Nashua. It is a nice ride. I've ridden this trail probably 10 times of the summer of The trail end in Ayer is nice. There is a bike shop, gas station for water, and some restaurants if you need to stop for a bit and eat if this is long route for you. The only issue I have and it is always the same for most trails is people don't know how to share the "road" But I have found using a bell instead of yelling "on your left" works much better.
I agree with Great Trail's comment about the people that walk or ride 3 to 4 abreast. No matter how loud you say," on your left ", they seem to be bothered by your presence. With that off my chest, this trail is a great way to get in a fun 25 mile ride. My wife and I ride this trail every Sat. Parking at the Ayer side fills in quick on the weekend. During the week, it is almost impossible to find a spot.
We have found the Ayer lot totally filled during the week however, only a few people on the trail itself. I would guess to say people that work in downtown Ayer park there for work. It is a bit frustrating when you take a day off to ride. Oh well. You can do what we do and park in the Nashua Lot.
All in all. Great Trail for a Great Ride!!! I've done this 3 times and loved it every time!! Just started on Rail-Trails. Being a Sr. Citizen I love the Asphalt! This a far less crowded trail than the popular Minuteman train from Arlington to Bedford. The pavement is in excellent condition.
It goes through "exurbs", farmland, woods and wetlands and it's quite scenic. Did 15miles on this trail yesterday Ayer to the ice-cream shop and back! There is ample parking in Ayer. Only one note of caution, as this was a Sunday the trail was quite busy at times and although most people were very courteous when they overtook my younger daughter and I, there were some people going too fast.
One person even overtook us on the right, nearly taking out my daughter. We were riding in single file, well over to the right of the trail. If you want to cycle really fast I'd suggest going somewhere else or choosing a quieter time of day. That being said, it was still a nice safe place to cycle, we are hoping to return soon to do the New Hampshire end of the trail.
To whom it may concern I feel like I just found a hidden gem 35 minutes from my house I will ride this trail "many" times in the near future I can't wait! My only small complaint is the lack of "trail etiquette", I ride at about 15mph on average and had to come to complete stop on several occasions because people were walking or biking two or three wide and not paying attention to my very loud verbal signal "ON YOUR LEFT" If you must ride in parallel be aware of riders coming on your left.
Other than my one complaint, I give this trail 5-stars Thank you, D. My wife, my son and I bladed the trail from the south terminus in Ayer to the quiet parking lot in Nashua on Memorial Day weekend. Light traffic on the trail. Mostly good pavement with nice views over the Nashua river and affiliated swamps. A couple of good eating options in East Pepperell about 8 miles in. We really liked the Pepperell Spa with its old type soda fountain, sandwiches and great ice cream. The great thing about this trail is the rhythm you can build.
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