Map of towns along Mass Central Rail Trail

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Trails, Cycling, Hiking and Lots More

American Hiking Society, promoting and protecting foot trails and the hiking experience. Wachusett Greenways is a sustaining member of AHS.   americanhiking.org

American Trails, a national nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trail motorcycling, ATVs, snowmobiling and four-wheeling.   www.americantrails.org

Appalachian Mountain Club, Worcester Chapter, the local chapter of the nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization.  www.amcworcester.org

Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway, a beltway of trails and greenways connecting 34 towns encircling Boston. www.baycircuit.org

Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust, a land trust based in Clinton, MA, dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of open spaces. www.clintongreenway.org

East Coast Greenway, a long-distance, urban, shared-use trail system envisioned to link 25 major cities along the eastern seaboard between Calais, ME, and Key West, FL. www.greenway.org

Green Mountain Club, Worcester Section. The Green Mountain Trail runs the length of Vermont. A Worcester-based group maintains the section near Stratton Mountain. www.gmcwoo.org

Hiking Resource Guide, where new hikers can learn about the activity before they hit the trails. www.usoutdoor.com/hiking-resource-guide-a20.htm

Mass Central Rail Trail Site. Wachusett Greenways oversees the central 30-mile section of the MCRT. Once a 104-mile railroad line connecting Boston and Northampton, MA, this corridor is being restored as the MCRT, a pathway for bicyclists, walkers, runners, baby strollers and young cyclists with training wheels, wheelchair users, cross-country skier, equestrians and nature enthusiasts.  www.masscentralrailtrail.org

Midstate Trail, a 95-mile footpath through Worcester County, connecting Rhode Island and the Wapack Trail in New Hampshire. www.midstatetrail.org

Naturally Curious with Mary Holland, an online resource based on the award-winning nature guide. naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com

New Hampshire Railroad Revitalization Association, making a difference in New Hampshire’s economic future through transportation research and education.  www.trainweb.org/nhrra/

Rail Trails of Massachusetts, links to useful information on bike and rail trails throughout the state. www.trails.com/massachusetts/rail-trails

Rails to Trails Conservancy, working with communities across America to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into trails, enhancing the health of America’s environment, economy, neighborhoods and people. www.railstotrails.org

The Ride Connection, a central repository for cyclists and rides. www.therideconnection.com

Seven Hills Wheelmen, a recreational group for adults in the Worcester, MA, area who enjoy bicycling and other outdoor activities. www.sevenhillswheelmen.org

TrailLink, a robust source of information on all kinds of trails across the country, provided by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. www.traillink.com

Ware River Rail Trail, a patchwork of possibilities leading to Winchendon, MA.  www.traillink.com/trail/ware-river-rail-trail

Wayside Rail Trail, a proposed trail on the eastern section of the old Central Mass line.  www.mass.gov/service-details/mass-central-rail-trail-wayside

White Oak Land Conservation Society, founded in 1978 to preserve land as open space in Holden and the region surrounding Holden. www.whiteoaktrust.org

Massachusetts State Agencies

Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Greenways’ closest partner and owner of the majority of the land our trails cross and a provider of much of WG’s funding.  www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-conservation-recreation

Mass. Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs

Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, and managing many other environmental issues. Provider of some WG funding.  www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection

DCR Watershed Public Access Plan. The Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Water Supply Protection (DCR/DWSP) owns 21,028 acres of land in the Wachusett Reservoir Watershed (including the reservoir). This plan explains DCR/DWSP policies and outlines control measures to be used to mitigate impacts from public access on those lands.  www.mass.gov/service-details/dcr-watershed-plan-publications

Mass. Office of Watershed Management manages and protects the drinking water supply watersheds for approximately 2.5 million residents of Massachusetts, primarily in Greater Boston.  www.mass.gov/orgs/dcr-office-of-watershed-management