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Ford's Folly

5 ★★★★★ 14 Google reviews · Running trail in Sudbury, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Ford's Folly's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Loop

What runners say about Ford's Folly

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (14 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Fun little piece of history that's an easy hike off the road.”

You cannot access this site from 62 Bigelow Dr as it is a private residence. Instead take Brimstone Ln and park in the lot for Nobscot Conservation Land. The trail starts across the road and proceeds downhill from that location.

★★★★★ — David , Jun 2023

A pretty cool (and mostly forgotten) chapter in our local history, and a unique and completely unexpected site in the middle of the woods on a short and relatively easy hike from the trail head on Brimstone Lane.

★★★★★ — Matthew , May 2023

Having worked in Sudbury and Marlborough for many years, I was intrigued and decided to see what was Ford's Folly. It was an easy and wonderful lunch time walk from a parking lot on a very narrow Brimstone lane.

★★★★★ — Tad , May 2019

Fun little piece of history that's an easy hike off the road. Google doesn't know the trails yet, so you've kind of got to wing it by walking in the approximate direction until you find a sign to direct you.

★★★★★ — Gwendolyn , Feb 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 14 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“If you want to just see the dam take the right fork of the loop trail at the tree that has the sign on it.”

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Plan your run at Ford's Folly

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday 7 am–3 pm
Tuesday 7 am–3 pm
Wednesday 7 am–3 pm
Thursday 7 am–3 pm
Friday 7 am–3 pm
Saturday 8–11 am
Sunday 8–11 am

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Ford's Folly

62 Bigelow Dr, Sudbury, MA 01776

Get directions

Running trails near Sudbury

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Wooded trail leading to a peak with views of Boston and the surrounding area.

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Weisblatt Conservation Land

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ScenicDog-friendly

Trails for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, plus 100 acres of field.

1.8 miles away

The Desert Natural Area Conservation Land

4.7 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

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2.1 miles away

All running trails in Sudbury, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.