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Needham Town Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 166 Google reviews · Running trail in Needham, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Needham Town Forest'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.
Wooded 200-acre park with an intricate tangle of moderate biking trails & an unusual train trestle.
What runners say about Needham Town Forest
“One star off as the trail markers aren’t that big nor the map that clean.”
Super technical terrain for mountain biking offering some really advanced riding.
It's nice, but everything is "you get what you pay for". Plentiful parking, in a compacted leaf and mud lot. Windy trails, that are difficult to notice (and easy to miss connections). Little birdhouse roofs identify trails, though circular blazes aren't always accurate.
Amazing bike trails. Mainly black diamonds because of granite rock and roots. Lots of small hills, lots of short punchy climbs. Great rail trail for walking your dog. Make sure you pick up the droppings! Lots of small ponds and great trails. Took me a whole year of riding every week to find all the trails.
Magical walk to a hidden train in the woods for people with young children. Kids can look for the little fairy houses hidden along the way. Consider taking along an old but still usable toy to leave in the toy box when you find the little railroad, as some of the toys there are a little worse for wear.
Trail conditions & character
“Trails are solid, good for dogs, kids, and mountain bikes.”
“Nice hiking or snowshoeing area in the winter, fun mountain biking trails in the summer with some small technical sections”
Plan your run at Needham Town Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteneedhamma.gov
- Phone(781) 455-7550
Hours
| Monday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
| Sunday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
Running trails near Needham
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
