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Norwottuck Rail Trail - Trail Head
4.8 ★★★★★ 166 Google reviews · Running trail in Belchertown, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- 22 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Norwottuck Rail Trail - Trail Head'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.
Paved rail trail covering 15 miles of scenic terrain, with plenty of benches and cafes.
What runners say about Norwottuck Rail Trail - Trail Head
“Great trail maybe my favorite of all , i love to do the entire ride , its well kept and the views are amazing and the people along the way are always very nice.”
“There are plenty of interesting things to see along the trail, bridges, underpasses, beautiful views of the Holyoke range, colleges, golf courses, marshes, and more!”
“It offers quaint places to sit, plenty of bathrooms, and is perfect for cycling,running,walking,etc.”
This was such a beautiful trail! It's all paved from Belchertown to North Hampton MA. Very clean and we'll kept. Beautiful views and nature all around. It offers quaint places to sit, plenty of bathrooms, and is perfect for cycling,running,walking,etc. and great for little kids to run, ride bikes and explore.
I go for a walk on the trail once a week for about 2 hours it's one of the best walks I have. While on the walk I will see birds some other wildlife and go buy a few parts that have water.trill I'm on the trail for about 2 hours it's one of the best walks I have.
This is a great trail. The eastern part has places to stop and enjoy the wildlife while the western side has a bridge over the river and places to stop and grab a bite to eat. The trail appears to be well taken care of. We enjoy visiting here often.
Beautiful trail. I have walked it and biked. Many trails to explore that are going off the main paved
Trail conditions & character
“There are plenty of interesting things to see along the trail, bridges, underpasses, beautiful views of the Holyoke range, colleges, golf courses, marshes, and more!”
“Many trails to explore that are going off the main paved”
“You can choose to just take a leisurely cruise for a few miles and enjoy being outdoors or make the full 22 mile round trip.”
Plan your run at Norwottuck Rail Trail - Trail Head
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Distance22 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- Websitemass.gov
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 | 5:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 5:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| Sunday | 5 AM–8:30 PM |
Running trails near Belchertown
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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Scarborough Brook Conservation
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Groff Park
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14-acre green space with ball fields, picnic areas & BBQs, plus a playground, trail & shallow river.