HomeMassachusettsNorth Andover › Shawsheen River Trail

Shawsheen River Trail

4.1 ★★★★☆ 55 Google reviews · Running trail in North Andover, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Shawsheen River Trail'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.

ShadedLit at nightQuiet

Shady park featuring a walking trail that winds by a pond and a community garden.

What runners say about Shawsheen River Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (55 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Pretty clean, protected, shady.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“It's a nice quiet Trail but beware of people lurking around you never know but so far has been quiet to me”

Not as bad as a lot of the comments say. Pretty clean, protected, shady. Goes past a pond, a high school, and community garden. A little short if you’re doing more than walking, but it loops nicely ( i went around twice by accident my first time

★★★★☆ — Justin , May 2023

Preserved nature. Quiet walk. Inspiring place. Need service: posters on the trial, display of the trial's map...leaves blowing...Recommended.

★★★★☆ — Kiriza , Dec 2015

It's a nice quiet Trail but beware of people lurking around you never know but so far has been quiet to me

★★★★★ — Dizzyx08 , May 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 55 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.

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“It's a nice quiet Trail but beware of people lurking around you never know but so far has been quiet to me”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Pretty clean, protected, shady.”

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💡 Lit for night running 3 mentions

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Plan your run at Shawsheen River Trail

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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.

Hours

Monday 6 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 12–3:30 AM, 6 AM–11 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–10 PM
Thursday 6 AM–10 PM
Friday 6 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 4:30 AM–11 PM

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 Shawsheen River Trail

29 Loring St, North Andover, MA 01845

Get directions

Running trails near North Andover

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

O'Connell South Common

4.3 ★★★★☆ 221 reviews

Lawrence, MA

Shaded

Park with basketball courts and baseball fields, plus a playground.

under a mile away

Lawrence Heritage State Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 85 reviews

Lawrence, MA

Scenic

Land celebrating local history encompasses mill property, canal, boathouse, parks, visitor center.

under a mile away

Campagnone Common

4.6 ★★★★★ 261 reviews

Lawrence, MA

Shaded

Grassy, family-friendly gathering spot featuring outdoor tables, a fountain, swings and walking paths.

1.0 miles away

Den Rock Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 224 reviews

Lawrence, MA

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

120-acre nature preserve with wooded walking trails & a granite face for rock climbing.

1.2 miles away

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

4.7 ★★★★★ 332 reviews

North Andover, MA

15 miLitScenicDog-friendly

Beautiful garden with a historic house where kids can interact with reindeer (at Christmastime at least) and punch cards.

1.6 miles away

Weir Hill

4.8 ★★★★★ 134 reviews

North Andover, MA

15 miScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a lake and a hilltop with views, plus trails for hiking and dog walking.

1.8 miles away

All running trails in North Andover, 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.