Marjorie Turner Hollman is an author, creator, observer, and disability advocate who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.
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On a warm November day we headed over to Medfield, MA to visit the relatively new Medfield Rail Trail. The path is a work in progress as part of the Bay Colony Rail trail, with plans to connect with more of the rail trail located in Dover, Needham and Newton. The Needham and Newton portions are finished while the Dover section is in the planning stage. An updated map from December, 2023 details the completed sections of trail and the plans for further development of this recreational resource. It is also is part of the much larger trail network of the Bay Circuit trail.
Presently the path in Medfield is 1.3 miles from the trailhead on Ice House Road in Medfield to the trailhead on Farm Street. Here’s a link to the map of the trail.
We parked across the street from the Medfield Council on Aging building on Ice House Road. While the lot has no signage, we also saw no signs prohibiting parking. The proximity of the open area (and the number of other cars) made it obvious we were in the right place. The path is not far off from Rt. 27, just north of Medfield Center. Parking on Farm Street, the other end of the completed section, is alongside the road.
We found the parking area nearly full when we arrived on a Friday, mid-morning. Dogs and their people strolled by on the wide, firmly packed crushed stone dust walkway. Multiple benches along the path invite visitors to stop and take in the views of the wetlands that border the trail.
As we crossed Ice House Road we spotted steel rails embedded in the street. For those who are not familiar with the term, “rail trails” take their name from the fact that many rail road corridors were built, then later abandoned as streets were improved and trucks took over as an important form of transport. A growing number of these abandoned rights of way have been transformed into recreational pathways that welcome walkers, bicycles, and sometimes horses. Motorized vehicles are generally prohibited.
You may notice cement posts with a “W”, which indicates a grade (road) crossing. The W told the engineer to blow their whistle to warm those in the grade crossing ahead to make way for the train. Steel rails and other railroad infrastructure left on these paths help remind us that trains used to travel regularly through these areas in the past, carrying goods and passengers from one place to another.
The standard “clean up after your pets” signs are posted along the way. We also noticed a sign telling visitors to “clean up after your horse.” A new one for us! Beside the sign was a small rake, clearly placed to aid horseback riders to clean up their horse’s manure. The clues that we share a path with horses are a familiar sight to many of us.
Deciduous trees on either side of the rail trail make this a somewhat shady location in warmer weather. When we visited, the leaves of oaks, maples and other species of trees had dropped onto the trail, allowing for bright sunshine in colder weather.
This is a relatively short path, not connected with other area trails presently. We saw one bicycle, but for now it is most inviting for pedestrians. It’s wide enough for two to walk together without blocking the way for other visitors. Many thanks to the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail for all their work keeping this trail in great shape.
We look forward to seeing this trail extended in the future. Happy trails.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman 