Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail
| Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail | |
|---|---|
Looking east from the western trailhead | |
| Length | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Location | Northampton, Massachusetts to Belchertown, Massachusetts |
| Established | 1993 |
| Designation | Massachusetts state park |
| Trailheads | 42°19′45″N 72°37′56″W / 42.32912°N 72.63227°W to 42°19′46″N 72°27′48″W / 42.32947°N 72.46342°W |
| Use | Hiking, bicycling, inline skating, cross-country skiing |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
| Sights | Beaver pond near the eastern end with various birds and other fauna (the Amherst College Wildlife Sanctuary), former rail bridge |
| Surface | Paved |
| Right of way | Former Central Massachusetts Railroad |
| Maintained by | Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Norwottuck Rail Trail |
| Trail map | |
Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail | |
The Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail, full name the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail, formerly the Norwottuck Rail Trail, is an 11-mile (18 km) combination bicycle/pedestrian paved rail trail running from Northampton, Massachusetts, through Hadley and Amherst, to Belchertown, Massachusetts. It opened in 1993, and is now part of the longer Mass Central Rail Trail. It is considered to be part of the Northampton Rail Trail System which continues from the western terminus, and is proposed to connect to the Belchertown Greenway from the eastern terminus.