By Larry Kiernan and Emma Kiernan
If you’ve driven Route 20 through Sudbury lately, you’ve probably noticed the trail construction between Dunkin’ Donuts and Lotus Blossom. That’s the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) in progress, as it crosses Route 20 and continues west toward Hudson. By the end of this summer, an 8-mile section of the trail is expected to open, beginning near Landham Road in Sudbury and ending in downtown Hudson.
This new section will join the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, the Assabet River Rail Trail in Hudson, and trails in the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The Bruce Freeman is 20 miles long and extends north through Concord, Acton, Carlisle, Westford, and Chelmsford, just touching Lowell. The 2,200-acre Wildlife Refuge, a former military base, has 15 miles of trails; about half (7.5 miles) of the trail system accommodates bikers, while preserving other areas for pedestrian use and wildlife conservation. The Assabet River Rail Trail goes 8.5 miles south to Marlborough and north to Maynard/South Acton.
Together, these connections form a regional trail system offering about 45 miles of paved, scenic routes for biking and walking. This will grow to more than 50 miles once Wayland’s MCRT is connected.
But for residents of Wayland, there’s still a missing piece. While many people enjoy the MCRT section from the Weston town line to Russell’s Garden Center, there’s currently no direct connection between the MCRT in Wayland and Sudbury. That’s because a short but crucial stretch — “The Gap”— has yet to be constructed. This one and a half mile segment would extend the trail over the Sudbury River and through the Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge, ending near Landham Road.
Until this portion is built, Wayland remains cut off from the larger trail network. Design work is ongoing, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation has set a target of mid-2026 to finalize plans and begin construction. Completion isn’t expected before 2027. In the meantime, trail users can still reach the Sudbury section using a detour along Pelham Island Road and Landham Road. Both towns are considering adding signs to make this temporary route more accessible.
For those unaware, the MCRT is a state-wide 104-mile corridor stretching from Boston to Northampton. It is New England’s longest developing rail trail, joining 26 communities through shared-use paths. Over 60 miles of the MCRT are now open, soon to be 68.
