Danvers Rail Trail

The Danvers Rail Trail is a 4 1/3-mile non-motorized shared-use path linking schools, downtown Danvers, parks, residential areas, and trails in the neighboring towns of Peabody, Wenham, and Topsfield.

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Ideal for walking, biking, or jogging, the compacted stone dust trail is built along what was once part of the historic Boston to Maine railroad running from Newburyport to Danvers.

The Danvers Rail Trail is managed and maintained by a group of community volunteers and provides a healthful recreational option available to all residents and visitors.

What's New On The Trail!

Rail Trail Covid-19 Etiquette

During these difficult times, healthcare experts remind us that its healthy to get outside and take a walk or run. As most of our readers know, the Danvers Rail Trail is a pleasant linear park offering a safe place to be outside. But even while outside, we ask that all trail users respect social distancing guidelines. In addition to general social distancing guidelines, we ask that trail users please:

• Keep six feet between yourself and other non-family trail users. Six feet is generally the distance between two people with outstretched hands. At times, keeping this distance might mean briefly walking/cycling single file.

• Cyclists and families with strollers should be prepared to move to the side of the trail or walk/ride single file.

• Keep our volunteers healthy and Covind-19 free – please carry out your trash and dog waste.

• While not scientifically proven to avoid Covid-19, a smile and wave to other trail users cannot hurt!

• Danvers related Covid-19 questions can be addressed to COVID19@danversma.gov. 

• Enjoy the trail,

The Town of Danvers and Rail Trail Volunteers

It was bitter, but the Chocolate Walk went on!

The weather was as about as cold as we’ve had this winter, but it was sunny and calm… and still about 20 warmly dressed walkers joined us for our fourth annual Chocolate Walk. We started at the Hobart Street parking lot and walked north to Putnamville Park, about three miles round trip. Hot chocolate and other goodies welcomed walkers at the park.

Many thanks to Putnam Pantry Candies for providing a great selection of Valentine’s Day themed candies for the walk. And to Karen, Matt, Lori, and Anna who made some great homemade brownies and blondies! Everyone was thrilled with the goodies!

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Thank you to all who joined and supported the event! And special thanks to Putnam Pantry!

Dog owners – please be respectful of others on the trail

Events

To help us plan, please register events that use any part of the trail!

It's spring and we welcome dogs and their owners back to the trail. Please be courteous to other trail users – always keep your dog on a leash and pick up any waste your dog creates. Not only is this the polite and healthy thing to do, it’s the law in Danvers.

Chapter XXI of the Danvers Bylaws State in part:

Leashes: “No person owning, harboring or having custody and control of a dog shall permit such dog to be at large in the Town of Danvers at any time. [While on town property other than the Endicott Park dog park] any dog shall be controlled and restrained by a proper leash.”

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Dog waste: “Any person having custody and control of a dog or other animal in any park, playground, beach, public common, municipal recreation area, street, sidewalk, public area or any private property of someone other than the owner within the Town of Danvers shall remove and dispose of any feces left thereon by his or her dog”

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Fines: “The first violation of this By-Law within a calendar year shall be punishable by a $25.00 fine; the second and subsequent violations within the calendar year by a $50.00 fine.”

Complaints about loose dogs should be made to 978-777-0001 x 3023.  Or via the towns contact form at  https://www.danversma.gov/questionscomplaints/

Dumping Is Illegal on the Trail

We are fortunate that most in Danvers work to maintain a clean and environmentally safe Rail Trail. However, over the past few months we have received complaints from trail users regarding the dumping of construction waste (asphalt and concrete), yard waste (e.g. grass-cuttings and brush), and other trash along the Rail Trail.

As a reminder, the Rail Trail is town property. It runs within the Danvers Electric Division right-of-way, which includes a 10 to 15-foot strip of land on either side of the trail. Town of Danvers Bylaw Section XXV.3.a “expressly prohibits the… littering, dumping, or placing of waste of any description on Town-owned lands.”

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Please treat trail users and neighbors with respect and do not dump illegally on the trail. The Danvers Police Department and Board of Health will be on the trail during the spring and summer to help educate and enforce no-dumping regulations.