Welcome To The Danvers Rail Trail
From Rails To Recreation
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.
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!
The Chocolate Walk Returns – February 18th 11:00 am
Join us for our winter Chocolate Walk! We will meet at the Hobart Street parking lot. Weather and trail conditions will dictate our walk (usually about 4 miles round trip).
Chocolate goodies will be available for a boost of pre-walk energy.
Children, and dogs on leashes welcome! Walkers with dogs will be asked to depart a bit after 11:00 in order to minimize congestion on the trail.
Come prepared with the right footwear and outerwear. We recommend you bring along anti-skid straps for boots in case sections of the trail are icy.
Should the weather or trail conditions appear to be too treacherous for a safe walk, we will post an update here and send out a cancellation notice a few days before the walk.
This is a free event, but donations are always welcome!
Work Completed Wenham St to Mile Marker 3.7
Danvers DPW has completed making repairs to the trail surface and improving drainage about 300 yards north of Wenham St.
Over the past weeks, ditches were dug on both sides of the trail, drainage pipes were installed under the trial to divert water away from the trail surface, and a combination of gravel and stone dust was applied to the surface from Wenham Street north to mile marker 3.7.
This section of the trail now has a smoother and safer surface, and should be less adversely affected by heavy rains.
Thank you to the Town of Danvers for completing this work. And to trail users for your patience during the construction.
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk - 2023
About 90 people of all ages joined us for a very pleasant 2023 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Beverly, Lynnfield, Middleton, Peabody, and Salem. This year’s walk was the first to explore the trail extension being constructed towards Middleton. The group started on the current trail near mile marker 1.9, headed northwest, crossed Hobart Street, made use of the new bridge over Beaver Brook, then made their way to Nichols Street. The trail extension runs along the Danvers Electric Division Right-of-Way. The stone dust surface had not yet been applied, and while muddy, the trail was still quite passable.
The walk was managed by about 8 volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings. Most walkers made the full three-mile trek to the Nichols Street and back.
Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who joined the fun!
Events
To help us plan, please register events that use any part of the trail!
Do you have a photo or story you would like to share about the rail trail?
Do you need to report a problem or issue on the Danvers Rail Trail?
PLEASE BE SAFE WHILE USING OUR TRAIL AND WEAR YOUR HELMETS!
THANK YOU!
Please do NOT Place Advertising or Announcements on the Trail
Danvers Rail Trail Mobile App!
Download the Danvers Rail Trail Mobile App from the Apple and Google/Android stores! All you have to do is search in the app stores for danvers trail & download. Click here for a list of current features of the app.
DOG OWNERS
CLICK HERE
Danvers Rail Trail Northwest Extension Progress Being Made!
[January 2023]
We are happy to announce that work has been completed on the timber bridge spanning Beaver Brook (a few hundred yards northwest of 34 Hobart Street). It is now possible to cross over the brook and make your way northwest towards Route 62/Maple Street. Initial work on the bridge included installing sediment control measure to help protect nearby wetlands. This bridge is a major step forward in completing the connection to Middleton. Leveling and applying a stone dust surface between the current trail and Nichols Street is planned for the near future.
For those in the Hathorne area stone dust has been applied to the trail surface from about the Lahey Outpatient Center on Hathorne Drive north to the Middleton trail. Its now possible to follow a stone dust trail from Lahey to Route 62 in Middleton (at Farmer Brown’s), which is about 1.5 miles one way.
Residents in the vicinity of the construction have been notified (more details here). We do not expect any disruption along the current trail.
