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!
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!
Thank you to all who joined and supported the event! And special thanks to Putnam Pantry!
A Beautiful First Day Trail Walk
About 50 people of all ages joined us for a pleasant (but a bit brisk) 2020 First Day Walk. Most came from Danvers, but we also had walkers from Peabody, Salem, and Beverly. The walk was managed by about 10 volunteers who handed out light refreshments and acted as guides at street crossings. The recently installed canopied picnic table was a great spot to meet and set up refreshments.
Most walkers made the full three-mile trek to the Putnamville Park 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 do NOT Place Advertising or Announcements on the Trail
PLEASE BE SAFE WHILE USING OUR TRAIL AND WEAR YOUR HELMETS!
THANK YOU!
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 – please be respectful of others on 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.”
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”
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.”
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.