Mass Central Rail Trail: Sudbury to Hudson
Rail history, a rare Pine Barrens ecosystem, and a rebuilt truss bridge
This roam covers 5.4 miles of the 7.8-mile Mass Central Rail Trail section through MetroWest, connecting South Sudbury to downtown Hudson. Features the Diamond Crossing historic railroad junction, a globally rare Pine Barrens ecosystem, and the rebuilt steel truss bridge over Fort Meadow Brook.
- Length
- 5.4 mi
- Time
- 35 min
- by bike
- Stops
- 5 stops
Starts at South Sudbury Station & Diamond Crossing, ends at Fort Meadow Brook Bridge · Directions
Unlock the SudHud Rider badge
The route, stop by stop
On this route:Mass Central Rail Trail· 5.4 mi
Numbered pins are the stops.
Ride it with Shift, free
A map of the route, directions to each stop in your maps app, and automatic check-in when you arrive. Finish to unlock the SudHud Rider badge.
Stop 1: South Sudbury Station & Diamond Crossing
Start
Historic railroad junction where two rail lines crossed, now a distinctive roundabout trailhead
About this stopNext: Bike to Hop Brook Marsh
2.1 mi · 13 min
2.1 mi separated path
Stop 2: Hop Brook Marsh
Conservation land with marsh views along Hop Brook
About this stopNext: Bike to Desert Natural Area
1.3 mi · 8 min
1.4 mi separated path
Stop 3: Desert Natural Area
A globally rare Pine Barren ecosystem, one of only a few inland sand plains in the Northeast
About this stopNext: Bike to Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest
0.6 mi · 4 min
0.5 mi separated path
Stop 4: Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest
State forest with trail connections to the Assabet River corridor
About this stopNext: Bike to Fort Meadow Brook Bridge
1.5 mi · 10 min
1.5 mi separated path
Stop 5: Fort Meadow Brook Bridge
Finish
A steel truss bridge crossing Fort Meadow Brook, rebuilt in 2024 after the original timber trestle was destroyed by fire. The brook drains the 260-acre Fort Meadow Reservoir to the south.
Getting there
How it works
A roam is a self-guided route you follow at your own pace in the free Shift app.
Follow the route
Open this roam in the Shift app and follow it at your own pace.
Check in at each stop
The app checks you in when you arrive. No scanning, no codes. Visit 4 of the 5 stops and the roam is complete.
Unlock the SudHud Rider badge
Finish the roam and the SudHud Rider badge is yours. Finish all 0 routes in the MassTrails 10 for a bonus badge.
Part of the MassTrails 10. Finish all 0 routes to unlock the Trail Master badge.