Marlborough Panther Trail Opens: 26.2-Mile Loop Around City

MARLBOROUGH, MA — You don't have to go to Hopkinton to complete a marathon now that Marlborough's Panther Trail is in place.

City officials will dedicate the 26.2-mile Panther Trail Friday, celebrating the completion of a loop that travels through Marlborough's most notable green places — from the Assabet River Rail Trail to Callahan State Park and Williams Lake.

The city began working on the Panther Trail several years ago as part of a larger recreation plan. A 12-1/2 mile section jogging west from Marlborough High School and looping around to Ward Park via Millham Reservoir, the Felton Conservation Land and Williams Lake was already in place.

Friday's celebration will mark the completion of the roughly 13-mile eastern half of the trail, which continues from near Ward Park east to the edge of the Sudbury Reservoir, through Callahan State Park and Ghiloni Park and finally back to the high school.

But the route is much more detailed, and passes through many neighborhoods and other opens spaces. See the full map here. Trail also uses sections of the larger Borough Trail, a 33-mile loop touching Marlborough, Southborough, Westborough and Northborough.

“I’d like to thank the Conservation Commission Trails Committee, and the many volunteers for their dedication in seeing the Panther Trail come to fruition. We are fortunate to have these areas of open space in our City, and I encourage everyone to spend some time outdoors and enjoy the foliage,” Mayor Arthur Vigeant said in a news release.

The grand opening begins at 4 p.m. Friday at the gazebo along Williams Street (park at Marlborough District Court at 45 Williams St.). The opening will include two guided walks along the Williams Lake section of the Panther Trail — but there are four more celebrations planned this weekend (all start at 10 a.m. Saturday):

• Cider Knoll Conservation Land, 526 Stow Road: A 2.6-mile guided walk will travel through the woods to Hemenway Street near the Langelier Street intersection and returning to Cider Knoll.
• Callahan State Park, 241-243 Broadmeadow St.: A 4-mile hike will round the Sudbury Reservoir. No dogs are allowed near the reservoir, and hikers should wear orange due to hunting season.
• Felton Conservation Land, Millham Reservoir: Meet at the Felton Conservation Land parking area off Elm Street for a 2.6-mile hike.
• Flagg Swamp Wildlife Management Area: Hikers should park along Reynolds Court for a 4-mile hike.