Photos: New 4-1/2 Mile Rail Trail Opens Connecting Local Cities

LEOMINSTER, MA — The newest rail trail in Massachusetts officially opened in late June, offering a fresh 4-1/2 mile pathway to explore on foot, bike, scooter or wheelchair.

The Twin Cities Rail Trail was built on top of the former Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad, which generally runs alongside Route 12 between downtown Leominster and downtown Fitchburg.

Planning for the trail stretches back to 2004, but the effort took off in 2017 when the two cities bought the former railway in 2017. The paved pathway officially opened on June 22 — although it was useable before then — and includes a new bridge crossing Route 2.

A good place to start your journey is at the parking area at the Leominster end of the trail, which begins near Pine Grove Cemetery and its rows of century-old headstones.

The trail has a number of new bridges, including this one that passes over a deep spillway near Priest Street in Leominster.

Of course, no motor vehicles are allowed on the trail, but there are several major street crossings to navigate. New pedestrian signals and crosswalks have been added along the length of the trail.

You may have to wait to cross this busy intersection near the Fitchburg-Leominster line.

But the busiest road you'll encounter — Route 2 — is a breeze to navigate thanks to a pedestrian bridge near exit 99B.

Not only is the Twin Cities trail great to visit, it'll offer local residents a way to visit shopping centers and other amenities without driving. The trail also runs behind every business along Route 12 with frequent exit and entry points.

There are also several new rest areas along the path with trash cans, benches and bike racks.

A shady section of the trail running between the Nashua River and Route 12 in Leominster.

The Twin Cities trail isn't done yet. Future expansion plans include a section extending to the MBTA commuter rail station in Fitchburg and the Monoosnoc Brook Walk in downtown Leominster.

Know before you go

• Consider leaving pets at home on hot, sunny days. The rail trail blacktop can get dangerously hot and burn paws.
• Bring water if you plan to go the whole distance (9 miles round trip).
• Looking for a workout? Doyle Field in Leominster has an array of outdoor exercise equipment right off the trail.
• Parking for the southern end of the trail can be found around Carter Park in Leominster.
• The trail ends at the Nashua River just before downtown Fitchburg. You'll need to take streets if you plan to trek farther or grab something to eat in the downtown area.
• Find a full trail map and information about the trail here.