MassDOT Unveils 2026 ‘Mass Trails 10′: Discover the Best Hidden Paths Near You

Massachusetts has over 1,000 miles of shared-use paths, and state officials want you to know where they are so you can take advantage of them.

What Is the Mass Trails 10 Initiative?

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Department of Conservation and Recreation are part of a collaboration with the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Conine Family Foundation's HubLuv initiative to showcase the paths.

Each year, a collaboration, known as "Mass Trails 10," "identifies ten signature trails - each offering something unique, from easy transit access and family-friendly routes to rich history, wildlife, and unforgettable views."

Which Massachusetts Rail Trails Are Featured for 2026?

The 2026 Mass Trails 10 includes Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth, MCRT: Wachusett Greenways Section in the Barre, Rutland area, Alewife Brook Greenway to Mystic River Greenway in the Cambridge area, MCRT: Sudbury to Hudson section, and the Marblehead Rail Trail.

Others include Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton, Battle Road Trail between Concord and Lexington, Twin Cities Rail Trail in Fitchburg and Leominster, World War II Veterans Memorial Trail in Mansfield and Norton, and the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Hadley.

Links to each of this year's featured trails and a map are on the Mass Trails 10 website. It also includes a link to the Mass Trails 10 featured trails for 2025.

Mapping 1,000 Miles of Connected Shared-Use Paths

According to MassDOT, "Mass Trails 10 is a short-run marketing and usability test to highlight ten signature trails in Massachusetts with the intention of drawing attention to all shared-use paths in the Commonwealth."

"There are almost 1,000 miles of shared-use paths in Massachusetts. But many people are not aware of them, or don't know about paths beyond their immediate neighborhood," MassDOT stated. "It is also not obvious that many of these paths connect to each other and are part of a broader network."