Cheshire Branch Rail-trail

Winchendon

This unpaved trail is open on an informal basis south of the New Hampshire State Line!

Brought to you by MapBlast! (Click on map to navigate)

USGS Topographic map of Winchendon

USGS Aerial photograph of Winchendon

Trail pictures and narrative are arranged from southeast to northwest!

Rail-trail users must note that four rail-trails currently converge at Winchendon:

Cheshire Branch Rail-trail to Keene and Westmoreland NH
Monadnock Branch Rail-trail to Jaffrey NH
North Central Pathway to Gardner MA
Ware River Rail-Trail to Coldbrook MA.

Both the Cheshire Branch Trail and the Monadnock Branch Trail begin behind the large Brooks Pharmacy store on Central Street. One entrance is via a narrow passageway on the east side of the store, and the other entrance is from the extreme rear of the large parking lot that runs along the West side of the store. Note that this segment of both trails end at the side of an old factory building on Jackson Street.

The potential trail entrance at the Central Street Crossing is blocked by landscaping for a large furniture store.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.

The trail exit at the Jackson Street Crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.

Because the rail-trail is blocked by trees, weeds, and junk north of Jackson Street, 'street legal' trail users must jog to the west to use the recently reconstructed Lawrence Avenue.

The Cheshire Branch Rail-Trail begins on the west side of the street within a sixteenth-mile of Jackson Street. This trail entrance is somewhat obscured by overhanging trees but is otherwise easy to spot. A quick trail check on July 24, 2000 at this entrance and the Robbins Road Crossing suggest that this rail-trail is open to State Line Station and is used with some frequency.

Detailed information about the Massachusetts segment of the Monadnock Branch Rail-Trail north of Jackson Street is available on the Winchendon Page for that trail!

Pictures of two of cluster of ancient factory buildings south of Central Street as well as a picture of the north end of Whitney Pond are available on the Winchendon Page of the North Central Pathway on this Web Site.

'Street-legal' trail users can enter the downtown segment of both the Cheshire Branch Rail-Trail and the Monadnock Branch Rail-Trail at the following points:

Behind the Brooks Pharmacy on Central Street via a narrow passageway on the east side of the store, or from the extreme rear of the large parking lot that runs along the West side of the store
Directly from the end of Maple Street.
Jackson Street Crossing

'Street-legal' trail users of the Cheshire Branch Rail-Trail can enter the trail at the following points:

Lawrence Avenue (a sixteenth-mile north of Jackson Street)
Robbins Road (between Route 12 and Lawrence Road)

'Street-legal' trail users from New Hampshire points that wish to continue their journey via rail-trail to Baldwinville or Gardner MA must bypass the closed railroad bridges by using the following informal bike route to the crossing of the Ware River Rail-trail of Route 12 at the end of Water Street.

southwest on Central Street (Route 202)
southeast on Route 12 across the river to Water St.

Folks destined for Gardner can enter the Ware River trail eastbound at that point (well obscured by weeds and trees), cross Spring Street, then turn sharply onto the trail to Gardner as they reach the south end of the railroad bridges.

Parking Trail parking is presumably available on an informal basis in the Brooks Pharmacy lot and the large parking lot immediately west of that store. Note that simple courtesy requires that cars be parked in a manner that does not inconvenience the customers of the respective business firms.

The Webmaster failed to check the offerings of the Brooks Pharmacy and the stores along Central Avenue. But it is presumed that toilets, water, and limited groceries are available at Brooks. One or more restaurants of various kinds should likewise be available along Central Avenue, where toilets and water are also available upon request.

The Post office is on Central Street, a quarter-mile east of the former railroad Crossing.

Bus Terminal Vermont Transit (Greyhound) stops in Winchendon at Ashburnham Cab on Central Street (near the Post Office) on its route between Boston MA and Rutland VT. Vermont Transit will transport a bicycle in an appropriate box as part of the normal passenger baggage allowance.

Bus Stop Montachusett Regional Transit Authority operates the Gardner and Winchendon Link route on weekdays that stops at the Post office on Central Street (near Recreation Complex). A connecting bus serves Fitchburg to connect with MBTA Commuter Trains to Boston. Other 'Link Routes' jointly operated by the Franklin Regional Transit Authority connect in Gardner to serve Athol, Orange, and Greenfield. Note that MRTA busses do not accommodate bicycles!