The MassTrails 10 collection is back for a second year, featuring a second slate of 10 featured rides showcasing some of the state’s signature trails. The MassTrails 10 website has informatio about all the trails, including history, accessibility, and businesses, attractions C amenities along the route.
These trails connect communities, landscapes, and experiences—and many of them provide access to Revolutionary War related sites across the state! What better way to Celebrate Massachusetts 250 than via a shared-use path? Read on for a sampling of the Revolutionary sites you can access by cycling, rolling, or walking on one of the 20 highlighted trails:
The Battle Road Trail traces the route of the British retreat following the Battle of Concord. Historic sites include the Old North Bridge, Meriam’s Corner, Paul Revere Capture Site, Hartwell Tavern, The Wayside house, the Bloody Angle, and the Minuteman National Historic Park Visitor Center.
The Shining Sea Bikeway, on Cape Cod features scenic ocean views that inspired the lyrics of “America the Beautiful”, written by Katherine Lee Bates who was born in Falmouth, where a statue of her stands in front of the library. The trail winds along Falmouth Beach, site of a clash between the British navy and local militia in 1779, dubbed the “cattle incident”. The bikeway was dedicated in 1976 as part of Falmouth’s Bicentennial celebrations.
The Marblehead Rail Trail is a scenic, coastal route through deeply historic Marblehead and Salem. In Marblehead, check out the many commemorative sites recognizing Marblehead’s contributions to the Revolutionary War. The famous “Spirit of ‘76” painting hangs in Abbot Hall along with a collection of revolution-era artifacts. Just past the end of the path in Salem, Leslie’s Retreat Park is the site of a 1775 standoff between British regulars and the Salem militia, recognized as a rehearsal for the Battles of Lexington and Concord that followed.
The Minuteman Bikeway heads through the historic town centers of Arlington and Lexington, both rich with Revolutionary War landmarks, before ending at the old train depot in Bedford. Arlington was the site of the Battle of Menotomy, when local militia members ambushed retreating British troops after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Just off the bikeway in Lexington, the Battle Green was the site of the shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775.
The Nashua River Rail Trail spans from Ayer to just over the New Hampshire border. Located just off the trail, a covered bridge over the Nashua River has roots that date back to 1740 and is one of only three covered bridges in Massachusetts open to vehicle traffic. In 1775, the bridge was the site where Prudence Cummings Wright, who had gathered information about a British plan to seize hidden gunpowder, led a group of women who stopped the British spy operation.
These are just some of the trails that make up the almost 1000-mile shared-use path network in Massachusetts. See you out there!
