Photo: Pi.1415926535 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Mass Central Rail Trail: Sudbury to Hudson
Rail history, a rare Pine Barrens ecosystem, and a rebuilt truss bridge
Follow this roam in the free Shift app
Shift guides you along the route, checks you in at each stop automatically, and unlocks the SudHud Rider badge when you finish.
Part of the MassTrails 10
Ten signature shared-use trails across Massachusetts, selected by MassDOT and DCR for 2026. Complete them all to earn the Trail Master badge. Complete all 0 routes to earn the Trail Master badge.
This roam covers 5.4 miles of the 7.8-mile Mass Central Rail Trail section through MetroWest, connecting South Sudbury to downtown Hudson. Features the Diamond Crossing historic railroad junction, a globally rare Pine Barrens ecosystem, and the rebuilt steel truss bridge over Fort Meadow Brook.
Numbered pins are the roam's stops; gold rings are bonus stops. Check in at each stop in the Shift app to complete the roam.
The route
Visit 4 of 5 stops to complete this roam
South Sudbury Station & Diamond Crossing
Starting point
Historic railroad junction where two rail lines crossed, now a distinctive roundabout trailhead
Learn more →Desert Natural Area
A globally rare Pine Barren ecosystem — one of only a few inland sand plains in the Northeast
Learn more →Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest
State forest with trail connections to the Assabet River corridor
Learn more →Fort Meadow Brook Bridge
Final stop
A steel truss bridge crossing Fort Meadow Brook, rebuilt in 2024 after the original timber trestle was destroyed by fire. The brook drains the 260-acre Fort Meadow Reservoir to the south.
How it works
A roam is a guided, self-paced adventure you follow in the free Shift app.
Follow the route
Open this roam in the Shift app and follow the turn-by-turn route at your own pace.
Check in at each stop
The app detects when you arrive and checks you in automatically. No scanning, no codes.
Earn the SudHud Rider badge
Complete the roam to earn the SudHud Rider badge and 10 XP. Finish all 0 routes in the MassTrails 10 for a bonus badge.