Narrow Gauge Rail Trail

A stone dust path on the old Billerica and Bedford narrow gauge railroad, running about 3 miles north from Bedford Depot Park to the Billerica line. People use it to keep going past the end of the Minuteman Bikeway, on a quiet path through woods and wetlands.

Length
3 mi
rail trail
Surface
Mixed
paved and unpaved
Get on at
5 places
on the map

From Bedford Depot Park to Bedford-Billerica town line

Parking at 2 of the 5 places to get on · See where

Partly plowed in winter · Who clears it

2 notices: Billerica section of the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail closed for construction of the Yankee Doodle Bike Path, north of the Bedford-Billerica town line, including the Billerica access points at Concord Road and Middlesex Turnpike. The Bedford part of the trail is open.
Directions to Bedford Depot Park

Where to get on

Numbers match the list; P has parking.

Download the GPX

For Ride with GPS, Strava, Komoot or a bike computer.

  1. Bedford Depot Park, Loomis Street

    South end. The Minuteman Bikeway and the Reformatory Branch Trail also start at Depot Park. Public restrooms are in the Freight House addition.

    MBTA Route 62 bus, Loomis St opp Hartford St, next to Depot Park.
    Town lot at Depot Park.
    Directions

  2. The Great Road (Routes 4, 62 and 225), Bedford center

    About 0.3 mi from Depot Park. The paved part ends here. Next to Veterans Memorial Park and the new fire station site.

    MBTA Route 62 bus, South Rd at Great Rd, about 0.2 mi.
    Directions

  3. Pine Hill Road crossing

    About 0.9 mi from Depot Park. Quiet street crossing in a neighborhood.

    Directions

  4. Sweetwater Avenue crossing

    About 1.9 mi from Depot Park. Woods and wetlands north of here.

    A small gravel lot right by the trail.
    Directions

  5. Bedford-Billerica town line

    North end of the open trail. The Billerica piece past the town line is closed for building the Yankee Doodle Bike Path. Turn around here.

    Directions

Getting there

By transit
MBTA Route 62 bus (from Alewife through Lexington) stops on Loomis Street next to Depot Park.
More

You can also ride the Minuteman Bikeway from Alewife (Red Line) and keep going north from Depot Park.

Bike share
Bluebikes has no stations in Bedford.
Parking
Park at Bedford Depot Park on Loomis Street.
More

Spaces fill up on nice weekends because three trails start here.

Keep going

The Narrow Gauge Rail Trail joins other paths and protected bike lanes. Pick a direction to see it on the map.

This trail Where you can keep going Other bike paths

About the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail

Surface
Mixed. Paved for the first 0.3 mi from Loomis Street to The Great Road, then stone dust the rest of the way. A hybrid or mountain bike is best.
In winter
Bedford plows from Loomis Street to Pine Hill Road after the roads and sidewalks. The Billerica part is not plowed. Source, Dec 2021
Conditions on every path
Restrooms
Public restrooms in the Freight House addition at Bedford Depot Park.
Food
Cafes and takeout in Bedford center on The Great Road, at the 0.3 mi mark. OpenStreetMap lists a pizza shop on Loomis Street by Depot Park.
Who looks after it
Town of Bedford (Department of Public Works). The short Billerica piece past the town line is in Billerica.
Also called
Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail, Narrow Gauge Trail, NGRT, Bedford Narrow Gauge, Billerica and Bedford rail trail

Notices

Work and changes along the trail, with the way around where there is one.

  • Billerica section of the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail closed for construction of the Yankee Doodle Bike Path

    North of the Bedford-Billerica town line, including the Billerica access points at Concord Road and Middlesex Turnpike. The Bedford part of the trail is open.

    Expected to reopen in November 2028. None. Turn around at the town line. Do not go past barriers or fencing.

    Source

  • Short, now-and-then closures and detours near Veterans Memorial Park during fire station offsite work

    Near The Great Road crossing, Bedford center

    The town expected the work to finish in October 2026. Posted on site when in effect.

    Source

More about the trail

Where these facts come fromChecked Oct 21, 2026