MCRT: Sudbury to Hudson Section SudHud
Featured Ride
This 15.6-Mile out-and-back ride through the western frontier of MetroWest follows the paved, SudHud section of the Mass Central Rail Trail from suburban South Sudbury through forested conservation areas before ending in charming downtown Hudson. You can also extend your ride on the transit-accessible Bruce Freeman Rail Trail or Assabet River Rail Trail, which can be combined for a longer 19.8-mile loop.
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Trail Description
The MCRT: SudHud was built by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) along the former Central Massachusetts Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad and is part of the envisioned 104-mile Northampton-to-Boston Mass Central Rail Trail. This brand-new section was officially opened in Spring 2026 and connects with the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Assabet River Rail Trail to form a robust regional network.
Transportation
There are several parking lots along the trail, shown on the map below. MCRT: SudHud itself is not directly accessible by public transportation, although you can extend your ride along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and/or the Assabet River Rail trail for easy access to the MBTA Commuter Rail.
MBTA Commuter Rail
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is just steps away from West Concord Station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line. The Assabet River Rail Trail is also easily accessed from South Acton Station, one stop further down the Fitchburg Line. Trains run every 30-60 minutes on weekdays and every 2 hours on the weekends. The ride from North Station in Boston is approximately 45 minutes. Check the MBTA website for the Fitchburg Line Schedule.
The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is just steps away from West Concord Station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line. The Assabet River Rail Trail is also easily accessed from South Acton Station, one stop further down the Fitchburg Line. Trains run every 30-60 minutes on weekdays and every 2 hours on the weekends. The ride from North Station in Boston is approximately 45 minutes. Check the MBTA website for the Fitchburg Line Schedule.
Connecting Trails
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
At the South Sudbury Diamond Crossing, you can connect with the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail which runs 20 miles from the MCRT to Lowell.
Assabet River Rail Trail
From Hudson, you can continue directly onto the 10.4-mile paved Assabet River Rail Trail, which passes through Stow and Maynard on the way to Marlborough.
At the South Sudbury Diamond Crossing, you can connect with the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail which runs 20 miles from the MCRT to Lowell.
Assabet River Rail Trail
From Hudson, you can continue directly onto the 10.4-mile paved Assabet River Rail Trail, which passes through Stow and Maynard on the way to Marlborough.
Trail Photos
Trail Attractions
Diamond Crossing Roundabout and South Sudbury Train Station (0 miles from start)
As you begin your ride, you’ll pass through the newly constructed diamond crossing roundabout, a transportation crossroad dating back to the 19th century. Once an intersection between the New Haven’s Old Colony Railroad and the Boston and Main’s Central Massachusetts Railroad, the ‘Sudbury Diamond’ now serves as a junction between the North-South Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the East-West Mass Central Rail Trail. South Sudbury Station was originally built in 1879 to serve both railroads, before being reconstructed in its current form in 1952 as passenger railroad traffic declined. Nearby at the trail’s intersection with Boston Post Road, you’ll also find an original 1890 Section House which housed track repair crews and is one of the only structures of its kind still standing in Massachusetts.
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (3 miles from start)
Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 2,000 acres across the towns of Sudbury, Stow, Maynard and Hudson. A great spot to check out local wildlife, the refuge’s freshwater wetlands and oak-pine forests provide critical habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, American beavers and bobcats. During World War II, the site served as the Fort Devens-Sudbury Annex, where munitions shipped from the Midwest via the Central Massachusetts Railroad were stored and tested. Military operations continued through the late 20th century until the land was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2000. Opened to the public in 2005, the refuge now features 15 miles of trails, many following original military patrol roads, where you can still see the remains of several ammunition “igloos.” Read more about the area’s military history in the Dig Deeper section below and learn more about the Refuge on the US Fish and Wildlife Website.
The Desert Natural Area Conservation Land and Memorial Forest (3 miles from start)
Despite its name, the "Desert" is a lush, globally rare Pine Barren ecosystem, home to many unique species of plants and animals not found elsewhere in the region. The 300-acre conservation area sits on a massive deposit of glacial sand, creating a well-drained, nutrient-poor environment that supports pitch pine and scrub oak trees, as well as sweetfern and wild blueberries. Keep an ear out for the rare Eastern Whip-poor-will and look for the unique buck moth, both of which rely on this specific barren habitat to survive. As you move further East into the Memorial Forest, the landscape transitions into a water-rich forested swamp, home to beavers, turtles and other marsh-dwelling wildlife. Learn more on the City of Marlborough website.
Downtown Hudson (end of ride)
As you approach the end of your ride, the trail opens directly into the heart of vibrant Downtown Hudson, recently recognized for having the "Best Main Street in America." Once known globally as 'Shoe Town,' Hudson boasted 17 shoe factories at the turn of the 20th century, with a workforce that made up more than half the town’s population. Today, its walkable downtown offers a variety of food and drink options and is a premier example of post-industrial revitalization.
As you begin your ride, you’ll pass through the newly constructed diamond crossing roundabout, a transportation crossroad dating back to the 19th century. Once an intersection between the New Haven’s Old Colony Railroad and the Boston and Main’s Central Massachusetts Railroad, the ‘Sudbury Diamond’ now serves as a junction between the North-South Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the East-West Mass Central Rail Trail. South Sudbury Station was originally built in 1879 to serve both railroads, before being reconstructed in its current form in 1952 as passenger railroad traffic declined. Nearby at the trail’s intersection with Boston Post Road, you’ll also find an original 1890 Section House which housed track repair crews and is one of the only structures of its kind still standing in Massachusetts.
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (3 miles from start)
Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 2,000 acres across the towns of Sudbury, Stow, Maynard and Hudson. A great spot to check out local wildlife, the refuge’s freshwater wetlands and oak-pine forests provide critical habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, American beavers and bobcats. During World War II, the site served as the Fort Devens-Sudbury Annex, where munitions shipped from the Midwest via the Central Massachusetts Railroad were stored and tested. Military operations continued through the late 20th century until the land was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2000. Opened to the public in 2005, the refuge now features 15 miles of trails, many following original military patrol roads, where you can still see the remains of several ammunition “igloos.” Read more about the area’s military history in the Dig Deeper section below and learn more about the Refuge on the US Fish and Wildlife Website.
The Desert Natural Area Conservation Land and Memorial Forest (3 miles from start)
Despite its name, the "Desert" is a lush, globally rare Pine Barren ecosystem, home to many unique species of plants and animals not found elsewhere in the region. The 300-acre conservation area sits on a massive deposit of glacial sand, creating a well-drained, nutrient-poor environment that supports pitch pine and scrub oak trees, as well as sweetfern and wild blueberries. Keep an ear out for the rare Eastern Whip-poor-will and look for the unique buck moth, both of which rely on this specific barren habitat to survive. As you move further East into the Memorial Forest, the landscape transitions into a water-rich forested swamp, home to beavers, turtles and other marsh-dwelling wildlife. Learn more on the City of Marlborough website.
Downtown Hudson (end of ride)
As you approach the end of your ride, the trail opens directly into the heart of vibrant Downtown Hudson, recently recognized for having the "Best Main Street in America." Once known globally as 'Shoe Town,' Hudson boasted 17 shoe factories at the turn of the 20th century, with a workforce that made up more than half the town’s population. Today, its walkable downtown offers a variety of food and drink options and is a premier example of post-industrial revitalization.
Trail Artwork
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Wildlife of the Trail
This trail runs through various land types, including wetlands, urban/residential areas, a golf course, and lots of forest land. Birds that might be seen along this trail include: Brown creeper, wood duck, belted kingfisher, great blue heron, tree swallow, red-breasted nuthatch, pileated woodpecker, eastern towhee, prairie warbler, and wild turkey. Other wildlife that could be spotted include grey and red squirrels, as well as turtles near the wetlands.
eBird
Check out the eBird hotspots along the trail to see what bird species have been spotted recently in the area. You can also report any interesting birds you see on your ride. There are hotspots at the Desert Natural Conservation Area and Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. See this page for more information about eBird.
eBird
Check out the eBird hotspots along the trail to see what bird species have been spotted recently in the area. You can also report any interesting birds you see on your ride. There are hotspots at the Desert Natural Conservation Area and Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. See this page for more information about eBird.
Dig Deeper
Building the MCRT: SudHud Section
The transformation of the 7.6-mile MCRT: Sudbury to Hudson section from a dormant railroad into a premier greenway was made possible by a collaboration between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and energy provider Eversource. By co-locating active transportation infrastructure with a regional underground power project, Eversource cleared the route, buried utilities, and reinforced bridges to construct a stable maintenance access road, layering the new path directly over the utility's sub-base.
DCR secured a lease of the corridor from the MBTA in 2011 and design and permitting began in 2018. Eversource's utility and bridge work started in late 2022 and DCR began final trail construction in the spring of 2025. Despite navigating sensitive wetlands and the second-wettest summer on record, crews completed asphalt paving ahead of schedule in the fall of 2025 for a spring 2026 official opening. Today, the 10-foot-wide paved path safely connects neighborhoods to a 50-mile regional trail network and features beautifully preserved historical artifacts, including a restored 1881 plate deck girder bridge over Hop Brook and the unique "Diamond Junction" roundabout built around original tracks where two historic rail lines once crossed.
History of the Mass Central Railroad
The Central Massachusetts Railroad had a tumultuous 51-year run as a direct freight and passenger connection between Boston and Northampton. Throughout its history, the railroad was built by the privately owned Massachusetts Central Railroad, who after some initial difficulty raising funds, began construction on the line in 1871. Things were going well until the financial panic of 1873 brought the project to an abrupt halt, leaving half-finished embankments and bridges to rot for eight years. It wasn’t until 1881 that work finally resumed and the first segment from North Cambridge to Hudson opened in October of that year. Westward construction continued until December, when tragedy struck, as the line’s inaugural train to Holden hit and killed a 13-year-old deaf boy. All work on the line west of Holden was suspended and in 1883, the Massachusetts Central Railroad declared bankruptcy. In 1885, a newly formed company called the Central Massachusetts Railroad resumed service on the line, until two years later when the line was leased by the Boston & Lowell Railroad, as was common in this era of cut-throat railroad competition. Two years later, the Boston & Lowell (B&L) was leased by the regional heavyweight Boston & Maine Railroad (B&M), who renamed the line the Central Massachusetts Branch. The B&M was finally able to realize the Boston to Northampton vision and in December 1887, service commenced along the entire route.
Throughout its history, the Central Massachusetts Branch was intertwined with water in some form or another. As Greater Boston’s water demand skyrocketed, the state decided to dam part of the Nashua River and flood a large swath of farmland to create the Wachusett Reservoir, which was the largest manmade reservoir in the World at the time of its completion in 1905. The Central Massachusetts Railroad was essential in the reservoir’s construction, transporting millions of tons of stone, cement and equipment needed to build the Wachusett Dam. Unfortunately, the reservoir’s construction required them to abandon its track between Berlin and Oakdale and divert trains around the reservoir on a competing line.
When the Wachusett Reservoir proved insufficient for the booming Boston metropolis, the railroad would have to adapt yet again to the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir, which would also claim the title of the world’s largest manmade reservoir at the time. While the Central Massachusetts’ Main line was spared, its Swift River Branch serving Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott, was directly in the flood-zone, a blow to overall demand for the railroad.
Finally, the devastating Hurricane of 1938 caused several washouts in the Ware and Swift River Valleys that the B&M chose not to rebuild, fragmenting the line into two sections that would never again connect Boston and Northampton. This ended passenger service on the Western section between Northampton and Hardwick, although freight traffic continued to serve local industry into the 1970s. The Eastern Section between Boston and Berlin continued to serve passengers for several more decades and was briefly taken over by the MBTA in 1964 with the acquisition of the entire B&M Commuter Rail network. Declining ridership led to the end of passenger service in 1971, and another major washout in Wayland led to the end of freight service in 1980.
Fort Devens Sudbury Annex
The Assabet National Wildlife Refuge has a long history of military use dating back to 1942, when the US Army seized approximately 2,750 acres of farmland and woods through eminent domain. During World War II, the area served as a high-security storage site for explosives and ammunition manufactured at the nearby Maynard ammunition depot, which would be shipped out along the Central Massachusetts Railroad. The concrete igloos seen today in the Northern section of the refuge are remnants of the ordnance storage bunkers. After the war, it was placed under the command of Fort Devens in Ayer and transitioned into a training site for National Guard and Reserve troops. Throughout the Cold War, it was used by the Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) to conduct classified research into experimental food rations and military clothing. In the 1980s, it was recognized that decades of military disposal practices of burying waste and chemicals had severely polluted the area, and over the next 20 years, the Army spent millions excavating their main dump and cleaning up the site. In 1990 and 1991, the area saw its last military use as Reservists and National Guard troops trained for Operation Desert Storm. In 2000, the Annex was transferred from the Army to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, with the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge opening to the public in 2005.
Hudson Shoe Industry
Hudson was a town that literally cobbled itself together into an industrial powerhouse during the 19th and early 20th century. Before the era of big brick factories you see along the trail today, shoemakers worked in small 10x10 sheds, known as ten-footers, where families would assemble leather pieces cut at a central facility, and send them back to the factory for finishing. The invention of the McKay Stitching Machine in 1858 vastly sped up the manufacturing process and led to the construction of large, steam-powered factories along the Assabet River. The industry saw a boom in the 1860s as the Union Army needed millions of pairs of sturdy boots during the Civil War. Rubber manufacturing was another major Hudson industry led by the Apsley Rubber company, later part of Firestone. By the early 20th century, the marriage of the shoe and rubber industries led Hudson-based Thomas Taylor & Sons to become the world’s leading producer of shoe goring, the elastic fabric used in slip-on shoes. The industry declined in the post-war years as manufacturing migrated South to union-busting Sunbelt cities and eventually overseas.
The transformation of the 7.6-mile MCRT: Sudbury to Hudson section from a dormant railroad into a premier greenway was made possible by a collaboration between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and energy provider Eversource. By co-locating active transportation infrastructure with a regional underground power project, Eversource cleared the route, buried utilities, and reinforced bridges to construct a stable maintenance access road, layering the new path directly over the utility's sub-base.
DCR secured a lease of the corridor from the MBTA in 2011 and design and permitting began in 2018. Eversource's utility and bridge work started in late 2022 and DCR began final trail construction in the spring of 2025. Despite navigating sensitive wetlands and the second-wettest summer on record, crews completed asphalt paving ahead of schedule in the fall of 2025 for a spring 2026 official opening. Today, the 10-foot-wide paved path safely connects neighborhoods to a 50-mile regional trail network and features beautifully preserved historical artifacts, including a restored 1881 plate deck girder bridge over Hop Brook and the unique "Diamond Junction" roundabout built around original tracks where two historic rail lines once crossed.
History of the Mass Central Railroad
The Central Massachusetts Railroad had a tumultuous 51-year run as a direct freight and passenger connection between Boston and Northampton. Throughout its history, the railroad was built by the privately owned Massachusetts Central Railroad, who after some initial difficulty raising funds, began construction on the line in 1871. Things were going well until the financial panic of 1873 brought the project to an abrupt halt, leaving half-finished embankments and bridges to rot for eight years. It wasn’t until 1881 that work finally resumed and the first segment from North Cambridge to Hudson opened in October of that year. Westward construction continued until December, when tragedy struck, as the line’s inaugural train to Holden hit and killed a 13-year-old deaf boy. All work on the line west of Holden was suspended and in 1883, the Massachusetts Central Railroad declared bankruptcy. In 1885, a newly formed company called the Central Massachusetts Railroad resumed service on the line, until two years later when the line was leased by the Boston & Lowell Railroad, as was common in this era of cut-throat railroad competition. Two years later, the Boston & Lowell (B&L) was leased by the regional heavyweight Boston & Maine Railroad (B&M), who renamed the line the Central Massachusetts Branch. The B&M was finally able to realize the Boston to Northampton vision and in December 1887, service commenced along the entire route.
Throughout its history, the Central Massachusetts Branch was intertwined with water in some form or another. As Greater Boston’s water demand skyrocketed, the state decided to dam part of the Nashua River and flood a large swath of farmland to create the Wachusett Reservoir, which was the largest manmade reservoir in the World at the time of its completion in 1905. The Central Massachusetts Railroad was essential in the reservoir’s construction, transporting millions of tons of stone, cement and equipment needed to build the Wachusett Dam. Unfortunately, the reservoir’s construction required them to abandon its track between Berlin and Oakdale and divert trains around the reservoir on a competing line.
When the Wachusett Reservoir proved insufficient for the booming Boston metropolis, the railroad would have to adapt yet again to the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir, which would also claim the title of the world’s largest manmade reservoir at the time. While the Central Massachusetts’ Main line was spared, its Swift River Branch serving Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott, was directly in the flood-zone, a blow to overall demand for the railroad.
Finally, the devastating Hurricane of 1938 caused several washouts in the Ware and Swift River Valleys that the B&M chose not to rebuild, fragmenting the line into two sections that would never again connect Boston and Northampton. This ended passenger service on the Western section between Northampton and Hardwick, although freight traffic continued to serve local industry into the 1970s. The Eastern Section between Boston and Berlin continued to serve passengers for several more decades and was briefly taken over by the MBTA in 1964 with the acquisition of the entire B&M Commuter Rail network. Declining ridership led to the end of passenger service in 1971, and another major washout in Wayland led to the end of freight service in 1980.
Fort Devens Sudbury Annex
The Assabet National Wildlife Refuge has a long history of military use dating back to 1942, when the US Army seized approximately 2,750 acres of farmland and woods through eminent domain. During World War II, the area served as a high-security storage site for explosives and ammunition manufactured at the nearby Maynard ammunition depot, which would be shipped out along the Central Massachusetts Railroad. The concrete igloos seen today in the Northern section of the refuge are remnants of the ordnance storage bunkers. After the war, it was placed under the command of Fort Devens in Ayer and transitioned into a training site for National Guard and Reserve troops. Throughout the Cold War, it was used by the Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) to conduct classified research into experimental food rations and military clothing. In the 1980s, it was recognized that decades of military disposal practices of burying waste and chemicals had severely polluted the area, and over the next 20 years, the Army spent millions excavating their main dump and cleaning up the site. In 1990 and 1991, the area saw its last military use as Reservists and National Guard troops trained for Operation Desert Storm. In 2000, the Annex was transferred from the Army to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, with the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge opening to the public in 2005.
Hudson Shoe Industry
Hudson was a town that literally cobbled itself together into an industrial powerhouse during the 19th and early 20th century. Before the era of big brick factories you see along the trail today, shoemakers worked in small 10x10 sheds, known as ten-footers, where families would assemble leather pieces cut at a central facility, and send them back to the factory for finishing. The invention of the McKay Stitching Machine in 1858 vastly sped up the manufacturing process and led to the construction of large, steam-powered factories along the Assabet River. The industry saw a boom in the 1860s as the Union Army needed millions of pairs of sturdy boots during the Civil War. Rubber manufacturing was another major Hudson industry led by the Apsley Rubber company, later part of Firestone. By the early 20th century, the marriage of the shoe and rubber industries led Hudson-based Thomas Taylor & Sons to become the world’s leading producer of shoe goring, the elastic fabric used in slip-on shoes. The industry declined in the post-war years as manufacturing migrated South to union-busting Sunbelt cities and eventually overseas.
Photo Credits
South Sudbury Station Building Today, "South Sudbury station (1), April 2016" by Pi.1415926535 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.