World War II Veterans Memorial Trail
Featured Ride
Beginning at the Mansfield MBTA Station, this 13.8-mile out-and-back ride cuts a straight line through the serene, wooded landscape of Southeast Massachusetts on the World War II Veterans Memorial Trail. The corridor is a gateway to several local nature preserves, offering numerous trailside opportunities to explore on foot.
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Trail Description
The World War II Veterans Memorial Trail runs from Mansfield to Norton along the former Taunton Branch of the Old Colony Railroad. The trail memorializes the Americans who served during the War, including more than one million soldiers who were processed through Taunton’s Camp Myles Standish and traveled this very route toward Boston to depart for the European Theater. The rail line also carried several thousand German and Italian prisoners of war to and from Camp Myles Standish. Today, the corridor is a natural artery, connecting several locally managed parcels of protected nature.
Transportation
There is parking available at the Norton trailhead, in addition to several other lots along the trail, all shown on the map above. If you choose to take public transportation, the trail is accessible by MBTA Commuter Rail and local GATRA bus.
MBTA Commuter Rail
This trail is easily accessed from Mansfield Station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Providence Line. Trains run hourly on weekdays and every two hours on weekends. The trip takes 50 minutes from Boston South Station. Tickets can be purchased in the mTicket app or onboard. All Commuter Rail trains will be fare-free on Fridays in June, July and August. Check the MBTA Website for the Providence Line schedule and information about bringing your bike on the Commuter Rail.
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) Bus
The trail can be accessed from Taunton on GATRA buses 6 and 14, with bus 14 also serving Attleboro. All GATRA fixed routes are currently fare-free. Check the GATRA website for route maps and schedules. See this video for instructions on bringing your bike on the bus.
MBTA Commuter Rail
This trail is easily accessed from Mansfield Station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Providence Line. Trains run hourly on weekdays and every two hours on weekends. The trip takes 50 minutes from Boston South Station. Tickets can be purchased in the mTicket app or onboard. All Commuter Rail trains will be fare-free on Fridays in June, July and August. Check the MBTA Website for the Providence Line schedule and information about bringing your bike on the Commuter Rail.
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) Bus
The trail can be accessed from Taunton on GATRA buses 6 and 14, with bus 14 also serving Attleboro. All GATRA fixed routes are currently fare-free. Check the GATRA website for route maps and schedules. See this video for instructions on bringing your bike on the bus.
Trail Photos
Trail Attractions
WW II Veteran’s Monument (0.7 miles from start)
Located at the northern trailhead near Mansfield’s East Street, this monument stands as the formal dedication site for the trail, honoring the men and women who served across the many theaters of World War II. The monument was designed by Lt. Col. Lester McGoldrick, a former US Army Staff Officer at nearby Camp Myles Standish, who was instrumental in the development of the trail. The trailhead here connects to Mansfield’s downtown and the MBTA Commuter Rail Station via Old Colony Road.
WW II Veteran’s Memorial Nature Trail (1.6 miles from start)
Between Branch Street and Fruit Street you can hike through this peaceful wooded preservation, also dedicated to those who served in the War. Owned and maintained by the Natural Resources Trust of Mansfield (NRTMA), the seven-acre parcel contains nearly a mile of walking trails and is home to an array of local wildlife. “Once you enter the property you’d think you were in Maine or New Hampshire,” says NRTMA. Check out the Natural Resources Trust of Mansfield (NRTMA) website for more information.
Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve (3.2 miles from start)
Just before the bridge over I-495, you can check out the Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve, maintained by the Land Preservation Society of Norton (LPS). The secluded parcel contains a short hiking trail to a certified vernal pool. This unique type of wetland is a critical habitat for many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with “vernal,” meaning spring, referring to the springtime rains that often provide their water. Typically very small and shallow, these pools are free of fish, crucial for animals like wood frogs and several mole species that lay eggs here to ensure survival. The Preserve contains both woods and open meadow, and its proximity to the Mansfield Municipal Airport offers the chance to watch planes take off, but also requires trees to be frequently trimmed for safety. Check out the LPS website for more information.
Henrich - Johnson Woods and Johnson Acres (3.9 miles from start)
On the opposite side of I-495 you can explore the Henrich-Johnson Forest and Johnson Acres, maintained by the NPS and Norton Conservation Commission, respectively. The Henrich-Johnson Forest contains numerous vernal pools and a large pond (home to frogs and salamanders), surrounded by a pine forest with small patches of American beech trees. As you hike the forest’s two miles of trails, you may notice holes in the trees left by the local woodpecker population. You can continue your trek across the street in Johnson Acres, a large 50-acre parcel with several wooded trails, and open fields with a picnic area. This preserve contains a globally rare White Cedar Swamp, and is part of the Canoe River Greenbelt, a protected ecological corridor that safeguards crucial local aquifers. Check out the LPS website to learn more about the Henrich-Johnson Woods, and the Town of Norton website for more on Johnson Acres.
Woodward Forest and The L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge (off-trail from end)
A short ride down Crane Road from the end of the trail you’ll find Woodward Forest and the neighboring L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge, the largest preservation area along the trail corridor, totaling 250 acres. Several miles of trails across the two preserves allow you to explore vernal pools and a pair of rivers amidst a forested landscape. Woodward Forest was formerly Woodward Farm, and before that, was the site of a 1676 battle during King Phillips War, known as the Lockety Neck Fight. Within the L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge, you’ll find the remains of a 19th-century copper mill powered by canals cut off of the Wading River. Learn more about the Woodward Forest and The L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge on the LPS website.
Located at the northern trailhead near Mansfield’s East Street, this monument stands as the formal dedication site for the trail, honoring the men and women who served across the many theaters of World War II. The monument was designed by Lt. Col. Lester McGoldrick, a former US Army Staff Officer at nearby Camp Myles Standish, who was instrumental in the development of the trail. The trailhead here connects to Mansfield’s downtown and the MBTA Commuter Rail Station via Old Colony Road.
WW II Veteran’s Memorial Nature Trail (1.6 miles from start)
Between Branch Street and Fruit Street you can hike through this peaceful wooded preservation, also dedicated to those who served in the War. Owned and maintained by the Natural Resources Trust of Mansfield (NRTMA), the seven-acre parcel contains nearly a mile of walking trails and is home to an array of local wildlife. “Once you enter the property you’d think you were in Maine or New Hampshire,” says NRTMA. Check out the Natural Resources Trust of Mansfield (NRTMA) website for more information.
Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve (3.2 miles from start)
Just before the bridge over I-495, you can check out the Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve, maintained by the Land Preservation Society of Norton (LPS). The secluded parcel contains a short hiking trail to a certified vernal pool. This unique type of wetland is a critical habitat for many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with “vernal,” meaning spring, referring to the springtime rains that often provide their water. Typically very small and shallow, these pools are free of fish, crucial for animals like wood frogs and several mole species that lay eggs here to ensure survival. The Preserve contains both woods and open meadow, and its proximity to the Mansfield Municipal Airport offers the chance to watch planes take off, but also requires trees to be frequently trimmed for safety. Check out the LPS website for more information.
Henrich - Johnson Woods and Johnson Acres (3.9 miles from start)
On the opposite side of I-495 you can explore the Henrich-Johnson Forest and Johnson Acres, maintained by the NPS and Norton Conservation Commission, respectively. The Henrich-Johnson Forest contains numerous vernal pools and a large pond (home to frogs and salamanders), surrounded by a pine forest with small patches of American beech trees. As you hike the forest’s two miles of trails, you may notice holes in the trees left by the local woodpecker population. You can continue your trek across the street in Johnson Acres, a large 50-acre parcel with several wooded trails, and open fields with a picnic area. This preserve contains a globally rare White Cedar Swamp, and is part of the Canoe River Greenbelt, a protected ecological corridor that safeguards crucial local aquifers. Check out the LPS website to learn more about the Henrich-Johnson Woods, and the Town of Norton website for more on Johnson Acres.
Woodward Forest and The L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge (off-trail from end)
A short ride down Crane Road from the end of the trail you’ll find Woodward Forest and the neighboring L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge, the largest preservation area along the trail corridor, totaling 250 acres. Several miles of trails across the two preserves allow you to explore vernal pools and a pair of rivers amidst a forested landscape. Woodward Forest was formerly Woodward Farm, and before that, was the site of a 1676 battle during King Phillips War, known as the Lockety Neck Fight. Within the L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge, you’ll find the remains of a 19th-century copper mill powered by canals cut off of the Wading River. Learn more about the Woodward Forest and The L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge on the LPS website.
Trail Artwork
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Wildlife of the Trail
This trail runs through a mix of residential areas and forests. Potential wildlife include the scarlet tanager, wood thrush, ovenbird, red-breasted nuthatch, various woodpeckers, veery, eastern phoebe, red-eyed vireo, crows, deer, porcupine, and squirrels.
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 currently only two nearby hotspots, at Fulton Pond in Mansfield Center and the Norton Reservoir, but you can suggest new hotspots along the route! 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 currently only two nearby hotspots, at Fulton Pond in Mansfield Center and the Norton Reservoir, but you can suggest new hotspots along the route! See this page for more information about eBird.
Dig Deeper
Building the Rail Trail
Initial municipal plans to transform the inactive railroad right-of-way between Mansfield and Norton first surfaced in 1999. The original 1.5-mile section between the Mansfield MBTA Station and Fruit Street opened in 2004, but plans to complete the rest of the envisioned trail were shelved for over a decade due to local funding and design debates. A dedicated grassroots campaign successfully revitalized the effort in 2012, securing crucial town backing and state grants for the project. Construction on the 4.5-mile extension into Norton finally began in 2023, and wrapped up for a grand opening in spring 2026. Today, the trail stretches 6 miles of continuous, 12-foot-wide paved path—save for a brief, unpaved stretch near the Mansfield Airport, left to comply with local conservation deed restrictions.
Railroad History
The World War II Veterans Memorial Trail was built along the former route of the Taunton Branch Railroad, one of the first railroads constructed in Massachusetts. The 11-mile line opened in 1836, connecting the industrial center of Taunton with the Boston and Providence Railroad’s Main Line (now the Northeast Corridor), which was completed just a year earlier.
The railroad propelled Taunton into an industrial powerhouse, as the city became a global leader in silver manufacturing and the production of industrial machines. By the 1850s, Taunton was one of the top three locomotive-producing cities in the country, led by the competing Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company and William Mason’s Mason Machine Works. Mason was the architect of the Victorian-era steam locomotive, developing a beautiful yet functional design that was emulated around the world. Taunton locomotives were used as far away as the Cairo and Alexandria Railroad of Egypt and were crucial in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Taunton also was vital in producing locomotives for the Union Army during the Civil War. Before shipping these engines out across the country, they were usually tested on the Taunton Branch Railroad, and were also the line’s daily drivers, a major source of local pride.
The Taunton Branch Railroad merged with the New Bedford Railroad in 1873, which then merged with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad (BC&F) in 1876 to become the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad (BCF&N). The Old Colony Railroad absorbed the BCF&N in 1883, before the whole Old Colony system was acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (The New Haven) in 1893.
After seeing its most intense period of use during World War II (see below), traffic on the line declined in the post-war years with the growth of the highway system and the southern migration of industry. Passenger service on the line was discontinued in 1958, while freight service was officially abandoned in 1965. The final nail in the coffin was the construction of I-495 in the late 1960’s, severing the rail bed.
Camp Miles Standish: Gateway to the European Theater
Between 1942 and 1946, the Taunton Branch transported 1.3-1.5 million soldiers passing through Camp Myles Standish, the final staging ground for the Boston Port of Embarkation, which shipped soldiers and supplies to the European Theater of World War II. Soldiers stayed at the camp for an average of 3-5 days, running through final training drills and attending lectures and films to prepare for departure. The camp held around 25,000-30,000 soldiers, spiking up to 50,000 before big deployments like D-Day.
Initial municipal plans to transform the inactive railroad right-of-way between Mansfield and Norton first surfaced in 1999. The original 1.5-mile section between the Mansfield MBTA Station and Fruit Street opened in 2004, but plans to complete the rest of the envisioned trail were shelved for over a decade due to local funding and design debates. A dedicated grassroots campaign successfully revitalized the effort in 2012, securing crucial town backing and state grants for the project. Construction on the 4.5-mile extension into Norton finally began in 2023, and wrapped up for a grand opening in spring 2026. Today, the trail stretches 6 miles of continuous, 12-foot-wide paved path—save for a brief, unpaved stretch near the Mansfield Airport, left to comply with local conservation deed restrictions.
Railroad History
The World War II Veterans Memorial Trail was built along the former route of the Taunton Branch Railroad, one of the first railroads constructed in Massachusetts. The 11-mile line opened in 1836, connecting the industrial center of Taunton with the Boston and Providence Railroad’s Main Line (now the Northeast Corridor), which was completed just a year earlier.
The railroad propelled Taunton into an industrial powerhouse, as the city became a global leader in silver manufacturing and the production of industrial machines. By the 1850s, Taunton was one of the top three locomotive-producing cities in the country, led by the competing Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company and William Mason’s Mason Machine Works. Mason was the architect of the Victorian-era steam locomotive, developing a beautiful yet functional design that was emulated around the world. Taunton locomotives were used as far away as the Cairo and Alexandria Railroad of Egypt and were crucial in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Taunton also was vital in producing locomotives for the Union Army during the Civil War. Before shipping these engines out across the country, they were usually tested on the Taunton Branch Railroad, and were also the line’s daily drivers, a major source of local pride.
The Taunton Branch Railroad merged with the New Bedford Railroad in 1873, which then merged with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad (BC&F) in 1876 to become the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad (BCF&N). The Old Colony Railroad absorbed the BCF&N in 1883, before the whole Old Colony system was acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (The New Haven) in 1893.
After seeing its most intense period of use during World War II (see below), traffic on the line declined in the post-war years with the growth of the highway system and the southern migration of industry. Passenger service on the line was discontinued in 1958, while freight service was officially abandoned in 1965. The final nail in the coffin was the construction of I-495 in the late 1960’s, severing the rail bed.
Camp Miles Standish: Gateway to the European Theater
Between 1942 and 1946, the Taunton Branch transported 1.3-1.5 million soldiers passing through Camp Myles Standish, the final staging ground for the Boston Port of Embarkation, which shipped soldiers and supplies to the European Theater of World War II. Soldiers stayed at the camp for an average of 3-5 days, running through final training drills and attending lectures and films to prepare for departure. The camp held around 25,000-30,000 soldiers, spiking up to 50,000 before big deployments like D-Day.