The Town of Topsfield is home to many trails, each with its own history, character and appeal. The Friends of Topsfield Trails is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization created to support all trails in Topsfield including the Topsfield Linear Common recreational path, Topsfield's Rail Trail.

Some of our trails meader through tracts of land in Topsfield's "Gentlemen's Farms and Retreats." These properties include the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Bradley Palmer State Park, Willowdale State Forest, and the Topsfield Town Forest. During the "Gilded Age," a number of wealthy individuals, in particular Thomas Proctor and Bradley Palmer, built their summer estates along the Ipswich River. Their generous gifts to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Audubon Society have preserved the properties they cherished for all of us to enjoy. Other properties have been preserved and trails have been created by latter-day stewards of the land, including the Town of Topsfield, the Essex County Greenbelt Association (ECGA) and the Essex County Trails Association (ECTA).

The Friends of Topsfield Trails continue the tradition of preserving the paths and trails that allow us to celebrate the beauty of our natural resources.

We rely exclusively on private donations and volunteer effort. For donations, please click here. To get involved, please contact us.

 

News and Notes

These are exciting times! All of the rails and ties have been removed to the Wenham town line. The trail surface from Rt. 1 south is compacted dirt which is stable enough for walkers, runners and cross and mountain bikes. You can follow the trail all the way over the steel railroad bridge which crosses Rt. 114 in Danvers. It is naturally the shortest way to get there. After all, that was the way the railroad went. We anticipate putting the final surface on the trail this summer of 2011.

The Topsfield Rail Trail Committee is working on a license with National Grid to start work on the trail going north from Washington St. to the Boxford town line. Our kids will be able to ride their bikes to Pye Brook Park!