Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

The second phase of the trail has also opened in April 2018 and it should be 11.7 miles total. All for biking, walking, etc.

Yes, it is dog friendly with a leash!

YES! This was an old railroad bed so the grade, if any, is very minor. Fully paved and very smooth and wide. Note also that their web site does say that rollerblading is an acceptable activity on the trail so you should be good to go! Have a great time!

Not aware of any such activities

I am not sure.. I usually don't stop.. sorry.. I wouldn't doubt it. Just in case someone gets a flat or something

With the opening of the Acton section of the trail in April 2018, the total length of the trail from Crosspoint Towers (near Showcase Cinema) in Lowell to just after Wetherbee street in Acton is 11.7 miles.

No timelimits I'm aware of

No sorry. The trail ends in Acton near the rotary, the streets between the end and west concord are not the most bike friendly.

The web site says the Concord section, which is the next phase, will be open in the Spring of 2019 and an additional section in Concord will open June 2019 or sooner.

I go by here every day and a lot of the trail is in the shade and still has some snow. The section of the trail I'm talking about is at the junction of RT 225 and RT 27 in Action where it goes North/South. Yes I agree with Susan, perhaps fun if you have more of "dirt bike" style!

"supposed to" is subjective. If you were walking and then crossing an intersection I would think you would definitely stop for traffic. I would think bicycle riders should do the same. Otherwise as you pointed out this certainly can be a safety problem!

There is parking at Heart Pond off Route 27 in Chelmsford. Ample parking behind Donelans market on 2A in Acton.

If you are traveling south on BFRT, I'd recommend and that you don't go all the way to the southern Terminus in Acton. Take a right on to Brook St, left on to MA-27-S (main St acton), go 3.1 miles and turn left on Maple St, just after the set of lights at the Main St & School St intersection. The Acton entrance to the Acton-Maynard section of the Assabet River Rail Trail is at around 20 Maple St. If you are at the southern end of BFRT, which is just beyond Wetherbee st in Acton, you'll need to backtrack a little to Concord Rd, head west 1 mile til Concord Rd ends, turn left on to Main St (27S)... and eventually turn left onto Maple. For some reason, Google Maps directs you to turn left onto Hosmer from Concord, and then turn right onto MA-111/MA-2-W. *DO NOT TAKE 2-W ON BICYCLE, NO MATTER WHAT GOOGLE SAYS*. Parts of MA-2 do have signs explicitly stating no bicycles allowed. Assume that to be true for the entire multi-lane highway.

The part of the trail that is open is paved and probably 8 ft wide and very nice to ride on. The southern end of the trail ends at the intersection of Route 27 and 225 in Westford. I'm not sure where the North End starts but it is all paved down to that intersection. Happy biking!