Danvers Rail Trail
The Danvers Rail Trail is a non-motorized shared-use path linking schools, downtown Danvers, parks, residential areas, and trails in the neighboring towns of Middleton, Peabody, Wenham, and Topsfield. Ideal for walking, biking, or jogging, the compacted stone dust trail is built along what was once part of the historic Boston to Maine railroad running from Newburyport to Danvers.
The north-south trail is 4.3 miles long and connects to trails in Peabody and Wenham.
A new 2.9 mile section of the trail is currently being built from the existing trail at the Wayne Marquis Park northwest, where it connects to the Middleton Rail Trail.
NEWS ALONG THE TRAIL
Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee Status
In 2019, the Friends of the Danvers Rail Trail (a 501c3) was created to support fundraising, collaborate with the Town, advocate for trail improvements, and manage related volunteer activities for the trail. This effort has proven very successful.
Created in July 2010, the Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC) purpose was to advance the use of the abandoned railroad corridors in Danvers as safe recreational environments for pedestrians and cyclists. After 15 years of existence, a significant increase in Town involvement on the Rail Trail, and having achieved initial goals, the RTAC has recommended dissolving the committee to simplify our rail trail-related volunteer and administrative work. The town reviewed and has agreed to this change.
The Friends of the Danvers Rail Trail (FDRT) will continue its role of fundraising, organizing volunteers on the trail, performing smaller maintenance tasks, and providing input to the town on maintaining and improving the trail. Active RTAC members will continue their support of the trail as members of the FDRT. The Danvers Office of Natural Resources will continue their work on the trail. Trail users should not notice any change.
Over the coming month, the FDRT will revise and rebrand this website to reflect this change. The FDRT will also suggest revisions to the Town website.
Town staff have been outstanding in their support of the trail (especially the Office of Natural Resources), and like the Friends of the Danvers Rail Trail, remain dedicated to ensuring the trail remains a fantastic Danvers recreational amenity.
Danvers/Wenham SwampWalk Closed
For safety reasons, certain sections of the SwampWalk are closed until further notice.
For more information on the closure and the SwampWalk overall, see our SwampWalk page. Further updates will be provided by the Town as they become available.
New to Danvers? Check out Amenities and Attractions Along the Trail
Many trail users are taking advantage of the amenities and attractions along the trail. The learn more about are a few of the attractions and amenities trails users enjoy, see our Amenities page.
Special Thanks To Our $500 Mile Marker Sponsors!
Align Credit Union
Texas Roadhouse - Danvers
Diane & Gary Langlais
Kowalski Dental
Venezia Landscaping
Danvers Rotary