What happens when an old mill city decides to renovate an abandoned train bed into a bike trail? Read and find out!
The Quequechan River Rail Trail breathes fresh life into Fall River, allowing citizens and visitors alike to discover the nature that has been hidden so long in plain sight. Resting mainly between Interstate 195 and old mills, public access to most of the river was restricted. This new trail now permits us to explore and enjoy much of Fall River’s namesake, the Quequechan River, which means “Falling River” in native Wampanoag.
The trailhead wasn’t the easiest to find. In fact, I had to go to the police station, which is right around the corner, and ask for directions on how to get there. Considering we were in my hometown, it was a bit embarrassing! The officer was kind enough to help me out and told me to park at Britland Park.
We were able to observe some turtles playing hide-and-seek.
Old mills can be seen on the other side of the river, a reminder of the important role the Quequechan played for the textile industry.
Former train trestles have been replaced with sturdy, pedestrian and bike-friendly bridges.
As a train dork, I loved that a piece of the original tracks was left behind.
There are also a few emergency boxes along the way. This is the first time I’d ever seen these along a bike trail. More trails should have these to help walkers and bikers feel safe.
Here are some more nice views you can expect to see along the trail:
Proof that I was actually here: (in case the other photo wasn’t enough).
Proof that I was actually here:
And here’s my awesome sidekick, who keeps me company on my adventures!
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If you like local hikes, you should check out these places:
- Ridge Hill Reserve, Dartmouth
- Hiking Simmons Pond in Little Compton
- New Bedford Harbor Walk
- Destruction Brook Woods, Dartmouth
- A Stroll at the Westport Town Farm
- Gooseberry Island in Westport
- Sandwich’s WWII Remains
- East Over Reservation, Rochester
- Natural Resources Trust of Easton
- Colt State Park, Bristol
- The Knob, Falmouth
- Blackstone Gorge, Blackstone
- Quequechan River Rail Trail, Fall River
- Lyman Reserve, Plymouth/Bourne/Wareham
- Lawrence Island, Bourne
- Meshanticut State Park, Cranston
- South Mount Sugarloaf, Deerfield
- Hiking up Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA
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We parked at Britland Park, in Fall River, MA. The trail is about 2.5 miles long and runs until the Westport, MA town line. We journeyed about 2 miles down the path. We could have gone the whole way, but we were getting hungry and wanted to go to Boston Market.
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My name is Brian Pearson, Chairman of Bike Fall River. Thanks for highlighting the Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Rail Trail. It is truly a gem in the middle of Fall River. We do have signage on the street for cyclists to find the trail. It is too bad that the Mayor of Fall River approved an easement to place a private road across and run parallel the trail. Especially when the trail was paid for by the state, $10 million, and was supposed to be protected. The only city I know that would allow a new road to cross it.
Hi Brian, Fall River is my hometown, and I heard nothing but good things about the bikeway, so I had to check it out. My wife and I love it. It was such a great experience to actually walk on the Quequechan River. I hadn’t heard about the easement. What part of the trail is that on? Thanks for reading, and if you have any more ideas of places to check out locally, please send them my way at [email protected]. Great job on this trail!- Bob
Prior to connecting to Brayton Ave…a private road would travel 500 feet along it and then turn and go on it to go into a mill..This adds a dangerous intersection, this was said by an engineering company.
Love this trail! Thanks for highlighting it.
You’re welcome. We enoyed it!
Looks beautiful!
It is. Thanks for reading!