The Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) is a partially completed multi-use rail trail connecting twenty-six cities and towns in Massachusetts, beginning in Northampton and ending in downtown Boston, along the former right of way of the Massachusetts Central Railroad. The railroad line was shattered by the Great Hurricane of 1938. When fully completed, the 104-mile rail trail will be the longest in the Northeast.

The MCRT will provide an east-west counterpart to the Appalachian Trail and connect the north-south New England Scenic, Midstate and Bay Circuit Trails. The MCRT will also provide connections to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Assabet River Rail Trail, the Minuteman Bikeway and other projects close to Boston.

Within Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, the trail serves the communities of Clinton and Sterling.