Callahan State Park, Framingham & Marlborough, MA
 

anybody familiar with it? I've got some basic info & a map. thinking about checking it out some time soon

No, but Marlboro brings back memories. My racing club, NEBC (still around), used to hold its club championships in an industrial park in Marlborough just inside the belt highway. 3 mile loop on the side of a hill. A mile up, a mile down, a mile through the woods. First time I placed third after riding alone the last 15 miles knowing I had never beaten the guys behind me. I had never voluntarily hurt so much!

Ben

got out there cpl days ago on Saturday

There are 3 parking areas. I started with the most Northern lot (approx 241 Broadmeadow St Marlboro) & got in about an hour of riding. Then got back in the car & drove to the middle lot (862 Edmonds Rd Framingham) & got in about another hour of riding. From that middle lot I was able to ride to the 3rd & most Southern lot (180 Millwood St Framingham). Parked at a dirt patch at start of Bear Paw Trail, approx. 241 Broadmeadow St Marlboro, MA. Headed toward Back Bay Circuit Trail near the Sudbury reservoir. there's a legit parking lot not far away on Broadmeadow St. there's another trail across the St. shud check the maps to see what that was (edit: that's Acorn Tr. w the question mark)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8b95a07a42.jpg

when I was coming out of the woods I realized I emerged at the end of Broadmeadow & thru someone property? or maybe they don't own that part of the road, just both sides of it? anyway, coming out on bike seemed harmless


Several occasions where I had to walk up rough trails & some downhills were a bit challenging due to the roots & rocks everywhere. These are not well ridden trails, more like hiking foot trails. there were signs for bikes, & some trails marked “no bikes” but the bike trails are rough

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...33ef4bcf80.jpg

Some trails names like “Bear Paw” & Rocky Road” are dead give a ways for what to expect. But a trail named “Wren” you’d think would be tame, right? Nope, it was a rocky foot path shortly after turning on to it.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7a6790b76a.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f8dd264f5d.jpg

Got to ride over a neat raised walkway. But as I did I was thinking, hmmm maybe this is a mistake, cause the area wasn’t too flooded just muddy & I could have ridden around it. but it was too tempting.


there's no shortage of obstacles

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...501424981f.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0159b74f98.jpg

but not to be too negative, there's lots of trails to explore & hours of fun out there including plenty of easy sections

coming down Bear Paw to Back Bay Circuit
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d8623ebf89.jpg

Back Bay Circuit near Sudbury reservoir
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f95766f06.jpg

pushing up Pipeline Tr.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b1320126bf.jpg

unmarked entrance opposite Harvard Medical School on Parmenter
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...61627ec9ea.jpg

good amount of signage but good to have map & compass
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9453df04cb.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2103b065e0.jpg

another pic of Back Bay Circuit near the Sudbury reservoir
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eca35f3326.jpg

maps

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/us/massachusetts/framingham?ar=10110823

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents...x/callahan.pdf

red circles represent spots I know I located while exploring

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8155467da1.jpg