Route Overview
Region
Miles
Days Out
Recommended Tire Size
Season
Ice cream stands are only open Summer months
Elevation Gain
Difficulty
3/10 Technical
Primary Surface(s)
Gravel
Route Map
Route Details
A patchwork of high-quality rail trail, unassuming suburban forest singletrack, swimming beaches, and old-school roadside ‘dairy bars’ will make riders forget they are only a short train ride away from the 10th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Along the way, riders will wade through agricultural fields in production since the mid 1600s, pedal through the start of the American Revolution, dodge wildlife in Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, and hike to the bottom of what was once the largest gravity dam in the world. It’s not easy to cram such variety into a suburban adventure.
The route’s length, accessibility, technical difficulty, and fun amenities make Ice Cream Float an approachable introduction to beginner bikepackers. Significant portions of the route are paved however they are often on protected bike paths or residential streets. The unpaved sections are never very long, but often challenging enough for any rider to feel accomplished! Whenever you’re getting tired, just remember there is probably ice cream just around the next corner!
What is a dairy bar? “The dairy bars of Massachusetts are a state treasure. On city outskirts or amid rolling hills, they open as the weather warms, make their ice cream often on-premises, and look and operate much as they have done for years. These are places people visit as children with parents and grandparents, then introduce to their kids and grandkids. Many dairy bars date back a century or more, with some still attached to working dairies that deliver milk in glass bottles. As condos take the place of cows, these old-school ice cream stands serve as reminders of a time when dairy farming thrived in the region.”
The route’s designated start and end point is the North Leominster MBTA rail station, providing an easy jumping-off point for exploring central MA. After leaving Leominster behind, riders quickly find themselves on small back roads stitching together pockets of forested singletrack. Just when you might be getting tired, one of Massachusetts’ storied ‘dairy bars’ appears nestled behind a small hill surrounded by dairy cows.
In the town of West Groton riders will dive onto an extended section of singletrack trail through Groton Town Forest before emerging onto the Nashua River Rail Trail at mile 19. A quick pit stop in Ayer to pick up lunch fuels an afternoon of swimming at Sandy Point Beach just outside of town. Smooth pavement into Littleton brings riders past the second dairy bar of the day, Kimball Farms Dairy, for a final treat before singletrack and the unpaved Nashua Acton & Boston Rail Trail to more swimming and the route’s designated camp spot at Camp Acton, a former boy scout camp now managed by the Town of Acton, approximately mile 37.
The limited camping opportunities mean that day two is a little longer, but still manageable! From Camp Acton, riders will blast down the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail into West Concord. Here, riders can stop for breakfast (or catch a train back to Boston). The Assabet River Rail Trail brings riders straight to the first diary bar of the day, Erickson’s Ice Cream, right before the entrance to Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, a 2200-acre protected area contains a diverse mixture of pine and hardwood forest, old fields, and wetland habitats, including vernal pools. The rare Blanding’s turtle species is found in the refuge where it is monitored as scientists are working to help increase the population in the region. The refuge is a haven for numerous migratory birds and waterfowl and otters, minks, turkeys, coyotes, beavers, foxes, and deer.
It’s difficult to tell exactly when riders leave the refuge, as the path smoothly transitions to the unpaved Mass Central Rail Trail and Assabet River Rail Trail for a ride into and out of Hudson. Stop to refuel here, but take your lunch to go, as the dam at Wachusett Reservoir is a must-stop location. Riding up the reservoir’s spillway and onto the dike for several miles is a unique experience! While there is no swimming in Wachusett Reservoir, the second dairy bar, Rota Spring Ice Cream, and the first swimming spot at Sterling Town Beach are not far away!
Rest up because the last push from Sterling back to Leominster via Leominster State Forest is a doozy. This section is by far the most difficult, and the only section where you may be cursing your decision to ride your gravel bike. Intermittently between miles 80 and 86 riders may find themselves hiking bikes up short rocky climbs and descents. It’s well worth the adventure! Finally, ride surface streets back through Leominster to the train station for your well-earned train ride back to Boston!
- Paved: 65%
- Smooth Gravel: 15%
- Rough Gravel: 15%
- 4×4 Road: 3%
- Singletrack: 2%
Can I ride this route on my gravel bike? Yes, this route is decidedly gravel bike-friendly. Will you be cursing that declaration at times? Probably multiple times, especially when wet. The route has sections of East Coast singletrack so expect rocky, rooty, and steep. But don’t let that deter the use of a gravel bike. With the majority of the route being paved, the fast-rolling gravel bike will be well worth it. If in doubt, a bike with front suspension and 2.0″-2.3″ tires will make things extra comfortable. A minimum tire size of 40mm is suggested. Routes were scouted on gravel bikes with 45-50mm file tread tires.
Getting here: The route is completely accessible via several Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) commuter rail stations (noted on the map) from downtown Boston, MA. The commuter rail allows bikes on every train except during peak commuter hours on weekday mornings, has cheap weekend pricing, and runs late into the evenings.
Ice Cream Float is accessible via the North Leominster Station on the ‘Fitchburg’ line from North Station. North Station is also an Amtrak terminal, as well as accessible from Boston Logan International Airport.
For more information, visit the MBTA website: mbta.com/schedules/commuter-rail
Camping: There is only one known explicitly LEGAL camping location on this route. Camp Acton, is the suggested camp location for the route as described. Submit the permit, attached, to secure camping at Camp Acton. acton-ma.gov/623/Camp-Acton
Finding public camping in MA is difficult. Unless explicitly allowed, there is a blanket ban on dispersed camping on State land and most other public land. There are numerous private campgrounds that cyclists can take advantage of.
The suburban nature of this collection also means plenty of non-camping accommodations available on/off route including hotels, BnBs, AirBnB, and others. Some suggestions have been marked on the map.
Food/Resupply: The suburban nature of the route means resupply points are plentiful. Some have been marked on the map, but riders are never more than a few miles from a town with groceries and food stops. In addition, make use of the many farm stands along the route to buy farm fresh produce!
- This route is one of a handful of routes in the Sundaes Fundays collection.
- Sundaes Fundays is a collection of summer bikepacking overnighters in eastern Massachusetts focusing on being novice-friendly, accessible by public transportation, and most importantly, ICE CREAM. A patchwork of high-quality rail trail, unassuming suburban forest singletrack, and small back roads will make riders forget they are only a short train ride away from the 10th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Each route in the collection contains multiple well-timed stopovers at the area’s many locally run “dairy bars”. While the intention for these routes are to be casual weekend outings, when the days are long, strong riders could complete any of these routes on a summer Sunday!
- Commuter Rail schedule and passes: mbta.com/schedules/commuter-rail
- Massachusetts DCR ‘No Turn Away’ Policy: adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MassParks-No-Turn-Away-policy.pdf
William Kessler created and stewards this route. Here is a little about William in his own words:
“I’m a Geographer by training, with a passion for all kinds of recreation on public lands. I’m a big fan of under-biking and love finding out whether or not a proposed route “will go” the hard way. My interests in maps and bikes means I’m constantly pouring over new areas, devising trips for some day down the road. My first bike touring experience was in 2017 on a self-devised route multi-month tour through Colombia and Ecuador. Since then, I’ve taken every opportunity to get out and ride somewhere new. In 2022, after several years living in Helena, MT and watching divide riders pass through town, my partner and I toured the route before ending up in Cambridge, MA. Now we’re having fun exploring the class 4 roads of New England! “
William has offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route. Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.
Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.
- This route traverses the traditional lands of the Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), Abenaki / Abénaquis, Pawtucket, Pentucket, Pennacook, and Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett)
