The Southern New England Trunk Line Trail (aka the "SNETT") was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1994. It is built upon a segment of the former right-of-way of the New Haven Railroad's Midland Division, which operated between Boston and Putnam, CT.



Today, it runs nearly uninterrupted for 22 miles between Grove Street near the southeastern edge of Franklin State Forest and the Connecticut state line in the Douglas State Forest. Although the trail is open and very scenic, note that much of it is currently unimproved with heavy overgrowth best suited to hiking and mountain biking.

There is a break in the trail in Blackstone from Route 122 at Castle Hill Way to the Depot parking lot off Canal Street. There's also a tricky crossing at Worcester-Providence Turnpike/Route 146 and Route 146A. Use caution when attempting to link the broken trail segments and never use active railroad bridges for crossings. A parking brochure is available which also includes descriptions of how to bypass the breaks.

3.5 miles between the Blackstone Depot Parking area and the Adams Street Parking area in Uxbridge have been paved. 1.5 miles in Bellingham between Prospect Street (Franklin) and Center Street (Bellingham) has a stone dust surface. The first 1 ¼ miles between Grove Street and Prospect Street (Franklin) has a smooth dirt surface. The same surface also exists from Depot Street to Route 96 in Douglas.

Partial closure: Starting the week of Monday, May 11, 2020, and continuing through Monday, August 31, 2020, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will install a new underpass at Prospect Street in the Town of Franklin along the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT).The trail will be closed between Lake Street in the Town of Bellingham and Spring Street in the Town of Franklin, and trail users should plan to use other parts of the SNETT during this period of time. See the website for updates.



The SNETT is the eastern leg of the larger Titanic Rail Trail network, which is planned to stretch more than 60 miles through south-central Massachusetts. West of the SNETT, another developing piece of the Titanic Rail Trail, known as the Grand Trunk Trail, is available in disconnected sections in Brimfield, Sturbridge, and Southbridge. Another part of this corridor, known as the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail in Southbridge, and the Quinebaug River Valley Rail Trail in Dudley, is cleared from the Saundersdale section of Southbridge to the Connecticut state line in Dudley near Quinebaug, and from the Connecticut state line 3 ½ miles east of there to the French River Bridge at the Dudley/ Webster line.

Across the border, in Connecticut, the trail joins the Air Line State Park Trail which tavels southwest for 52 miles to the town of Hampton, CT.

Parking and Trail Access

In Franklin, access the trail by taking I-495 to Exit 16 and head toward Bellingham. After about 3 miles turn right onto Grove Street; the signed trail entrance is about 0.25 mile on the left. A town parking area is across the street on the right. In Douglas, take Route 16 W off Route 146 and go about 5 miles until you get to Route 96; turn left. The state forest entrance is about 0.25 mile on the right. On the newest section, there is also parking at Canal Street, Black Street, Central Street, Millville and Adams Street ( off Route 146A) in Uxbridge.





You can access the SNETT in other places where the trail crosses roads.



