Northern Strand Trail

The Northern Strand Community Trail is a paved, car-free path on an old rail bed that runs from Everett through Malden, Revere and Saugus to Lynn. Bike to the Sea, the nonprofit behind it, puts its length at 11.5 miles of paved trail; the City of Malden's page says 9 miles. It is open to walkers, runners, cyclists and other non-motorized users all year, and it is the closest long ride to Breakheart Reservation, whose own paved loops are 2 and 3 miles.

The Name

Bike to the Sea says the official name is the Northern Strand Trail, though many people still call it the Bike to the Sea Trail. In Malden, the city's own page notes it is also known as "the Bike Path."

Route

Bike to the Sea's description of the route, from west to east:

• Everett: starts at West Street and Wellington Street, on the abandoned rail bed.
• Malden: runs beside Canal Street, through Malden Square, over Route 60 near the Valley Forum 2 hockey rink, then beside Eastern Avenue to Beach Street near the Revere line.
• Revere: runs along the Rumney Marsh to the Saugus line near Laurel Street.
• Saugus: continues to where Lincoln Street meets Boston Street, near the Lynn line.
• Lynn: ends at Bennet Street.

Bike to the Sea publishes a trail map with suggested parking locations.

How Long Is It?

Two official-leaning sources give two numbers. Bike to the Sea's FAQ says 11.5 miles of paved trail, Everett to the Lynn line. The City of Malden's facility page describes a 9-mile pathway from the Malden–Everett line toward the Lynn waterfront. Bike to the Sea's figure covers the full route to Bennet Street in Lynn. Malden adds that its own 3-mile portion was paved in the summer of 2013.

Amenities

Bike to the Sea lists along the trail: water fountains, benches, public art, bike racks, bike fix-it stations, signage, flashing LED crosswalk signs at road crossings, Bluebikes stations, lighting in some sections, a bocce court and playgrounds.

Year-Round Use

The City of Malden says the path is used year-round, and that cleaning it is part of Malden's snow-removal work. Conditions in the other towns may differ in winter.

Rules

Motor vehicles are not allowed on the trail, per Bike to the Sea. Share the path: walkers, runners, cyclists and families all use it. In Massachusetts, riders 16 and under must wear a helmet, as DCR reminds visitors to its parks.

Part of a Bigger Network

Bike to the Sea says the trail is part of plans for car-free paths from the New Hampshire border in Salisbury, through Boston, to the Rhode Island border, and of hopes to include Massachusetts trails in the East Coast Greenway, a planned traffic-free route from Maine to Florida.

Northern Strand and Breakheart

The two make a good pair. Breakheart's 2-mile Inner Loop and 3-mile Outer Loop are short, shaded and closed to cars, ideal for kids and warm-ups; see biking at Breakheart. The Northern Strand is the place for a longer out-and-back. In Revere it runs along the Rumney Marsh, where DCR's Rumney Marsh Reservation protects 600 acres of salt marsh.

Before You Go

Check Bike to the Sea's trail news and detour page for closures, and download its map for parking. For more nearby, see things to do in Saugus.