Bay Circuit Trail

The Bay Circuit Trail is a hiking path in eastern Massachusetts spanning roughly 200 miles in a C-shaped arc from Newburyport to a bay south of Boston. The path winds through communities and links together nature preserves, wildlife areas, and forests with open wetlands.

The path was designed to connect existing protected areas and nature reserves that had become scattered across the region. This idea took shape to link these separate natural spaces together and make them accessible to people.

The trail passes through places where local people hike and observe nature regularly. Over time, small communities and friend groups have formed who regularly walk these paths together.

The path breaks into separate sections, each with available maps and hiking guides for reference. Solid red markings show established paths, while dashed lines indicate temporary or alternate routes through the landscape.

The path runs near famous spots from American literary history, including Walden Pond where writer Henry David Thoreau once lived. This makes it special for people interested in tracing the footsteps of important American thinkers.

Location: Massachusetts

GPS coordinates: 42.62780,-71.06840

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:02