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Maynard Description: The trail will enter Maynard from the north, running parallel with Route 27, passing Rockland Ave., a short dirt road leading to one of the town's many recreation fields.  Continuing another half mile, the trail curves west at the old Haines horse watering trough, (now filled with flowers), crosses a street and enters 1000 of graded path before entering the downtown area.  Here the trail runs just north of Main street, which offers many shops and ethnic restaurants for the hungry cyclist.
Just before leaving downtown, it crosses the Assabet on a wooden foot bridge in a small memorial park. Now to the south, the Maynard Mill buildings tower like brick giants and it's easy to imagine oneself at the turn of the century, in the midst of people bustling about on old fashioned bicycles and horse and buggies.  At the end of RailRoad Street to the north of the trail, the very first mill building sits, now painted yellow.
After crossing Main Street and going through a small residential section the trail finally enters a wooded section before crossing Rt. 117, the last road crossing for a number of miles.  Here, the trail becomes a light duty dirt road for the next 3000 feet, acquired by Maynard in 2003. This is more rural and runs beside the Assabet River, where it is not uncommon to spot great blue herons, mergansers, goldeneyes, and mallards.  In fact, countless other species can be spotted by the observant traveler.  Finally, as the White Pond Road bridge comes into view, the Stow section becons, with many more miles of riverside views.