Newburyport to Salem In-Land Route, Medium Level Road Ride

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Newburyport, MA, US

Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

40 mi.

1,369 ft.

40+ mile Road Bike ride, back-roads of the North Shore. Quiet and easy tour of the North Shore

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Route Details

**Back-Roads Newburyport** Road Ride: This medium level 40+ mile Road Bike Ride is a great trek for a quiet sunny day.  All Road-Riding, this route is carefully plotted to stay on back roads for a majority of this ride.  In the first 35 miles, once outside of Newburyport you will be in the rural areas of the North Shore.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

This is a great ride for solitude, or for a cycling couple.  There are only a few road rides in Eastern Mass where you do not encounter a lot of vehicle traffic. On a hot summer day, there are lots of trees for shaded riding.   This ride is designed to use the MBTA Commuter Rail for the start, or the ending this ride.

**Equipment:** Standard 40 – 50 mile Road Riding ability for this bike ride.  Ride time is 3 – 5 hours, depending on stops. 70+ oz. water and snacks are a good idea.  There are a lot of photo opportunities and lots of places to stop on this ride.

**Riding the Route:** Taking the train from Salem to Newburyport, you will exit the train station and head towards the front of the train. You will be at the start of the @photo[Newburyport Rail trail](1514906).  Formally this trail went to the waterfront. The trail heads directly to @poi[Downtown Newburyport](1875878). The Art Community has provided many bike ride inspired trail art for viewing along this path.

At the end of this short ride, you are at the water’s edge of Newburyport Harbor. Lots of sights to see. Across the water is the Salisbury Beach area.  Continue your ride into the shopping district. Keep in mind the one-way traffic signs, as the police will turn you around.

There is a bike shop at the far end of downtown. It is hard to find, so ask for it.  Once traveling out of downtown, you head down the coastline a short way before turning back to start your bike ride.  At this point, before turning around, you will be at the only road to @poi[Plum Island](1875879).

**Ride Option:** If you journey out to Plumb Island to extend your adventure, a visit to the small town is free, but the National Park, has a $3.00 bike fee.  If you go out there, it is a 20 mile round trip to the end of the island and back.  Half way down the road, it turns to dirt.  Well groomed, but dusty.  This extra trip is well worth the sites of the HUGE salt water marshes and national park - a birder's dream. There is a 5% probability of seeing a sea-seal at @poi[Sandy Point](1875880) Beach.

If you continue on the original route, you will pass through the old-time neighborhoods of downtown before heading North.  Heading North, you will encounter @poi[Maudslay State Park](1875881).  This is a great sea-side park that also boarders the Merrimack River.  This park is famous for the 40 foot tall Rhododendron fields and huge castle nearby. It's worth a stop if you have the time. These sites will be at the main entrance. Stopping here, some of the trails are OK for your bike, some are not.

Heading down a road that says it is “closed” you will funnel down to a small house at the water’s edge.  To the left of this home, is the @poi[public access ](1875882)to the bridge.  Continue your ride through here.  Next stop is the road side of the Merrimack River.

**Ride Option:** Taking “@poi[Way to the River Road](1875883)” will take you to the river sooner but there is a small 5 foot water barrier that you must cross to get back to your route.  Worth it:  As you get to see a lot more of the river and will get you off the main road faster.

Once you are on the river, you are at the start of the traffic free riding. Just a couple of street crossings before total solitude.  Hills on this ride are moderate and balanced.  Before Boxford center you will see the cover photo of the “@poi[Mill](1875885)” on the Mill River road.  Stop and you will never see any site such as this.

Boxford is not a bike friendly town, please obey the rules of the road.  After mile 36 you will be near downtown Danvers and just another 10 miles to downtown Salem and return to the train.  With over 50 venues in @poi[downtown Salem](1875887), you are sure to find a place for a beer and some food.

Newburyport to Salem In-Land Route, Medium Level Road Ride

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