Directions - Callahan State Park is
located just west of Boston in Framingham. Take Mass Pike to Rte 9 west.
From Rt. 9 west in Framingham:
Bear right at the Trolley square off ramp Rt 30 Southboro. Right at the
first light on to Edgell Rd. Travel approx. 0.5 miles and take a left on to
Belknap Rd. Take the first Right onto Grove Street. Follow Grove until it
ends or merges with Edmands and go Left on Edmands. The parking lot is
approx. 0.75 miles down on the left.
From Rt. 9 east in Southboro:
About 1/2 mile before the Pike entrance and the Bose HQ, take the big
off-ramp on the right where there are signs for Route 30. Cross over Route
9, take a left and then a quick right onto 30 East. After about 3/4 mile,
take a left onto Pine Hill Road. Follow Pine Hill for about 2 miles until it
ends, then take a Right onto Parmenter Road. At the Framingham town line,
Parmenter changes names and becomes Edmands Road. Go up and over a small
hill where the road narrows. The parking lot is on the right about 1/4 mile
past the crest of the hill.
Description - The thing about Callahan is that it's
alot like the character Two Face in the Batman movies, and it's all because
of Edmands Road, which bisects the area into two distinct riding
experiences. From here on, North refers to north of the road and South is
south of this road.
The South side is all family and dogs, all the time. Beware of the crazy
feces count near and around the parking area, because dogs just can't wait
and evidently there is no scooping law in effect here. The smart move is to
avoid the meadow altogether and hook a left onto the aquaduct trail and get
the legs moving. This points you out on a perimeter route that gradually
warms the body just before the series of nontechnical but not insubstantial
climbs. Then you'll blast down a big steep muddy downhill, cross a stream
and keep your eyes open for a right that will take you to the crossing point
to the far edgier North side.
Not to derail the South side, it has its benefits. It's a great place to
troubleshoot a new bike, take a nonhardcore rider with you to enjoy some
smooth and woodsy trails, and it is really good for all dirt CX training. It
gets the engine rolling for the North side, and you'll need it.
Be careful crossing the road- it looks like a country lane but late model
German cars driven by celly-talking nuevo riche property owners rip and roar
on these traditional New England roads. My buddy was hipchecked off the road
entirely by this sort of driver on a (a sin for the Ragger) roadie ride with
me and tossed into a ditch as a hit and run back in 1999, that's how self
absorbed these maniacs can be. There's a really nice cattle operation up
there, too, obviously gentlemen farmers but pretty cool nonetheless.
The North side is where Callahan bares its not very sharp but fun to ride
teeth. Right off the top you're faced with a pretty difficult technical
singletrack climb that has lots of rocks and roots and is fairly steep. This
traverses a hillside until you crest a small climb, then you hook a hard
left up a steep and rocky climb that is 100% rideable. Totally anoxic at the
top, not you can hammer a semitechnical descent and make you way towards the
perimeter routes that head out from there. These are all singletrack with
nice dirt and rock sections, some fairly challenging climbs, and a fun ledgy
downhill section that has lots of loose rocks and little lips to plunge
down.
There is a meadow on this side that connects to some fun smaller loops and a
really beautiful stone bridge/pond area. If you push past the first meadow
and keep climbing there is another smaller meadow that if entered from the
not very technical but fun dirt trail on its right could pass for a swoopy
downhill meadow section in Colorado.
In terms of freeride, this place will probably leave you cold. The last time
I rode there, some new trails had been made that went straight down the fall
line of some shortish but steep hills. Don't recall seeing any skinnies,
spines or other stuff.
You can ride Callahan for 2 hours and have a pretty good workout and see
pretty much all of it. The Commonwealth of MA does distribute maps at the
main parking area but they go fast, and you should visit the Parks &
Recreation WS for a PDF you can print to keep you on course. Realizing, of
course, that the State only has maybe 25% of what's there on the map, but
it's better than nothing.
This place is at its best in the Fall or Summer. Since alot of it is near
streams and ponds with meadow sections, when it's wet the area is full of
deep nasty mud. The Appalachian Club members in the area hate the tire ruts
and make a federal case about it. On an early Sunday morning in October or
even a nice late spring or summer night (bring your Deet or you'll die) the
place is fun, close to some great eats and the awesome REI Framingham store,
and an excellent place to get your fitness and hill repeat workout on.
Here’s a link to the Mass DEM website with another map and crappy
description.
http://www.mass.gov/dem/parks/call.htm
There are loops, just shoot for perimeter trails and take whatever looks
interesting.
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