Bay Circuit Trail
Name: Bay Circuit Trail
Start: Newburyport, MA
Finish: Kingston, MA
GPX: Ride with GPS File
Distance: 209.60 Miles
Description: The route circumnavigates Boston through dozens of town forests on a designated and well-marked trail. The last known completion was in 2019 by Jamie Lent, 80 hours was the time.
Submitted by Rob Martin: The Bay Circuit Trail (BCT) is a 230-mile greenway forming a "C"-shaped arc around the outer suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. Stretching from Plum Island in the north to Kingston Bay in the south, the trail was first envisioned in 1929 as an "outer Emerald Necklace," complementing the inner greenbelt of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The BCT offers a scenic and recreational corridor through eastern Massachusetts, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.
Passing through 37 towns, the trail traverses diverse landscapes, including notable spots like Walden Pond, the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and Harold Parker State Forest. The BCT’s mix of off-road trails, paved sections, and gravel paths presents a unique challenge for mountain bikers. Sections like Bedford feature moderate climbs and descents, making the trail suitable for a variety of skill levels. However, riders should be prepared for frequent transitions between on- and off-road sections, as well as occasional technical terrain, particularly in rocky areas.
The trail is largely used by day hikers, but camping options are available for bikepackers willing to plan ahead. Key resupply points along the trail include towns like Lowell, Concord, and Wayland, though water sources can be scarce in some off-road sections, particularly during dry seasons.
Since 2012, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has played a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the BCT, focusing on connecting trail segments, protecting open spaces, and ensuring long-term preservation. The BCT remains a collaborative effort between local governments, conservation groups, and volunteers, serving 4 million people in the surrounding region.
While the trail is mostly closed to motorized vehicles, it’s shared by hikers, horseback riders, and cyclists, so adhering to trail etiquette is essential. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly ride or a more technical challenge, the BCT offers an immersive experience through Massachusetts’ natural beauty and historical landmarks, including Minute Man National Historical Park and Walden Pond.
Unsupported:
Men: Jesse Boudart, 36:03:28 | October 2, 2022
Women:
Team
Name: Bay Circuit Trail
Start: Newburyport, MA
Finish: Kingston, MA
GPX: Ride with GPS File
Distance: 209.60 Miles
Description: The route circumnavigates Boston through dozens of town forests on a designated and well-marked trail. The last known completion was in 2019 by Jamie Lent, 80 hours was the time.
Submitted by Rob Martin: The Bay Circuit Trail (BCT) is a 230-mile greenway forming a "C"-shaped arc around the outer suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. Stretching from Plum Island in the north to Kingston Bay in the south, the trail was first envisioned in 1929 as an "outer Emerald Necklace," complementing the inner greenbelt of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The BCT offers a scenic and recreational corridor through eastern Massachusetts, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.
Passing through 37 towns, the trail traverses diverse landscapes, including notable spots like Walden Pond, the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and Harold Parker State Forest. The BCT’s mix of off-road trails, paved sections, and gravel paths presents a unique challenge for mountain bikers. Sections like Bedford feature moderate climbs and descents, making the trail suitable for a variety of skill levels. However, riders should be prepared for frequent transitions between on- and off-road sections, as well as occasional technical terrain, particularly in rocky areas.
The trail is largely used by day hikers, but camping options are available for bikepackers willing to plan ahead. Key resupply points along the trail include towns like Lowell, Concord, and Wayland, though water sources can be scarce in some off-road sections, particularly during dry seasons.
Since 2012, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has played a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the BCT, focusing on connecting trail segments, protecting open spaces, and ensuring long-term preservation. The BCT remains a collaborative effort between local governments, conservation groups, and volunteers, serving 4 million people in the surrounding region.
While the trail is mostly closed to motorized vehicles, it’s shared by hikers, horseback riders, and cyclists, so adhering to trail etiquette is essential. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly ride or a more technical challenge, the BCT offers an immersive experience through Massachusetts’ natural beauty and historical landmarks, including Minute Man National Historical Park and Walden Pond.
Unsupported:
Men: Jesse Boudart, 36:03:28 | October 2, 2022
Women:
Team
- Male, unsupported, team - Rob Martin - Hot Tubes Cycling, Louis Perry - Relentless Endurance, 34:37:20, October 19-20, 2024
Notes from the ride
From Rob Martin and Louis Perry's successful attempt: It all kicked off at 5:15 AM—pitch dark, a bone-chilling 36°F, and we were already questioning our sanity. But hey, records don't set themselves! Right off the bat, we hit our first hurdle: a bridge we were supposed to cross was out. So, we’re rerouting, burning daylight and miles... well, we hadn’t planned on that one.
Just as the sun started to poke its head over the horizon, we found ourselves bushwhacking through a gnarly, overgrown section of the trail. Honestly, that set the tone for the ride—it wasn’t going to be fast, but it was going to be epic. We pressed on, because, you know, adventure!
The southern half was a beast. It was like someone had dumped a million baby heads on the trail—seriously, we had never seen so many rocks. The climbs? Forget it. We were off the bike half the time, doing the good old hike-a-bike routine, dragging the loaded bikes through rocky sections that seemed to stretch on forever.
Oh, and just when we thought we’d seen it all, we hit a section where the local beavers had decided to build their own obstacle course. The trail was flooded with three feet of water, and we had to inch across a tiny ridge to avoid turning into human popsicles. Wet feet, but dry-ish bodies, so we kept pushing.
By the time we hit the 100-mile mark, night had turned into day and back to night again. Time was slipping away, but then came salvation—a glorious 7/11! We scarfed down sandwiches, donuts, water, and candy like we hadn’t eaten in days (which, in ultra-endurance time, we basically hadn’t). Armed with fresh supplies and a sugar rush, we were back in action.
Once the sun dipped again, it was time for warm clothes and another long, cold push through the night. The animals? Yeah, they were smarter than us—snoozing away while we trudged on, crossing paths with a single deer and catching whiffs of a skunk here and there.
But the real kicker came when our water situation got dicey. No stores, no open taps for 13 hours, until finally, a Dunkin’ Donuts appeared like a mirage. Water, donuts, and OJ never tasted so good! That pit stop gave us the kick we needed, and soon enough, the sun reappeared.
With the finish in sight, we knew we had a good shot at the record, but the trail wasn’t done with us yet. Harold Parker State Forest brought back all the rocky, frustrating, time-sucking terrain we’d been battling for over 24 hours. But after we got through that, the trail became home turf. We knew it like the back of our hands, and the pace picked up.
Just when we thought we were cruising to the end, we hit a flooded road in Newbury. People were standing around, gawking at the ocean that had decided to make a surprise appearance on the road. What did we do? We went for it! The water was a foot deep, 300 yards long, but nothing was stopping us now.
The final stretch? A hard push with everything we had. We hammered into the finish, stopping the clock at 34:37:20—a brand new Fastest Known Time! What a ride.
From Rob Martin and Louis Perry's successful attempt: It all kicked off at 5:15 AM—pitch dark, a bone-chilling 36°F, and we were already questioning our sanity. But hey, records don't set themselves! Right off the bat, we hit our first hurdle: a bridge we were supposed to cross was out. So, we’re rerouting, burning daylight and miles... well, we hadn’t planned on that one.
Just as the sun started to poke its head over the horizon, we found ourselves bushwhacking through a gnarly, overgrown section of the trail. Honestly, that set the tone for the ride—it wasn’t going to be fast, but it was going to be epic. We pressed on, because, you know, adventure!
The southern half was a beast. It was like someone had dumped a million baby heads on the trail—seriously, we had never seen so many rocks. The climbs? Forget it. We were off the bike half the time, doing the good old hike-a-bike routine, dragging the loaded bikes through rocky sections that seemed to stretch on forever.
Oh, and just when we thought we’d seen it all, we hit a section where the local beavers had decided to build their own obstacle course. The trail was flooded with three feet of water, and we had to inch across a tiny ridge to avoid turning into human popsicles. Wet feet, but dry-ish bodies, so we kept pushing.
By the time we hit the 100-mile mark, night had turned into day and back to night again. Time was slipping away, but then came salvation—a glorious 7/11! We scarfed down sandwiches, donuts, water, and candy like we hadn’t eaten in days (which, in ultra-endurance time, we basically hadn’t). Armed with fresh supplies and a sugar rush, we were back in action.
Once the sun dipped again, it was time for warm clothes and another long, cold push through the night. The animals? Yeah, they were smarter than us—snoozing away while we trudged on, crossing paths with a single deer and catching whiffs of a skunk here and there.
But the real kicker came when our water situation got dicey. No stores, no open taps for 13 hours, until finally, a Dunkin’ Donuts appeared like a mirage. Water, donuts, and OJ never tasted so good! That pit stop gave us the kick we needed, and soon enough, the sun reappeared.
With the finish in sight, we knew we had a good shot at the record, but the trail wasn’t done with us yet. Harold Parker State Forest brought back all the rocky, frustrating, time-sucking terrain we’d been battling for over 24 hours. But after we got through that, the trail became home turf. We knew it like the back of our hands, and the pace picked up.
Just when we thought we were cruising to the end, we hit a flooded road in Newbury. People were standing around, gawking at the ocean that had decided to make a surprise appearance on the road. What did we do? We went for it! The water was a foot deep, 300 yards long, but nothing was stopping us now.
The final stretch? A hard push with everything we had. We hammered into the finish, stopping the clock at 34:37:20—a brand new Fastest Known Time! What a ride.