Hodges Village Dam Mountain Biking Trails

Hodges Village Dam, located less than a mile west of the Sutton Avenue exit (4W) of Route 395, on Howarth Road off Charlton Street, Oxford, MA, has some of the most diverse and interesting trails in central MA. There is no permanent lake behind the dam which was built by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. It is filled only temporarily with runoff from rainwater which would otherwise cause flooding problems downstream. The lands upstream of the dam are open to the public providing hundreds of acres of forest, shrub meadows, glacial topography and wetlands, all interlaced with outstanding trails.

There are some blazes painted on the trees that will let you know which side of the dam you are on and which direction you are headed, but they don't mark specific trails. Blue blazes mark the east side trails. Orange blazes mark the west side trails. In both cases, a plain blaze means that you are headed away from the dam (mostly north) and a black dot in the middle of the blaze means you are headed toward the dam (generally south). Yellow triangles mark the Midstate Trail which runs across the project, mostly east to west. Red and white stripes painted on the trees are Corps of Engineers boundary markers, not trails.

To date, there are approximately 22 miles of trails weaving their way around the Hodges Village project area. The blue blazed trails on the east side of the French River are for non-motorized recreation including hiking, nature study, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and horseback riding.

The orange blazed trails on the west side of the river are for both non-motorized and motorized use. Off highway motorcycles are allowed on the west side of the French River as reservoir levels, weather, and trail conditions permit. Hodges Village Dam is a popular off highway motorcycle area in Central Massachusetts and draws visitors from around the tri-state area.

NOTE: ATV use is not permitted on the trails. All motorcycles must be registered with the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

The disc golf course is an enjoyable layout, fun for golfers of all ages and abilities to play.

The outdoor enthusiast can hunt, fish and boat at Hodges Village Dam. Hunting is allowed only on the west side of the French River. All federal, state, and local laws apply.

The French River Canoe trail is approximately 3 miles long and starts at the Greenbriar Park canoe launch in North Oxford and ending at Hodge Village Dam. Paddlers may have to portage around beaver dams and flood debris.