Home > Massachusetts > Hodges Village Dam

Hodges Village Dam

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Trail Map

Other Names

Hodges Village Reservoir, French River, Stumpy Pond, Cedar Swamp, Hodges Dam

Last Known Status

Temporarily Closed (trails still closed as of April 13, 2024 due to flooding and poor trail conditions)

Overlooking the scenic French River, this area offers about 10 miles of motorcycle trails that consist mainly of easy and fast flowing single track with several bridge crossings, a few moderate inclines and an obstacle course.

The motorcycle trails are located on the western side of the river while the hiking and mountain bike trails are located on the eastern side marked with blue and yellow blazes. There are two staging areas however the northern access off Clara Barton Road is the most popular with motorcyclists.

The trails are open for most of the year but will close temporarily during spring thaw.

Trail Map... Nearby ATV Trails...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	Massachusetts Registration Sticker
Dates Open	Open daily except during spring thaw.
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	No	Motorcycles must be registered in Massachusetts, no reciprocity with other states.
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)
Whip Flags	Not Required
Maximum Vehicle Width
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Permitted
ATVs	Prohibited
UTV & SXS	Prohibited
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Prohibited
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Prohibited
2 Stroke Engines	No Restriction
MX Helmet Required	Yes	required by state law
Camping	Prohibited
Campfires	Prohibited
Night Riding	No	Riding hours are from dawn to dusk.
Trail Blazing	Prohibited	riders must stay on trail
Alcohol	Prohibited
Rule Enforcement	Some	Dedicated Rangers/Officers

TERRAIN

Approx Size	1,200 acres (2 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	10
Climate Type	Forest
Elevation	500 to 750 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	Mostly
Hard Pack	Some
Sand	Some
Mud	Some
Dust	Little
Rocks	Some
Trees	All
Steep Hills	Few
Water Crossings	Few
Small Jumps	Some
Large Jumps	None
Berms	Many
Sand/Gravel Pits	Few
Single Track	Many
Roads	Few
Intersections	Some
Rider Traffic	Many
Shade	Some
Ranges/Gunfire	Few	Hunting permitted on the west side of the French Reservoir.
Hazards	Few	(hazards not marked)
Novice	Some
Amateur	Mostly
Expert	Some

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails

Land	Army Corps of Engineers

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	1-5 Miles (S)	Cumberland Farms (508) 987-0858
Diesel	1-5 Miles (S)	Cumberland Farms (508) 987-0858
Water	1-5 Miles (E)	Sutton Falls Camping Area (508) 865-3898
RV Hookup	1-5 Miles (E)	Sutton Falls Camping Area (508) 865-3898
RV Disposal	1-5 Miles (E)	Sutton Falls Camping Area (508) 865-3898
Campground	1-5 Miles (E)	Sutton Falls Camping Area (508) 865-3898
Conv Store	1-5 Miles (NE)	The Villager (508) 987-8731

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	(None)
Riding	(None)
Camping	(None)

RATINGS

Pros	nice single track, beautiful scenery, good variety of easy and technical trails
Cons	small parking area, no camping
Our Rating	Excellent
Recommended Stay	Full Day
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

Oxford, MA

Address

Clara Barton Road, North Oxford, MA 01537

Trail Map

From: Worcester, MA
1) Take I-290 West to Exit 11B (I-290 turns into I-395)
2) Turn right (west) off the exit ramp Washington Street/US-20, continue 1.7 miles
3) Veer left (south) onto SR-12, continue 1.4 miles
4) Turn right (west) on Clara Barton Road, continue .2 miles
5) Turn left (south) after bridge, continue about .5 miles
6) Staging area is on the right.

OFFICIAL CONTACTS

Contact Info

US Army Corps of Engineers - Hodges Village Dam
48 Old Oxford Road
Charlton, MA 01507
(508) 248-5697
nicole.c.giles@usace.army.mil
www.nae.usace.army.mil

Contact Info	Massachusetts Environmental Police 251 Causeway Street Suite 101 Boston, MA 02114 (617) 626-1610 www.mass.gov
Comment	Motorcycle Registration Info