Great Brook Farm Visitor's Center

For minimalist directions devoid of background blather, helpful hints, suggested alternative routes, street addresses, and GPS coordinates, click here.

 Directions to

Great Brook State Farm's Interpretive Center and Ice Cream Emporium

Carlisle's Great Brook Park, with its miles of trails, its "zoo," and its ice cream parlor, is a Mecca for hikers, cross country skiers, and off-road cyclists. What's more, recently completed renovations have culminated in a beautifully landscaped "Interpretive Center". In short, a fine place to start a walk or bike ride. Great Brook features two parking areas, one at the ski touring center on Lowell Road, and another off North Road, the main entrance to the Park. We'll launch from the latter. If you're a diehard still willing to chance our directions, try these:

From Route 128/95

Take Exit 31(Routes 4 and 225) west toward Bedford and drive Route 225 through Bedford to Carlisle Center. Soon after passing by Bedford's fire station, watch for Route 225 to branch left from the combined 4-and-225 just after Route 62 enters from the left and almost precisely opposite a Volkswagen dealership. You're on the right track if, a few minutes after making this left, you cross the Concord River and a little later pass Kimball's Ice Cream stand. At the Carlisle rotary, marked by a statue of a lachrymose woman, right arm raised in salute to her war dead, turn right past Fern's convenience store to Lowell Street and drive it roughly two miles to North Road, the entrance to Great Brook, on the right. The parking lot is about a half mile up North Road on the left. Mapquest estimates the drive from 128 via this route to be about 30 minutes.

From Route 495

Take Exit 32 for Boston Road east toward Carlisle, cross directly over Route 110, and proceed from there as Boston Road becomes Carlisle Road and continues to a stop sign at Route 225. Turn left on 225 and drive to the Carlisle rotary , go left three quarters of the way around it, past Fern's convenience store, to Lowell Street, and drive Lowell Street roughly two miles to North Road, the entrance to Great Brook, on the right. The parking lot is about a half mile up North Road on the left.  Approximately twenty minutes are required to get from 495 to North Road.

For those navigating to the start with MapQuest or a GPS system:

197 North Rd Carlisle, MA 01741 or N 42 33.362, W 71 20.884

To contact us call 978-808-0900

*** Good Luck !!! ***