The Railroad Bed is a popular trail that runs through the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area. The trail follows the former route of the Boston and Maine Railroad, which was abandoned in 1982. The trail offers scenic views of the Parker River, salt marshes, and woodlands, as well as opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife observation. The trail is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, and is accessible year-round. The trail is about 4 miles long and has a gravel surface. The trail is part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a network of trails that encircles the Greater Boston area.

Also known as the Downfall Wildlife Management Area, the protected lands of the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Newbury, 1555 acres, are part of the mosaic of protected land conserved throughout the region. The property consists of a hardwood forest with a dense understory. Rocky hills dot the property with 3 small fire ponds. Much of the low area is poorly drained and seasonally wet. Headwaters of Cart Creek and Little River within this property. The property is great for birding, species of note include: Woodcock, whip-poor-wills, warblers, and flycatchers are featured birds during spring migration. Nesting forest residents include thrushes, woodpeckers, ruffed grouse, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and many other songbirds. In the fields watch and listen for indigo buntings, field sparrows, prairie warblers, and blue-winged warblers. Both tree swallows and eastern bluebirds use the many nest boxes found around the property. This place is great for a wide range of nesting species as well.