The CRT is a 3.7 miles (6.0 km), 12 feet (3.7 m) wide paved multi-use trail, available for walking, running, biking, rollerblading, and other non-motorized uses.

[1][2] It follows the right-of-way of the disused Saxonville Branch of Boston and Albany Railroad which was railbanked.

[3] The CRT is named after Lake Cochituate, of which it offers scenic views.

[4] The CRT runs from Mechanic Street and Whitney Field/Navy Yard in Natick Center to Saxonville in Framingham.

[7] The trail was built to meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.