Columbus weekend foliage is looking good so my wife and I decided to take a ride on the Northern Rail Trail from Lebanon. We were pleased to find ample parking at the trail head in Lebanon. We have tadpole recumbent trikes that have 16" slick tires which were not the perfect tires for the dirt pack surface but it was ok. As we made our way along the trail we stopped at the many bridges for a view of the Mascoma River and foliage. After an hour we decided to turn around just short of Mascoma Lake and found the ride back to be much easier, slight downhill grade, which was much appreciated.

Last August I did the part from Canaan west to Lebanon and this year I finished the trail from Canaan east to the county line at Zaccaria Road The trail was a bit rough but fine with a hybrid bike. The last two miles from Grafton to the county line was a bit rougher with slightly larger stones. There is parking at Zaccaria Road. There is a nice general store in Grafton right on the trail. I then continued on the Merrimack County section to Potter Place. Youker

I did the trail on 16th of July with my brother, his wife and there two children, Patric age nine and Ann age eleven, it was a beautiful day and there was a ton of traffic on the trail. The best was a guy with a tag along, with a four year old and a nine month old in a seat on his handle bars. This was one of my very first Rails to Trails and has a fond spot in my hart. You could do it on a road bike but you would need an aggressive tire. My brother was on his Hybrid, I was on a old Mt Bike with a street tire, both girls where on Mt bikes. Lots of shade and you pass Mascoma Lake and there are a couple of spot that you can go in for a swim.

I submitted a picture of the start of theGrafton Cty part of the trail at Zaccaria Road at the eastern end which is clearly passable with a hybrid bike and where there is parking off Rt 4. I also submitted a picture to the Merrimack web site taken in the other direction at the same point where the Merrimack section of the trail is clearly grown up. There are plans to work on this section of the trail soon. Youker 8/25/2010

I did the Canaan to Lebanon 13.5 miles one way in an hour and a half on 8/24/2010 of this wonderful unpaved trail along the Mascoma River and Lake. The section from Enfield to Lebanon is more heavily used and in better condition, although the section west of Canaan was no problem for a hybrid bike. I saw a lot of road bikes on the Enfield section. The trail is level or gradually downhill from Canaan with good views of both flat and white water river from the many bridges. The section along the lake is particularly scenic. The small maps at the little kiosks at some parking areas give good mileage but the sign at the start in Lebanon near the town green is totally wrong. At Enfield there is a 20 foot dam and a very large old textile mill. The trail runs close to Rt 4 with many places to connect even though the highway is very hilly. Youker

I have used this trail twice and it is one great trail. The Northern Rail group has done a great job and it is a very easy ride. It is family friendly and a cross over bike is ok.

Road the entire trail yesterday. Was as the previous post stated. As for the parking directions here is the correct version on the Grafton end. If you want to go the 23.8 miles as stated, take route 4 into Danbury, NH. and park at Zaccaria Rd.. Danbury is just East of Grafton and if you look for Zaccaria Rd. on your GPS in Grafton you won't find it. You will see a town line marker when you are on the trail. Not sure what store they are talking about but there is nothing across the street. The Lebanon half of the trail is the most improved. The trail does continue East of Zaccaria Rd. but not very well kept up. I did not take that end of the trail. As for parking off Depot st. that is also in Danbury opposite Ragged Mountain Hwy. That would add about 2.8 more miles length to the 23.8 mile trail.

This trail is an absolute dream for bikes. We rode it this fall end to end and have no complaints. Nice country side, beautiful views, especially along Mascoma Lake. Good parking at various places along the trail. Can't wait for the trail to be extended all the way to Franklin.

I rode on this trail while my wife shopped at Patternworks, over in Center Harbor. Only had time to ride 7 miles of the trail. The eastern end of this trail stops at the county line. The railbed continuing east is legally accessible, and is probably usable by snow machines, but still has the ballast. I've ridden on ballast before and it's no fun. They have plans to replace it with rock dust in 2010.

I rode in the direction of Grafton and had a great ride. Encountered a few walkers, and the day before (driving in) saw a few other bicyclists. Not a busy trail, but a nice trail. Plenty of interesting railroad artifacts. Took photos of all but the whistle post east of Grafton, uploaded them to Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/russnelson/tags/northernrailtrail/

There's a nice treatment of a former at-grade crossing. They rebuilt the highway bridge over a stream just off the railbed, and left room on the side for the trail. So there's a slope down, a bit of rusty drainage, and a slope back up, but no cars.

"I biked from Lebanon to Canaan and back today and was amazed. This trail is the most scenic and best I have explored in NH. the weather was perfect and the packed surface was smooth and could be used by a road bike. In fact I was amazed by how many were out on the trail today a week day and about half were on road bikes.
we stopped in Enfield for lunch and are going back soon to do the east end. Trail is up hill from Lebanon to Canaan and then you can roll on the return. Lots and good parking at the end at Lebanon. "

"Rode from Grafton north to Enfield today. trail was great, saw geese gathering in orange getting ready to fly south. songbirds everywhere collecting wild cherries. I have walked and ridden the full length of the trail several times and keep visiting again.

Bridge work in Canaan on September 8, 2007 to redo the deck. All are invited to help"

This is an absolutely beautiful ride. I bike from Goose Pond Road to Lebanon once a week going to work and hope to do it twice a week. It's such a wonderful way to start the day!! The trail is very well kept and it's so beautiful just riding by the Mascoma River and Lake. It makes my day!!

"I walk or bike the trail several times a week. Use caution at the ""double bridge."" The railing supports have broken on one bridge. At the trailhead at Mascoma Lake a family of beaver have built a dam and lodge adjacent to the trail opposite the lake. In the evening the beaver can be watched working in the pond"

We biked this trail from both ends. It is absolutely beautiful from the Lebanon end going in with Mascoma Lake. The leaves were changing colors and we really enjoyed the trail bed itself. There is a nice hard surface for bike riding.

"Well maintained, super views, particularly the section from Lebanon to Canaan. Need mileage markers and better signs to off trail services. Start at Lebanon and you will have slight downgrade for last four miles of return trip."