Northern Rail Trail - Merrimack County:
New Hampshire
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Description:
Combined with its connecting sister trail, the Northern Rail Trail–Grafton County, at 48 miles this is the longest rail trail in New Hampshire. The Merrimack County Trail itself extends 25 miles from West Franklin to just north of Danbury, where it connects with the Grafton County Rail Trail.

With the exception of the last 2 miles, the trail is 10 feet wide and composed of compacted stone dust, an easy ride for hybrid and mountain bikes. There is a gentle 1% grade from Franklin to Danbury. The last 2 miles are graded and compacted cinder ballast which is slightly softer then stone ballast but still doable for hybrid or mountain bikers .

The southern end of the trail starts at Holy Cross Road off Route 3 in West Franklin and the site of the Old Webster Farm. Parking is available on Holy Cross Road. From West Franklin the trail climbs out of the Merrimack River valley, following a brook 2 miles to Webster Lake, which has a public swimming beach and seasonal restrooms. The next 4 miles follow the brook to East Andover. Toilets and a warm welcome from the innkeeper are found at the trail's official welcome site: Highland Lake Inn. The inn is also a good place to spend the night if you are planning to bike the entire 48 miles.

Just past East Andover the trail goes around Highland Lake, which has a public beach and seasonal restrooms. The trail continues another 4 miles to Blackwater Park in Andover (seasonal restrooms).

A short ride north on Lawrence Street from the park takes you to food and a view of Proctor Academy. Two more miles beyond Andover you will find the only preserved railroad station on the trail in Potter Place. The station is open weekends in the summer and has an excellent display of railroad memorabilia and bottled water for sale.

Leaving Potter Place, the trail follows Fraser Brook north, climbing at a 1% grade for another 8 miles to Danbury, where you can buy food and drink. A mile north of Danbury the trail becomes narrow and the surface is packed cinder for another 2 miles to Zaccaria Road, where it connects with the Northern Rail Trail–Grafton County.

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Parking & Trail Access:
Parking is available at the following places:

At the southern end of the trail on Holy Cross Road, just off Route 3 in West Franklin and about 3 miles south of the intersection of Routes 3 and 11 in Franklin. Access to the Trail from Holy Cross Road is a short, easy ride.

In the public lot across the street from the Congregational Christian Church, 25 South Main Street, West Franklin, NH. Access from the lot is by crossing Route 3 and going to west end of the parking lot behind the Church and walking your bike up the short steep hill to the Trail.

In public lot at Webster Lake, Franklin, NH at the intersection of NH Route 11 and Webster Avenue. Access is across NH Route 11 at Chance Pond Road.

At the Highland Lake Inn parking lot at 32 Maple Street in East Andover, NH. Access is down Maple Street about 150' to the Trail.

At Blackwater Park at the intersection of Lawrence Street and Park Street. Access is at the Park.

At the restored railroad station at Potter Place, Andover, NH. Access is at the station or at the Northwest edge of the large parking lot north of the station.

In the center of Danbury at the intersection of US Route 4 and NH Route 104. Access and parking are on the west side of US Route 4 along side the Trail and just north of the intersection of Route 4 and NH Route 104.

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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Great trail!
By 123lui4ge in December, 2011
Over the past few months I've ridden - on my son's hybrid... - from West Franklin to Mascoma Lake in 15 to 20 mile stretches. This is the best rail trail I've been on - solid surface of crushed stone, quite wide, only rare spots of sand or water and those easily navigated. Downed trees from this fall's storms were almost all cleared up, or at least clipped to give a tunnel. I could simply cruise along and enjoy the scenery and the quiet. I had a great time. Heartfelt thanks to all who created this and maintain it!
Northern Rail- Merrimack County August 17, 2011
By youker in August, 2011
The first couple of miles from Zaccaria Road are a bit rough but no problem for a hybrid. The rest of the new trail surface is covered with small crushed stone which I found took a bit more effort on petaling because of the loose surface. It is a wonderful trail with nice scenery and general stores for supplies and meals esp. Danbury. There is a much better start to the trail in West Franklin than behind the Congregational Church which requires a very steep up hill. If you drive just a bit farther down (south) on Rt. 3 to a right turn on Depot Street and driving a short distance and swinging left a few yards and turning right through an underpass and then turning left on Wells Ave. you will see the entrance to the end of the trail immediately on your left. There is more trail futher south but it is big stones and not good for biking. They hope build several more miles when they get the funds. All of this shows up very well on the Google maps enlarged. Youker
osborn2ride
By osborn2ride in July, 2011
I did 15 miles up from Franklyn for a 30 mile round trip and had a great ride. It was Monday July 18th and there was nobody on this trail. I did not see my first person until 11 miles in and only past about 7 people on my round trip. This end of the trail in not as pretty as the north end but it is still a nice ride. I was on an old Mt bike with a road tire and it worked great for me.
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