Warren to East Haverhill Railroad Grade Trail

The Warren to East Haverhill Railroad Grade Trail starts from an interesting landmark: a Redstone missile brought to Warren by a resident who served in the Army in Alabama in 1970. He found some obsolete missiles in a field and arranged with the Army to transport one back to Warren, aiming to bring something of America's thriving (and far-removed) space program closer to local youth. Placed in the town center in 1971, it remains a prominent fixture.

The rail-trail (a.k.a. the Jesse E. Bushaw Memorial Trail or New Hampshire Snowmobile Corridor No. 5) is a pleasant and picturesque 9.4-mile multipurpose route. The hard-packed dirt surface is generally wide, smooth and flat, and motorized use is permitted, making it popular among ATV riders in summer and snowmobilers in winter. The trail also welcomes walkers, bikers, equestrians and anglers eager to try their luck in trailside brooks and ponds.

While most of the route is straight with few technical obstacles, between miles 6 and 7, the trail dips and climbs steeply as it diverges from the rail bed to follow State Route 25. Where it rejoins the corridor, the route again runs straight and flat. Around mile 8, just after you pass the concrete cubes protecting this section of the trail from motorized use, you'll enter the Oliverian Valley Wildlife Preserve's Habitat Management Demonstration Area. Viewing platforms on both sides of the path help you keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife.

In the final mile, the trail passes under power lines, swings to the right and crosses a brook. You'll emerge on State Route 25 in East Haverhill between the Oliverian Valley Campground and a baseball field. This trailhead is difficult to find, so begin your journey in Warren.

To reach the Warren trailhead, take Interstate 93 to Exit 26 and follow State Route 25 west about 20 miles to Warren. In Warren, head toward the Redstone missile prominently displayed in the town center. The Warren E. Haverhill Railroad Grade Trail begins along the dirt road that leads into the woods directly behind the missile.