Explore the best rated trails in Epsom, NH. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Warner Rail Trail and Bagley Rail Trail and Sugar River Trail. With more than 75 trails covering 412 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Love riding on it. There’s some odd curves, like near the lumber yard, but the trail will be an even greater asset when the latest extensions are added. There are some amenities along the way, such as portable toilets, and there are coffee shops and convenience stores on the way, too.
I grew up in this area, and while the trail offers great views and an easy ride, two (2) huge barriers make this trail incomplete. The trail needs to cross US Route 1 and MA Route 128 to really be complete. Crossing Route 1 would link this trail to the Border-to-Boston Trail and crossing Route 128 at the Northshore Mall would allow the trail to continue into Downtown Peabody at Peabody Square and link to trails in Salem and points North. Both crossings used to have train tracks crossing the highways, but in both cases, the tracks across the highway were removed long before the trails themselves were built (the rail line was finally decommissioned in the 1980's, after an elderly driver was killed trying to beat the train as it crossed Route 1). Building the crossings would require constructing bridges to carry the highways over the trails, and require redesigning the adjacent interchanges (Lowell Street and Route 1, also Route 128 and Lowell Street) with the highways, a considerable expense that would cost tens of millions of dollars. The upside is that both interchanges are in desperate need of an overhaul, with traffic backups onto the highways at rush hour and stop signs at the tops of the ramps that merge onto the highways. That might have been acceptable in the 1940's, when these roads were built, but is intolerable now, with today's high traffic volumes.
Amazing to see all the ratings of this trail . Amazed at bicyclists who need to complain because they are having issues with crossing the rails . It does not take a college education to know that when you need to cross a obstruction in your path anywhere , you need to do so at as close to a 90 degree angle as possible . If you read the map , the posted signs , or see a obstruction and you question your skills you should stop and walk . I know it must be so hard to unclip and re clip your feet into your ordeals
My friend and I, both experienced riders, had a nice time on this trails today until we didn't With leaves on the ground, the shoulders on both sides of the trail are obscured. The paved trail is likely 3-4 inches higher than the shoulder. A few times heading north, we rode behind each other and to the right to create space of people coming towards us. We were several yards shy of parking lot at Gilson St when my friend moved right to make space. Obscured by piled up leaves, she could not appreciate where the the pavement ended and the shoulder dropped off. She corrected back onto the path, but not before her tires slipped on the leaves, and she suddenly lost control of the bike. She fell to the ground. I was behind her. Given the way she fell across the path, I couldn't avoid her, Two of us were now on the ground, bikes, too. I am grateful to the folks who stopped to help and show concern for our well-being. I am so very grateful to the gentleman, Tom, who took me back to my car in Ayer so I could come back and pick up my friend and our bikes, delaying his own cycling.. Thanks to the man who helped my put my friend's bike in my car. My friend is undergoing a medical evaluation to determine the extent of her injuries to her back, flank, and hip. Thankfully she was wearing a helmet when she struck the back of her head on the pavement.
Flat, quiet, road crossings are few over the first 8 miles and well lit/marked. No portapotties, which is unreasonable. Lovely ride thru forest and wetlands.
Very nice & flat trail. Well kept and pretty scenery...'specially in the fall.
Too urban to be considered a hike or bike; winds along community roads along river. Not a hike.
Overall not heavy usage on a Saturday afternoon in September. Parking is easy. Southern sections have a few road crossings at the end. The northern section is not as well maintained.
They really need to finish this trail. Walking/riding the streets are not ideal
Trail is great for anything but hybrid bikes, ie, walking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding. It is dirt, sand, loose stones, hidden boulders, and tree roots as well as metal hazards and horse manure piles. Beautiful views, when you can take your eyes off of the path in front of you, and shaded.
Just did this trail from Wakefield to Wolfeboro (and back) on Sunday. It’s a very nice and unique rail-to-trail project. I have ridden many rail-to-trail projects over the years, and have been involved with developing and maintaining trails in the past. I have been on trails built on top of old/removed railroad right-of-ways. I have been on trails built next to old railroad right-of-ways. But… I have never been on a trail actually built on an existing railroad right-of-way. I have seen several reviews complaining about this setup, however, I don’t think people understand the significance of this from an operational and historical perspective. Yes, having the trail lay between the railroad track gauge does limit space. And, this trail does cross the tracks back and forth quite a bit, which may pose a safety risk to those that are not cautious. But, with all of that being said… having the ability to operate motorized rail equipment on this trail is exciting and it gives visitors to this trail a unique perspective on seeing how the rail line worked.
The trail itself is of sand and light crushed stone construction, and it seems to be relatively well maintained. There were a few rutty places. You will definitely need a mountain or trail bike for this trip. However, I actually ran across members of the trail club doing maintenance Spent some time talking to them, and they were very friendly and informative. There is lots to see along the route, and Wolfeboro is a neat little tourist town. I drove over from Maine to try this trail out, and it was definitely worth the trip.
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