Explore the best rated trails in New Castle, NH, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Eastern Promenade Trail and Heritage Trail (NH) . With more than 79 trails covering 472 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.
This was my first time on this trail, and I really enjoyed it. The views were amazing but there was one big take away I have for next time. If you can, bring a bike with suspension. I had my road bike and REALLY felt the poor condition of the path. It was still very bike-able though.
I parked at NARA park and biked to Chelmsford. Today parked in same place and biked to west concord. Path is in great shape. Lots of trees, waterways, bridges, towns. Got to “the end” to discover that it actually goes several more miles which I’ll save for another day. I liked the poetry booth in West Concord- very original. I highly recommend this for scenery, safety, convenience of restaurants and bathroom stops. My favorite find this year.
I've managed to ride portions of the trail between Fremont and Derry where it's open to summer OHRV on my hybrid bike (40mm gravel tires). It's not really pleasant as the trail is very sandy in sections to the point where I have had to walk my bike through sections. This is unfortunate because it's a great connector to the RT corridor that runs between Methuen, MA and Londonderry with the Rockingham Recreational trail from Manchester to Newfields. I get that summer OHRV use south of the North Woods is a scarce resource and that bikes do have the option of riding on the pavement. Except the shoulders of the roads are awful narrow. I could go on about the short sightedness of State and Local government but...
Great trail to ride on, well maintained crushed stone path. We got on at mile 13.4 in Portsmouth and rode to mile 6.8 then turned around and headed back. A lot of tree coverage which is nice for shade but not much variation in scenery. Not sure if there is more to see further south on the trail. That being said, it’s still a great place to get outside and exercise!
Smooth cider trail all bikes, well signed, 3 road crossings well marked, full canopy not a lot to see except Hampton Airfield. Recommend stopping at Airfield after riding at restaurant and watch small planes.
Smooth level no hills, cider trail, good signage, full canopy. Recommend starting at South End near or at Hampton Airfield and at end of ride watch small planes and have lunch
I've ridden this trail many times and it never disappoints. I have ridden all of it in sections and each one has it's own charm. In the Grafton-Canaan stretch it can feel remote even though the highway is nearby. The section from Boscawen to Andover always has folks on it though I have never found it too busy to enjoy. The save can be said for Lebanon out towards Canaan. There are services available along the way though it might require some road riding to access some of them. The Friends of the Northern Rail Trail group does a great job, is responsive to user comments and is working to address issues like toilet access. That being said there are long stretches where you have to be willing to use the bushes. It's absolutely a carry-in/carry-out situation so its a good idea to be prepared.
We are bike-packing across the country with e-bikes. A good rail trail is such a nice escape from the road traffic - this one was a delight. Mostly solid packed surface, smooth, a few muddy spots. Very scenic with a mix of woods and wetlands. Watch your head on the tunnels. Highly recommend!
Rode this trail several times since mid-September. It is a nice length - 8 miles so not too long for a round trip. It is a new trail with all crushed stone, and it is a straight run and sufficiently wide. The scenery is typical woods. The trail crosses roads 2-3 times that are not too busy and all have lights. The parking lot, which is immediately south of the Airfield Café, is a decent size. The northern part of the trail ends by Route 1. Although I have not done it, you should be able to find your way into the city of Portsmouth from here using Islington St. or Middle Rd.
The trail is much better than described, so it has had an upgrade. The trail is a uniform experience from one end to the other. The trail is gravel / dirt with no roots or rocks. It is slightly narrower than some other trails, giving you the feeling you were deeper in the woods. Most of the trail runs along the Piscataquog River and on the other side of the river is Rt 13 (some road noise). The northern trailhead gets close to the Goffstown Rail Trail and at the trailhead you will find road directions (about 2-miles) to get to that awesome trail.
Very long for a paved trail and the few road crossings do not have much traffic. There are no more roots coming through the pavement than one would expect, and they all are painted white where they exist. A fast trail. There are towns in both the northern and southern part of the trail to grab food and/or drink. The trail is mostly in Massachusetts.
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