Find the top rated bike trails in Antrim, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Visited this trail 8/2/25. It rained the previous day which helped with the dust and packing the loose sections. NOT for skinny tires!! I was fine with my gravel bike but had it been dryer it would have been tougher but doable. There were a few ATV's & dirt bikes but they were VERY respectful and always gave us plenty of room on the trail. The river is gorgeous with plenty of access points to get your feet wet. If you're starting out on the Claremont side I'd recommend parking at the Home Depot just down the road from the trailhead. It's slightly uphill all the way to Newport which makes for a very easy ride coming back. Spoke to a local police officer parked at the trailhead and he said they're going to start patrolling the trail very soon to nab speeding ATV's which I consider a bonus.
Wife & I completed the Minuteman Trail & I wanted to do either the Narrow Gauge Trail or the Reformatory Trail. Wife headed for the Bedford library while I set off for the Narrow Gauge Trail. Trail was in good shape & I was prepared for the surface conditions associated with crushed stone. What caused me confusion was a lack of trail markings. I rode for about 20 minutes or so & eventually came to a gate, which was in the open position. I wasn't sure if this was the end of the trail (and still unsure at this point). I looked for signs, etc & saw none. The trail appeared to continue, but it's condition was much less pristine i.e. large ruts and valleys. I rode for what seemed like another mile until I came to a paved road & straight ahead was a paved road with a "Private Road" sign. I exited here & took surface streets back into Bedford. I am giving the trail a 2 star rating; better signage would increase my evaluation.
Rode the trail on Saturday 7/5/25. Liked that it was well shaded, rode by water, not many cross overs where you had to stop for cars and not crowded. I liked the trees on both sides. My only complaint would be you really need to make sure you have front end suspension when riding as there are alot of tree roots growing up under the asphalt- bumpy- outside of that it was a great ride!
Great trail. Bad culverts!!!
I bike rode Rockingham Rail Trail, Portsmouth branch for the first time today 6/29/25. Headed from Manchester east out 15 miles and back. Very nice trail, good base and I enjoyed the trail very much. HOWEVER, those underpass culverts 7-8 miles east of Manchester are DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS!!!!! Very low clearance, terrible visibility, and a deteriorated and uneven riding platform all contribute to a recipe for a terrible accident and injury. I am a good rider, and I crashed today. I was barely creeping along and fortunately I was not seriously Injured. Something needs to be done to make these less dangerous. I do not know who is responsible for maintaining these underpass culverts, but please consider my concerns. I would volunteer to assist in improving these hazards. Reread the description and walking bikes in these culverts was recommended and I would agree. On site signage would be a good idea also. The trail gets 5 stars the culverts get 0 stars.
The Assabet River Rail Trail is varied and enjoyable. The tricky thing about it is that it exists as two disconnected sections, separated by 2 miles of fairly busy road that's only suitable for confident road warriors. And that's a shame because both sections are marvelous and have much to recommend them.
The northern section runs from South Acton, through Maynard, and barely into Stow. It passes right through downtown Maynard, where you can find some decent food options and a bike shop. Proceeding south, it turns into a wide, hard-packed dirt road, and then finally ends as a slightly rougher dirt path. You can also easily access the Assabet River Wildlife Refuge from here, which has miles of wonderful off-road bike paths.
The southern section starts in Hudson and passes through the eastern end of its downtown, where there are more services and some worthwhile shops, including a bike shop. As of 2025, this part also connects to a new 8-mile eastbound section of the Mass Central Rail Trail. But if you continue on the Assabet River Rail Trail, you'll climb up into Marlborough -- it's pretty consistently uphill as you head south, but it's good exercise and has at least one excellent view. The trail more or less ends in the center of Marlborough, near the library, and where there are a few more spots you can grab a bite or get a drink.
So although this one isn't a straight shot, it's easily the most pleasant way to tour these towns and see what they have to offer. I hope finish it some day, and make it a single continuous Acton-to-Marlborough trail it's meant to be.
The Nashua River Rail Trail is terrific. It's long, smooth, well-maintained, and beautiful. Since it lies in a relatively rural part of Massachusetts, I find it to be a lower-key ride than its eastern cousin, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, but still well-used. There's less to see and do along it, but that might be exactly what you're looking for. Wholeheartedly recommended.
Without question, this is one of the best rails trails in Massachusetts -- maybe even New England as a whole.
The northernmost section, closest to Lowell, are clearly older -- it's fairly narrow and the way through the center of Chelmsford isn't super well thought-out. As you head south, it quickly turns into a wide, well-maintained, gorgeous trail with beautiful scenery and a serene vibe. There are places to stop for food; a couple of swimming holes; NARA Park in Acton; the fabulous bridge over Route 2; the convenient access through West Concord, and more as you proceed -- including an intersection with the future crown jewel of Massachusetts rail trails (the Mass Central Rail Trail). The BFRT is now mostly complete as of 2025, and I think the only section still waiting to be built is the southernmost section in Framingham. I love the Bruce Freeman and I bet you will too.
I ride my bike & walk this trail & downtown Derry is a great bike ride to Salem, 14-miles round trip and always free parking ¿
This portion of the Cheshire rail trail has almost no incline is completely straight and runs past a former major manufacturing complex, which is now vacant. Other sites include Keene police department and Keene ice and American house.
I enjoy the trail. I've seen cows bunnies and birds.
As of 6/3/25 this trail is still closed south of 11th street.
There is a detour indicated, which we tried to follow, but quickly lost track of.
Found another way to access the trail further south, only to realize that we'd gotten onto the part of the trail that was officially closed.
I'm sure this will warrant a higher rating once it has re-opened, but we were more than a bit disappointed today.
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