Hillsborough, NH Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

1136 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Hillsborough?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Hillsborough, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
39 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

15.7 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Derry Rail Trail

3.6 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Goffstown Rail Trail

5.5 mi
State: NH
Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Haggetts Rail Trail

2 mi
State: MA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Head's Pond Trail

1.75 mi
State: NH
Gravel

Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail

1.58 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Londonderry Rail Trail

4.6 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Mascoma River Greenway

2.78 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Gravel

Mass Central Rail Trail

56.36 mi
State: MA
Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Mine Falls Park Trails

9.7 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Monadnock Recreational Rail Trail

7.5 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Gravel

Nashua River Rail Trail

12.4 mi
State: MA, NH
Asphalt

Northern Rail Trail

59 mi
State: NH
Cinder, Crushed Stone

West River Trail (Windham County)

16.1 mi
State: VT
Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Windham Rail Trail

4.3 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

21.4 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail)

42.4 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Common Pathway

5.5 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Cotton Valley Rail Trail

12 mi
State: NH
Gravel

Dover Community Trail

4.2 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt
Accordion

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail

7 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Mason Railroad Trail

6.7 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Gravel, Sand

New Boston Rail Trail

3.9 mi
State: NH
Dirt

North Central Pathway

11.2 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Old Railroad Trail

2.7 mi
State: NH
Dirt

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

28 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Squannacook River Rail Trail

3.7 mi
State: MA
Crushed Stone

Sugar River Trail

9.5 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Gravel, Sand

Toonerville Rail-Trail

3.2 mi
State: VT
Asphalt

WOW Trail

2.7 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Winnipesaukee River Trail

4.94 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Brookline Rail Trail

4.5 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail

5.65 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail

6 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Granite Town Rail-Trail

3 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail

7.8 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Dirt

Village Spur Rail Trail

2.1 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Dirt, Grass

Merrimack River Greenway Trail

0.33 mi
State: NH
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
A developing rail trail, the route winds for nearly 16 miles through Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, and Concord. The rail trail is paved and is typically about 10 feet wide.  About the...
MA 15.7 mi Asphalt
This exquisitely maintained 3.6-mile paved rail-trail slices through forested areas and wetlands for a wonderful experience in southern New Hampshire. About the Route Starting at the southern...
NH 3.6 mi Asphalt
The year 2017 marks 20 years since a rails-to-trails project was first mentioned in the Goffstown Master Plan, and thanks to work by the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail and support throughout the...
NH 5.5 mi Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand
The Haggetts Rail Trail is a short, but sweet unpaved trail located on the periphery of Haggetts Pond, the local reservoir for the nearby town of Andover. Built on part of the former line of the...
MA 2 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
The Head’s Pond Trail (formerly known as Hooksett Rail Trail) is a 1.9-mile rail-trail that visits two scenic ponds, including the eponymous Head’s Pond, in a woodsy area of Hooksett. The trail’s...
NH 1.75 mi Gravel
Lake Winnisquam is New Hampshire’s fourth largest lake, and taking the Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail is one of the best ways to experience it. Meaning “pleasant waters,” Lake Winnisquam provides...
NH 1.58 mi Asphalt
The Londonderry Rail Trail runs for 4.6 miles between Harvey and Rockingham Road. The smooth paved trail offers a pleasant and tranquil adventure for trail users along an old Manchester and Lawrence...
NH 4.6 mi Asphalt
The Mascoma River Greenway is a planned 4-mile rail-trail through the heart of Lebanon. The paved, multiuse trail is currently 2.78 miles, offering a pleasant opportunity for both recreation and...
NH 2.78 mi Asphalt, Gravel
The Massachusetts Central Railroad was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938, but the 104-mile corridor is being reborn as a cross-state rail trail. The Mass Central Rail Trail runs for 36.36 miles from...
MA 56.36 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
Mine Falls Park in Nashua is a 300-acre-plus urban park with a network of approximately 9.7 miles of a variety of trail types. This forested park offers an extraordinary nature experience in the heart...
NH 9.7 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
The Monadnock Recreational Rail Trail is a great example of a repurposed rail route that provides safe commuting opportunities while also allowing trail users to escape into forest environments for...
NH 7.5 mi Asphalt, Gravel
The Nashua River Rail Trail stretches from southern Nashua, New Hampshire, to downtown Ayer, Massachusetts, connecting to the towns of Pepperell and Groton. The trail is built on the former rail...
MA, NH 12.4 mi Asphalt
Spanning 59 miles from Lebanon to Boscawen, the Northern Rail Trail is New Hampshire’s longest rail-trail conversion. It weaves through Grafton and Merrimack counties and is less than a 2-hour drive...
NH 59 mi Cinder, Crushed Stone
The West River Railroad, which once followed its namesake river for 36 miles, began passenger service in the late 1800s as a way to trim the two-day voyage between Brattleboro and South Londonderry to...
VT 16.1 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand
The Windham Rail Trail passes through the woodsy periphery of Windham in southern New Hampshire, but it sits in the heart of the future cross-state Granite State Rail Trail. The trail is 4.3 miles...
NH 4.3 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: Due to flooding, the Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail is closed from Pine Street to Sawyer's Crossing Road in Swanzey. Please see NH State Parks for more up-to-date information. The...
NH 21.4 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt
The Cheshire Rail Trail connects Fitzwilliam, Troy, Keene, Westmoreland and Walpole. The 42.4-mile trail has a mostly gravel and dirt surface. The rail-trail plays host to a variety of uses,...
NH 42.4 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand
The Common Pathway travels 5.5 miles from the outskirts of Peterborough south to downtown’s Noone Falls area, paralleling US 202 and the Contoocook River for most of its journey. The small town of...
NH 5.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Cotton Valley Rail Trail connects the small town of Wakefield, near the Maine border, and the quintessentially quaint New England vacation town of Wolfeboro. In 2017 the towns held a...
NH 12 mi Gravel
The Dover Community Trail snakes its way through the heart of the Garrison City—so nicknamed for the fortified log houses, or garrisons, built by 17th-century settlers—-offering a variety of trail...
NH 4.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt
Accordion
Built in the 1910s by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) as part of the Connecticut River Division Main Line, the route introduced daily service to the B&M Fort Hill Branch in the early 1920s to meet...
NH 7 mi Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand
The Mason Railroad Trail runs for nearly 7 miles from near the New Hampshire–Massachusetts border (nr. Townsend, MA) to Greenville, NH. The trail follows a heavily wooded corridor through Russell...
NH 6.7 mi Ballast, Gravel, Sand
The New Boston Rail Trail follows the former railroad corridor of the same name for 3.9 miles through densely wooded areas in the town of New Boston. The railroad was in operation from 1893 to 1931,...
NH 3.9 mi Dirt
The North Central Pathway is envisioned as a trail network connecting points of interest through and between Winchendon and Gardner. Several completed sections of trail make for a lovely ride or walk...
MA 11.2 mi Asphalt
The Old Railroad, as its name suggests, is a multi-use trail that occupies a former Boston & Maine Railroad corridor. The trail picks up at the northern trailhead of the Common Pathway, a paved...
NH 2.7 mi Dirt
Crossing through wooded areas and featuring magnificent wetland vistas, the Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch) offers an 18.3-mile trail adventure from Epping to Windham. The northern...
NH 18.3 mi Dirt, Sand
The Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail brings at least two superlatives to mind: it’s one of New Hampshire’s longest rail trails at just more than 28 miles, and it runs from Manchester, the state’s...
NH 28 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand
The Squannacook River Rail Trail is 3.7 miles long, from Depot St in the center of Townsend, MA, to the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area in Groton, MA. The trail occupies the Greenville Branch of the...
MA 3.7 mi Crushed Stone
The Sugar River Trail runs for 9.5 miles between Claremont and Newport along the old Sugar River Railroad corridor. The 9.5-mile trail crosses its namesake river seven times—twice on covered...
NH 9.5 mi Ballast, Gravel, Sand
The Toonerville Rail-Trail shadows the Black River for most of its 3.2-mile length in eastern Springfield to the border with New Hampshire across the Connecticut River. The route originally carried an...
VT 3.2 mi Asphalt
The WOW Trail is named after the three bodies of water that can be seen from this rail trail: Lake Winnipesaukee, Opechee Bay, and Lake Winnisquam. This picturesque 2.7-mile trail shares a corridor...
NH 2.7 mi Asphalt
The Winnipesaukee River Trail runs for nearly 5 miles between the towns of Franklin and Tilton, nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. About the Route The Winnipesaukee River Trail...
NH 4.94 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Brookline Rail Trail winds through the New Hampshire woods and passes by several small bodies of water, including the Potanipo Pond. The rail-trail has two segments, known as the Brookline Rail...
NH 4.5 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
Following the historic Concord-Claremont Railroad corridor, the Concord–Lake Sunapee Rail Trail will eventually connect communities from Concord to the southern point of Lake Sunapee via a multiuse...
NH 5.65 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail runs for 6 miles between the towns of Rochester and Farmington. The trail parallels the Cocheco River and State Route 11 through a wooded corridor. The trail is...
NH 6 mi Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand
The Granite Town Rail-Trail runs for 3 miles in Milford, New Hampshire. Portions of the route are unpaved and surfaced with sand, gravel, and/or dirt, while short concrete sections can be found along...
NH 3 mi Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand
Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail connects three communities in south-central New Hampshire: Hillsborough, Deering, and Bennington. The unpaved trail winds along the Contoocook River through rural...
NH 7.8 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt
The Village Spur Rail Trail begins in downtown Belmont, and stretches from behind the Belmont Mill to the Tioga River on the west side of South Road. Out and back for the entire trail is about four...
NH 2.1 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Grass
The Merrimack River Greenway Trail (MRGT) will stretch from Boscawen southward through Concord to Pembroke, offering scenic views of the Merrimack River, the city and the surrounding landscapes. The...
NH 0.33 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Mascoma River Greenway

Short but fun

August, 2025 by georgerisktaker

Paved. Runs through Lebanon. This trail is a must if you are going to do the Northern Rail Trail.

Northern Rail Trail

Long ride - sore bottom

August, 2025 by georgerisktaker

Longest trail in State and is deservedly well rated by most. It is a consistently groomed crushed stone trail with few roots and rocks. Not many places to stop and sit which on a long ride can be helpful. Make sure to ride to the statue at the southern trail head.

Winnipesaukee River Trail

Worthy trail

August, 2025 by georgerisktaker

Most of the trip is a rail trail of good quality. The ride through Tilton is on the road and can be tricky at one intersection. The "About this Route" provides a good description. The Tilton end of the trail by MacDonalds and Super 8 is not for trail parking. Use the address shown which is within 1 mile of the end of the trail. Franklin is a great town to visit.

Accordion

Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail

Fun but short

August, 2025 by georgerisktaker

Great views and we enjoyed the changes in grade and the turns, but a very short trail. Must be combined with Winni Trail, but that is also short.

WOW Trail

Old Town Trail

August, 2025 by georgerisktaker

Most of the trip is paved and runs through the town of Laconia. There appear to be homeless people (campers at least) on one portion of the trail. Short trail that must be combined with the WOW trail for a longer ride (still short).

Mass Central Rail Trail

A Delightful Ride on The Norwottuck Section

August, 2025 by gettinlate

June 6th 2025
The Mrs and I rode this beautiful trail from North Hampton to just short of Belchertown, and back.
The weather was great and the trail is mostly shaded, so the ride was superb.
I'd have no objection to doing it again.

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

Nice ride.

August, 2025 by cgtaylor328

We started at the south end and rode ten miles before turning around. We would have gone further except it was getting late. The trail over all is in good condition. There hasn’t been a lot of rainfall recently so the trail was dry. We ride ebikes with four inch off road tires. On the day we rode the condition of the trail was good enough for most riders but we don’t recommend road bikes.

Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

Nice Trail

August, 2025 by johnbuckley62

1st time we went south to combine with Methuen trail, some crossing lights were not working, a part of trail is hard packed dirt so a wider tire made it easier

Methuen Rail Trail

Nice Trail

August, 2025 by johnbuckley62

Nice little ride, we connected to Salem Trail

Londonderry Rail Trail

nice ride.

August, 2025 by dmzast

rode 7-30-25 parked at Symmes Dr in bus depot lot - no directions for where to park. Mile markers are facing the trail, instead of perpendicular , so they can't be easily read while riding - missed a few along the way. Also signage at entrance areas should include direction and milage to either end. Thought we could hook up to the Derry trail, but that didn't happen - couldn't find it - again, signs would help !

Windham Rail Trail

nice ride

August, 2025 by dmzast

Rode on 7-26-25 Needs mile markers at Windham end. Slight incline from Salem to Windham. The Windham trail is paved, but turns to dirt when you reach the Salem trail. Turned around and rode back to Windham.

Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

not paved.

August, 2025 by dmzast

the Windham trail is paved, but turns to dirt when you reach the Salem trail.
Turned around and rode back to Windham.

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