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Hillsborough Walking Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Walking trails around Hillsborough?

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

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Name
Length

Appel Way Trail

1.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Ashburnham Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: MA

Dirt

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

21.5 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Barker Road Trail

0.9 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Grass

Bobby Woodman Rail Trail

1.7 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Gravel

Bradford Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: MA

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

11.7 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Canalside Rail Trail

3.6 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail)

32.9 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Common Pathway

5.5 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Concord River Greenway

2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Cotton Valley Rail-Trail

12 mi

State: NH

Gravel

Cross Vermont Trail

87.4 mi

State: VT

Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Derry Rail Trail

3.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Dover Community Trail

3.8 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail

6 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail

7 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Goffstown Rail Trail

5.5 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Granite Town Rail-Trail

3 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Haggetts Rail Trail

2 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Accordion

Harrisville Rail Trail

1.6 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Head’s Pond Trail

1.75 mi

State: NH

Gravel

Heritage Trail (Manchester)

0.9 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail

7.8 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Dirt

Jay McLaren Memorial Trail

2 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Jonathan Daniels Trail

0.9 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone

Keene Industrial Heritage Trail

1 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail

1.8 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Londonderry Rail Trail

3.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Lowell Canal System Trails

1.9 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Concrete

Mascoma River Greenway

2.1 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Gravel

Mason Railroad Trail

6.7 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Gravel, Sand

Mass Central Rail Trail

38 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Methuen Rail Trail

2.4 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Mine Falls Park

9.7 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Monadnock Recreational Rail Trail

7.5 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Gravel

Nashua Heritage Rail-Trail

1.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Nashua River Rail Trail

12.3 mi

State: MA, NH

Asphalt

New Boston Rail Trail

3.9 mi

State: NH

Dirt

North Central Pathway

8.9 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Northern Rail Trail

57.6 mi

State: NH

Cinder, Crushed Stone

Peanut Trail

1.5 mi

State: NH

Cinder

Piscataquog Trail

2.1 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch)

18.3 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Sand

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

28.1 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

1.15 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

South Manchester Rail Trail

0.89 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Spicket River Greenway

3.5 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Stevens Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Gravel

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

Ware River Rail-Trail

12 mi

State: MA

Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

West Foss Farm Trail

1.6 mi

State: NH

Dirt

West River Trail

16.1 mi

State: VT

Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Windham Rail Trail

4.3 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Winnipesaukee River Trail

5.1 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Trail Image	Trail Name	States	Length	Surface	Rating
	Appel Way Trail Appel Way Trail offers a paved route of about a mile through woodlands on the north end of Keene. Most notably, it offers a connection between Wheelock Park on the trail's west end and Ashuelot River...	NH	1.3 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
	Ashburnham Rail Trail More than a mile of the Ashburnham Rail Trail opened in 2015 from a point just south of Ashburnham's center to Turnpike Road. The rustic route, planned to be paved in the future, offers a...	MA	1.3 mi	Dirt	0 reviews
	Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail The Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail passes such scenic and historical landmarks as covered bridges, abandoned mills, and postcard-perfect towns. Starting on asphalt in Keene, the rail-trail can be...	NH	21.5 mi	Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt	25 reviews
	Barker Road Trail Barker Road Trail begins on the town line between North Andover and Boxford in northern Massachusetts, not far from the New Hampshire border. From there, the pathway continues through dense woodlands...	MA	0.9 mi	Dirt, Grass	0 reviews
	Bobby Woodman Rail Trail The Bobby Woodman Rail Trail, a hard-packed dirt and gravel pathway, begins off a quiet street at the southern end of Claremont and quickly dives under pleasant tree cover. After about a half mile,...	NH	1.7 mi	Dirt, Gravel	0 reviews
	Bradford Rail Trail The newly open Bradford Rail Trail occupies the former Pan Am rail lines, beautifying an area that once lay strewn with garbage and weeds. The city and numerous dedicated volunteers created the...	MA	1.3 mi		3 reviews
	Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Bruce N. Freeman was a Massachusetts state representative from 1969 to 1986. Beginning in 1985, he championed the creation of a bike path that would run along the former Penn Central railroad line...	MA	11.7 mi	Asphalt	37 reviews
	Canalside Rail Trail The well-maintained Canalside Rail Trail provides users with a variety of trestle bridges, views of waterbirds stalking fish and frogs, and gentle grades that alternate between open sky and forested...	MA	3.6 mi	Asphalt	6 reviews
	Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail) Formerly comprising two separate segments—one running northward from Keene to Walpole, and the other running southward from Keene to Fitzwilliam—the Cheshire Rail Trail now runs a continuous 32.9...	NH	32.9 mi	Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand	20 reviews
	Common Pathway 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	4 reviews
	Concord River Greenway The health and fortunes of Lowell have been intimately tied to the Concord River for hundreds of years. This tributary of the more well-known Merrimack River continues to be at the heart of the local...	MA	2 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
	Cotton Valley Rail-Trail 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	32 reviews
	Cross Vermont Trail The Cross Vermont Trail (CVT) is a statewide route that links a number of Vermont trails and includes on-road sections. As of January 2016, 87 miles of trail are built and scattered across the state....	VT	87.4 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel	4 reviews
	Derry Rail Trail This exquisitely maintained trail slices through forested areas and wetlands for a wonderful experience in southern New Hampshire. The trail will eventually be part of the Granite State Rail Trail,...	NH	3.6 mi	Asphalt	19 reviews
	Dover Community Trail 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	3.8 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt	7 reviews
	Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail 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	5 reviews
	Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail 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	5 reviews
	Goffstown Rail Trail 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	10 reviews
	Granite Town Rail-Trail Mile 0.0 - DPW Garage Cross the bridge in the parking area, the trail starts behind the fence, crossing over Great Brook on a old dam. Mile 0.53 - After crossing Union St. you will come to a...	NH	3 mi	Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	2 reviews
	Haggetts Rail Trail 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	0 reviews

Accordion

Harrisville Rail Trail The Harrisville Rail Trail runs for just under two miles between the outskirts of Harrisville and Hancock in rural New Hampshire. The former railroad bed is located on lands conserved by the Harris...	NH	1.6 mi	Dirt	0 reviews
Head’s Pond Trail 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	4 reviews
Heritage Trail (Manchester) The Heritage Trail is managed by the state of New Hampshire to provide access to recreational and historical attractions across the state. Eventually, the north-south route along the former Boston and...	NH	0.9 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail 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	6 reviews
Jay McLaren Memorial Trail Nestled in the woodlands on the northern end of Merrimac in the far northeastern corner of Massachusetts, lies the beautiful Jay McLaren Memorial Trail. The town, once known as West Amesbury, had a...	MA	2 mi	Dirt, Grass, Gravel	3 reviews
Jonathan Daniels Trail Jonathan Daniels Trail travels the length of Ashuelot River Park through Keene. Along the stone-dust trail, you can enjoy the park’s beautiful natural backdrop and flower garden. The trail was named...	NH	0.9 mi	Crushed Stone	0 reviews
Keene Industrial Heritage Trail The Keene Industrial Trail links the county's Cheshire Rail-Trail in the city of Keene. The paved path is a 1-mile segment through downtown Keene, which passes among some of the city's old mill...	NH	1 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail 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	1.8 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
Londonderry Rail Trail The smooth paved surface of the Londonderry Rail Trail offers a pleasant, tranquil 3.3-mile adventure for trail users in south-central New Hampshire. Its route follows a corridor once used by the...	NH	3.3 mi	Asphalt	6 reviews
Lowell Canal System Trails Lowell's Canal System Trails are part of Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, Massachusetts. The park preserves some of America's industrial past: its 19th-century textile mills formed the first...	MA	1.9 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	1 reviews
Mascoma River Greenway Mascoma River Greenway is a planned 4-mile non-motorized pathway through the heart of Lebanon. The trail is envisioned to link West Lebanon to the 50-mile Northern Rail Trail. In 2013, the first mile...	NH	2.1 mi	Asphalt, Gravel	0 reviews
Mason Railroad Trail The Mason Railroad Trail runs for nearly 7 miles from near the New HampshireMassachusetts border (nr. Townsend, MA) to Greenville, NH. The trail follows a heavily wooded corridor through Russell...	NH	6.7 mi	Ballast, Gravel, Sand	13 reviews
Mass Central Rail Trail A 104-mile rail line was shattered by hurricane in 1938. Today, the corridor is being developed as the Mass Central Rail Trail to be enjoyed by bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and cross-country skiers....	MA	38 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass	18 reviews
Methuen Rail Trail Methuen Rail Trail connects three communities in northeastern Massachusetts as it follows the route of the former Manchester and Lawrence Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The rail-trail's...	MA	2.4 mi	Crushed Stone	4 reviews
Mine Falls Park 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	9 reviews
Monadnock Recreational Rail Trail 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	13 reviews
Nashua Heritage Rail-Trail The Nashua Heritage Rail Trail begins adjacent to City Hall on Main Street in downtown Nashua. It is a short trail that takes you through one of the first neighborhoods that was planned and built in...	NH	1.3 mi	Asphalt	4 reviews
Nashua River Rail Trail 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	12.3 mi	Asphalt	121 reviews
New Boston Rail Trail 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	4 reviews
North Central Pathway 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	8.9 mi	Asphalt	15 reviews
Northern Rail Trail Spanning 57.6 miles from Lebanon to Boscawen, the Northern Rail Trail is New Hampshire’s longest rail-trail conversion. Trail development began in 1996 after the state purchased the Boston and Maine...	NH	57.6 mi	Cinder, Crushed Stone	55 reviews
Peanut Trail The Peanut Trial is a distinct trail in the town of Newton that spans one-mile. This rail-trail was meant to connect to the Jay McLaren Memorial Trail. However, due to a controversial lawsuit by land...	NH	1.5 mi	Cinder	3 reviews
Piscataquog Trail The Piscataquog Trail, though only about 2 miles long, provides a vital off-road link between the communities on the western side of the Merrimack River (the West Side of Manchester) to several parks...	NH	2.1 mi	Asphalt	11 reviews
Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch) 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	5 reviews
Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch) 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 begins in Manchester, the state’s...	NH	28.1 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	42 reviews
Salem Bike-Ped Corridor When complete, the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor will run for more than 5 miles on a former Boston and Maine Railroad corridor from connections with the Windham Rail Trail (north) and Methuen Rail Trail...	NH	1.15 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
South Manchester Rail Trail The South Manchester Rail Trail is a proposed bike/pedestrian path that would connect the downtown Millyard area of Manchester to the Town on Londonderry. The South Manchester Rail Trail will utilize...	NH	0.89 mi	Asphalt	2 reviews
Spicket River Greenway The Spicket River begins in Derry, New Hampshire, through Methuen and Lawrence, Massachusetts, before draining into the Merrimack River. Like many mill towns of the late 19th and 20th centuries, the...	MA	3.5 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
Stevens Rail Trail About a dozen miles west of Concord, the Stevens Rail Trail offers a quiet, wooded route along the former Concord-Claremont rail line in Contoocook Village. It starts off Krzyzaniak Road and continues...	NH	1.3 mi	Dirt, Gravel	1 reviews
Sugar River Trail Visitors to the Sugar River Trail (also known as the Sugar River Recreational Rail Trail) can be forgiven if they lose track of which side of the river they’re traveling. The 9.5-mile trail crosses...	NH	9.5 mi	Ballast, Gravel, Sand	20 reviews
Toonerville Rail-Trail 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	7 reviews
WOW Trail he 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	3 reviews
Ware River Rail-Trail This unpaved state-owned trail is open for public use from Coldbrook to Baldwinville. An on-road detour is necessary through the village of Baldwinville, but the right-of-way is open for public use on...	MA	12 mi	Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel	10 reviews
West Foss Farm Trail The 83 acre West Foss Farm is one of the properties owned by the University of New Hampshire, Durham. The property was purchased from the Boston & Maine Railroad company, and features a 1.6 stretch of...	NH	1.6 mi	Dirt	0 reviews
West River Trail 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	8 reviews
Windham Rail Trail 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. Its connections to the...	NH	4.3 mi	Asphalt	39 reviews
Winnipesaukee River Trail The Winnipesaukee River Trail runs along a rail line that previously connected the paper industry between Franklin and Tilton. Nicknamed the Paper City, Franklin saw the industry boom from the 1900s...	NH	5.1 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel	14 reviews

Trails by activity

Bike trails
Walking trails
Running trails

Peanut Trail

NH - 1.5 miles

The Peanut Trial is a distinct trail in the town of Newton that spans one-mile. This rail-trail was meant to connect to the Jay McLaren Memorial Trail. However, due to a controversial lawsuit by land...

WOW Trail

NH - 2.7 miles

he 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...

Derry Rail Trail

NH - 3.6 miles

This exquisitely maintained trail slices through forested areas and wetlands for a wonderful experience in southern New Hampshire. The trail will eventually be part of the Granite State Rail Trail,...

Dover Community Trail

NH - 3.8 miles

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...

Accordion

Bradford Rail Trail

MA - 1.3 miles

The newly open Bradford Rail Trail occupies the former Pan Am rail lines, beautifying an area that once lay strewn with garbage and weeds. The city and numerous dedicated volunteers created the...

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

MA - 11.7 miles

Bruce N. Freeman was a Massachusetts state representative from 1969 to 1986. Beginning in 1985, he championed the creation of a bike path that would run along the former Penn Central railroad line...

Common Pathway

NH - 5.5 miles

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...

Piscataquog Trail

NH - 2.1 miles

The Piscataquog Trail, though only about 2 miles long, provides a vital off-road link between the communities on the western side of the Merrimack River (the West Side of Manchester) to several parks...

Spicket River Greenway

MA - 3.5 miles

The Spicket River begins in Derry, New Hampshire, through Methuen and Lawrence, Massachusetts, before draining into the Merrimack River. Like many mill towns of the late 19th and 20th centuries, the...

Winnipesaukee River Trail

NH - 5.1 miles

The Winnipesaukee River Trail runs along a rail line that previously connected the paper industry between Franklin and Tilton. Nicknamed the Paper City, Franklin saw the industry boom from the 1900s...

Methuen Rail Trail

MA - 2.4 miles

Methuen Rail Trail connects three communities in northeastern Massachusetts as it follows the route of the former Manchester and Lawrence Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The rail-trail's...

Stevens Rail Trail

NH - 1.3 miles

About a dozen miles west of Concord, the Stevens Rail Trail offers a quiet, wooded route along the former Concord-Claremont rail line in Contoocook Village. It starts off Krzyzaniak Road and continues...

West Foss Farm Trail

NH - 1.6 miles

The 83 acre West Foss Farm is one of the properties owned by the University of New Hampshire, Durham. The property was purchased from the Boston & Maine Railroad company, and features a 1.6 stretch of...

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

NH - 21.5 miles

The Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail passes such scenic and historical landmarks as covered bridges, abandoned mills, and postcard-perfect towns. Starting on asphalt in Keene, the rail-trail can be...

Jonathan Daniels Trail

NH - 0.9 miles

Jonathan Daniels Trail travels the length of Ashuelot River Park through Keene. Along the stone-dust trail, you can enjoy the park’s beautiful natural backdrop and flower garden. The trail was named...

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail

NH - 7 miles

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...

Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

NH - 1.15 miles

When complete, the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor will run for more than 5 miles on a former Boston and Maine Railroad corridor from connections with the Windham Rail Trail (north) and Methuen Rail Trail...

Lowell Canal System Trails

MA - 1.9 miles

Lowell's Canal System Trails are part of Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, Massachusetts. The park preserves some of America's industrial past: its 19th-century textile mills formed the first...

North Central Pathway

MA - 8.9 miles

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...

Nashua River Rail Trail

MA,NH - 12.3 miles

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...

More Hillsborough bike trails

Mascoma River Greenway

NH - 2.1 miles

Mascoma River Greenway is a planned 4-mile non-motorized pathway through the heart of Lebanon. The trail is envisioned to link West Lebanon to the 50-mile Northern Rail Trail. In 2013, the first mile...

West Foss Farm Trail

NH - 1.6 miles

Concord River Greenway

MA - 2 miles

The health and fortunes of Lowell have been intimately tied to the Concord River for hundreds of years. This tributary of the more well-known Merrimack River continues to be at the heart of the local...

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

NH - 21.5 miles

Accordion

Northern Rail Trail

NH - 57.6 miles

Spanning 57.6 miles from Lebanon to Boscawen, the Northern Rail Trail is New Hampshire’s longest rail-trail conversion. Trail development began in 1996 after the state purchased the Boston and Maine...

Derry Rail Trail

NH - 3.6 miles

Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail

NH - 6 miles

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...

Methuen Rail Trail

MA - 2.4 miles

Methuen Rail Trail connects three communities in northeastern Massachusetts as it follows the route of the former Manchester and Lawrence Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The rail-trail's...

Cross Vermont Trail

VT - 87.4 miles

The Cross Vermont Trail (CVT) is a statewide route that links a number of Vermont trails and includes on-road sections. As of January 2016, 87 miles of trail are built and scattered across the state....

Head’s Pond Trail

NH - 1.75 miles

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...

Londonderry Rail Trail

NH - 3.3 miles

The smooth paved surface of the Londonderry Rail Trail offers a pleasant, tranquil 3.3-mile adventure for trail users in south-central New Hampshire. Its route follows a corridor once used by the...

Mass Central Rail Trail

MA - 38 miles

A 104-mile rail line was shattered by hurricane in 1938. Today, the corridor is being developed as the Mass Central Rail Trail to be enjoyed by bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and cross-country skiers....

Nashua River Rail Trail

MA,NH - 12.3 miles

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...

Mason Railroad Trail

NH - 6.7 miles

The Mason Railroad Trail runs for nearly 7 miles from near the New HampshireMassachusetts border (nr. Townsend, MA) to Greenville, NH. The trail follows a heavily wooded corridor through Russell...

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch)

NH - 18.3 miles

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...

Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail

NH - 7.8 miles

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...

Bradford Rail Trail

MA - 1.3 miles

The newly open Bradford Rail Trail occupies the former Pan Am rail lines, beautifying an area that once lay strewn with garbage and weeds. The city and numerous dedicated volunteers created the...

Peanut Trail

NH - 1.5 miles

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

NH - 28.1 miles

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 begins in Manchester, the state’s...

Bobby Woodman Rail Trail

NH - 1.7 miles

The Bobby Woodman Rail Trail, a hard-packed dirt and gravel pathway, begins off a quiet street at the southern end of Claremont and quickly dives under pleasant tree cover. After about a half mile,...

More Hillsborough walking trails

Farmington Recreational Rail-Trail

NH - 6 miles

Mason Railroad Trail

NH - 6.7 miles

The Mason Railroad Trail runs for nearly 7 miles from near the New HampshireMassachusetts border (nr. Townsend, MA) to Greenville, NH. The trail follows a heavily wooded corridor through Russell...

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail

NH - 7 miles

Mascoma River Greenway

NH - 2.1 miles

Accordion

Canalside Rail Trail

MA - 3.6 miles

The well-maintained Canalside Rail Trail provides users with a variety of trestle bridges, views of waterbirds stalking fish and frogs, and gentle grades that alternate between open sky and forested...

Bobby Woodman Rail Trail

NH - 1.7 miles

Jay McLaren Memorial Trail

MA - 2 miles

Nestled in the woodlands on the northern end of Merrimac in the far northeastern corner of Massachusetts, lies the beautiful Jay McLaren Memorial Trail. The town, once known as West Amesbury, had a...

Granite Town Rail-Trail

NH - 3 miles

Mile 0.0 - DPW Garage Cross the bridge in the parking area, the trail starts behind the fence, crossing over Great Brook on a old dam. Mile 0.53 - After crossing Union St. you will come to a...

New Boston Rail Trail

NH - 3.9 miles

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,...

Windham Rail Trail

NH - 4.3 miles

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. Its connections to the...

Londonderry Rail Trail

NH - 3.3 miles

The smooth paved surface of the Londonderry Rail Trail offers a pleasant, tranquil 3.3-mile adventure for trail users in south-central New Hampshire. Its route follows a corridor once used by the...

Northern Rail Trail

NH - 57.6 miles

Bradford Rail Trail

MA - 1.3 miles

The newly open Bradford Rail Trail occupies the former Pan Am rail lines, beautifying an area that once lay strewn with garbage and weeds. The city and numerous dedicated volunteers created the...

WOW Trail

NH - 2.7 miles

he 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...

Ashburnham Rail Trail

MA - 1.3 miles

More than a mile of the Ashburnham Rail Trail opened in 2015 from a point just south of Ashburnham's center to Turnpike Road. The rustic route, planned to be paved in the future, offers a...

Nashua Heritage Rail-Trail

NH - 1.3 miles

The Nashua Heritage Rail Trail begins adjacent to City Hall on Main Street in downtown Nashua. It is a short trail that takes you through one of the first neighborhoods that was planned and built in...

Heritage Trail (Manchester)

NH - 0.9 miles

The Heritage Trail is managed by the state of New Hampshire to provide access to recreational and historical attractions across the state. Eventually, the north-south route along the former Boston and...

West Foss Farm Trail

NH - 1.6 miles

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

MA - 11.7 miles

Bruce N. Freeman was a Massachusetts state representative from 1969 to 1986. Beginning in 1985, he championed the creation of a bike path that would run along the former Penn Central railroad line...

Head’s Pond Trail

NH - 1.75 miles

More Hillsborough running trails

Recent Trail Reviews

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail

A Bit of A Challenge

August, 2018 by kerund

This trail seems little-used. Rode a gravel bike starting at the parking lot at the south end. Several trees down in the trail and some puddles and running water (to be fair, it had rained the night before). The trail surface varies and while it’s manageable, this isn’t a trail for someone looking for a leisurely rail trail cruise. Nice views of the Connecticut River.

Cotton Valley Rail-Trail

Beautiful trail, slippery track (Aug '18)

August, 2018 by jonathanjcammarato

I drove about half an hour from Rochester to ride this trail on my new hybrid. The trail is compact gravel with beautiful scenery. I read some reviews on here and noticed some people mentioned the hazards crossing the rails, they weren't lying. About 4 miles in I tried to cross the rails almost fully parallel and my wheel slipped out underneath me. I skid into a burm and cut my knee. I chose self-care but could have used 2 or 3 sutures. After another 2 miles my girlfriend picked me up and after a trip to rite-aid for butterfly sutures we enjoyed the rest of the day in Wolfboro.

Along the way another rider gave me a large bandaid and showed me to the nearest road. I didn't get his name but thank you if you're reading this. I will hit the trail in a week or two again when my knee is healed, this time crossing the rails at a 90 degree angle.

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

From Keene to West Swanzey the trail is great for biking.

July, 2018 by baijudy

From West Swanzey toward Winchester, trail isn't as good for biking as it has not been improved as much as the Keene to West Swanzey portion.
There are two errors in the directions:
About 2.5 miles past the pedestrian bridge, you’ll cross Sawyers Crossing Road, where the circa 1859 Cresson Covered Bridge sits about 500 feet to the right (should read 'to the left'). The trail crosses the river in 0.3 mile near West Swanzey in an area considered moose territory. Passing on the east side of West Swanzey, a 0.3-mile detour right onto Christian Hill Road (should read 'right onto Railroad Street and then right onto Main Street which') leads to the 1832 Thompson Covered Bridge. (FYI: Main Street becomes Christian Hill Road at the bridge over the rail trail and one cannot turn right or left onto either road because the trail passes well below the road level).

Accordion

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

too rough

July, 2018 by kjands

Tried it out with dat wheel bike- I like a smoother ride for relaxation and to enjoy scenery.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

very dangerous, stay off it

July, 2018 by rumrunner1234

they still use old fashioned stanchions & raised brick lane dividers. my Wife crashed twice & broke her wrist 2 days ago. the stanchion she crashed into is reportedly (by a town employee) the site of multiple SERIOUS crashes (Pond St, Chelmsford)

also, there are other multiple poorly designed issues such as at some road crossings

do yourself & your family a favor & stay off this trail

Nashua River Rail Trail

Great for Biking and Running!

July, 2018 by rdows365

I live near one of the main stopping points for this Rail Trail. It's gorgeous in any and every season. I noticed a lot of people saying there isn't a stopping point from Ayer until you get to Pepperell - don't forget about Groton! If you stop near the bus depot and go up the road, there is a health food place with some GREAT smoothies as well as a Dunkin' Donuts and a convenience store. From Pepperell to Nashua, there aren't any major stops, but there is a vending machine with a few chairs if you bring a couple dollar bills!

Overall, this is a great, family-friendly, small town Rail Trail. It cuts through some of New England's best small towns (in my entirely biased opinion) and both terminal points are worth a little look around (though Ayer might be more accessible, especially with kids!).

Northern Rail Trail

What I Needed

June, 2018 by jjr1956

I've been a hiker for about 20 years. For some reason I'm not into it that much anymore, so I bought my Trek D-3. This trail is perfect for smooth hard dirt riding. I only did about 8 miles round trip from the Webster Beach area. I'm new to biking and noticed I'm using different muscles then hiking. But I am retired and try to get out every day. Soon 8 miles will be nothing. That should be coming up and I'm going to go back to this rail trail. It's very shady and relaxing. I plan on doubling that mileage on my next visit here.

Peanut Trail

nice for a trail run

June, 2018 by laura.elizabeth.1116

6/27/18: well maintained trail for the first mile (from Whittier). Last 1/2 mile by the stables is not well maintained and not good for trail running. Beautiful scenery, very flat and mostly very dry. A few trees down, but nothing you couldn’t lift a bike over. Bring your bug spray and keep moving.

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail

Over-Grown

June, 2018 by jjr1956

Hi Guys!
I started this ride at the Hinsdale trail-head. Big mistake! The trail is poor and the vegetation is overgrown. It had to be over 2 feet high. There is a very small area to ride that's about a foot wide. Otherwise, it's very hard to ride and stay out of the vegetation. It was also very, very buggy for some reason. I know it's summer and bugs are out there, but it was unusually buggy. I used a lot of bug spray, but it didn't matter. The little suckers wanted me and got me. It is a very pretty area of the state, but I wouldn't go back until the fall, or maybe starting from the northern start point. I'm new to biking and can not do the whole length of this trail yet.

West River Trail

Appears to be alot of conflict with landowners

June, 2018 by gregswild

The trail definitely has some potential if there was more participation from landowners, some of whom appear to be quite hostile to the idea. It appears that the trail did or attempted to cross through private land on the Townsend section northward towards a connection with the Jamaica section but you soon run into a labyrinth of blocked trail and more No Trespassing and Posted signs than I have ever seen in one spot anywhere in my life. They did dissuade me that day and I turned around which is most unfortunate. Laws being what they are in Vermont, there is nothing illegal about this of course. In many states, including Texas surprisingly there is a law against closing off a certain amount of shoreline areas to passersby and swimmers etc. in order to promote this activity which is ultimately beneficial to all, locals and visitors alike.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Nice trail...

June, 2018 by sarge9

Did this for the first time this morning, 6/18/18, the entire length and enjoyed the ride tremendously. Well marked with numerous crossings and stops if you would like to. The Chelmsford end is a little rough and tough to cross the busy intersections but certainly bearable. Friendly people enroute, good nature with some small animals along the way. I saw a small snapping turtle off to the side along Heart Pond. Will certainly ride this trail again... thanks!

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

1 trail, 2 distinct sections

June, 2018 by bdr324

The new section is great. There seems to be plenty of access points and is very wide. The old section has very limited accessibility. What is really sad about this older section in Chelmsford is the lack of accessibility and the feeling one gets the town doesn't want anybody on the trail so they can get rid of it. The section that goes thru town has mostly some type of fence up to keep you on the trail. The intersection in town is lacking proper crossing signs and narrow crossing barriers. Then when you get to Rte110 crossing forget seeing the other section, at the lights a sign states walk your bike but where. Really sad is the athletic field next to the trail , there is no trail access, you have to walk back to the side walk. You have to wonder how much money the businesses around this trail is missing out on. Further down the trail which parallels rte110 the shopping centers have a fence blocking access to the trail. My recommendation is bike the trail but spend your money else where. CHELMSFORD WAKE UP. Great parking in Acton, I parked at Nara park, you could swim after the ride. Another great place is on rte2a behind Donelan's. There are smaller parking areas along the new section. The old section before Chelmsford center is mostly wooded. There is a small lake/pond with a beach off of the trail and you could go swimming there.

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