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Salem, NH Mountain Biking Trails and Maps

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

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Length
Most Popular

Border to Boston Trail

44.1 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Derry Rail Trail

3.6 mi

State: NH

Asphalt

Garrison Trail

1.8 mi

State: MA

Asphalt

Goffstown Rail Trail

5.5 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Head's Pond Trail

1.75 mi

State: NH

Gravel

Mass Central Rail Trail

64 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Middleton Rail Trail

4.5 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

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

New Boston Rail Trail

3.9 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Northern Rail Trail

59 mi

State: NH

Cinder, Crushed Stone

Peanut Trail

1.5 mi

State: NH

Cinder

Pine Tree Brook Path

2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Dirt, Woodchips

Salisbury Point Ghost Trail

2.2 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Ashburnham Rail Trail

1.3 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Gravel

Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail)

42.4 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Harrisville and Hancock Rail Trails

6.1 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Marblehead Rail-Trail

3.34 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Mason Railroad Trail

6.7 mi

State: NH

Ballast, Gravel, Sand

Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail

3 mi

State: MA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Accordion

Old Railroad Trail (NH)

2.7 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Potanipo Rail Trail (NH)

2.7 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Gravel

Reformatory Branch Trail

3.9 mi

State: MA

Dirt

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch)

18.3 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Sand

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

28 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail

5.9 mi

State: ME

Gravel

Squannacook River Rail Trail

3.7 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone

Topsfield Linear Common

5.2 mi

State: MA

Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Boxford Rail Trail

2.1 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Grass

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

Jay McLaren Memorial Trail

2 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area Trail

3.4 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Ware River Rail-Trail

15 mi

State: MA

Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

West Foss Farm Trail

1.6 mi

State: NH

Dirt

Village Spur Rail Trail

2.1 mi

State: NH

Asphalt, Dirt, Grass

Barker Road Trail

0.9 mi

State: MA

Dirt, Grass

Henniker & Hopkinton Rail Trails

6.7 mi

State: NH

Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Potanipo Rail Trail

3.4 mi

State: MA, NH

Crushed Stone, Gravel

Potanipo Rail Trail (MA)

1.7 mi

State: MA

Crushed Stone, Gravel

Warner Rail Trail and Bagley Rail Trail

1 mi

State: NH

Crushed Stone, Gravel

Trail Image	Trail Name	States	Length	Surface	Rating
	Border to Boston Trail The Border to Boston Trail is a developing trail network that will stretch 70 miles between the New Hampshire border and Boston—providing a continuous route for a variety of non-motorized uses...	MA	44.1 mi	Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt	48 reviews
	Derry Rail Trail 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	27 reviews
	Garrison Trail The Garrison Trail is a two-lane, paved, hike-and-bike path that runs alongside I-95. The trail stretches 1.8 miles between State Route 113 in Newburyport and State Route 110 at the Amesbury-Salisbury...	MA	1.8 mi	Asphalt	3 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	16 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	5 reviews
	Mass Central Rail Trail 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 64 miles between...	MA	64 mi	Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel	95 reviews
	Middleton Rail Trail The Middleton Rail Trail is a trail along the former Essex Railroad. The trail stretches 4.5 miles from the North Andover border, through the town, and will eventually join the Danvers Rail...	MA	4.5 mi	Crushed Stone	3 reviews
	Mine Falls Park Trails 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	12 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	22 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	9 reviews
	Northern Rail Trail The Northern Rail Trail is New Hampshire’s longest rail-trail conversion, spanning 59 meticulously maintained miles, weaving along corn and hay fields, lakes, wetlands, and numerous historic sites,...	NH	59 mi	Cinder, Crushed Stone	77 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
	Pine Tree Brook Path The Pine Tree Brook Trail travels alongside the brook in Milton, Massachusetts. The path travels through woods and residential neighborhoods for a distance of about 1.8 miles, and it connects to the...	MA	2 mi	Asphalt, Dirt, Woodchips	4 reviews
	Salisbury Point Ghost Trail Currently just over two miles long, the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail provides a peaceful journey through the woods. About the Route From its western end on Elm Street in Amesbury, the trail heads...	MA	2.2 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	7 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, Gravel	4 reviews
	Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail) 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	48 reviews
	Harrisville and Hancock Rail Trails Harrisville and Hancock Rail Trails run for 6 miles between the outskirts of Harrisville and Hancock in rural New Hampshire. The former railroad bed is located on lands conserved by the Harris Center...	NH	6.1 mi	Dirt	2 reviews
	Marblehead Rail-Trail The Marblehead Rail-Trail appears on maps as a Y resting on its side, connecting Marblehead and Salem in the north and the city limits of Swampscott in the west. The 3.34-mile trail knits together a...	MA	3.34 mi	Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel, Sand	23 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	19 reviews
	Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail Although the Narrow-Gauge Rail Trail traces New England’s first narrow-gauge railroad for 3 miles from Bedford toward Billerica, the mostly crushed-stone path is now plenty wide enough to accommodate...	MA	3 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt	22 reviews

Accordion

Old Railroad Trail (NH) 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	3 reviews
Potanipo Rail Trail (NH) Following the Nissitissit River through the woods, the Potanipo Rail Trail offers beautiful river views and launch sites for canoes or kayaks. Composed of two segments, the multi-use path is roughly...	NH	2.7 mi	Crushed Stone, Gravel	1 reviews
Reformatory Branch Trail The Reformatory Branch Trail connects the historical towns of Bedford and Concord along a nearly 4-mile dirt path through wildlife refuges that ends a short distance from the North Bridge, the...	MA	3.9 mi	Dirt	18 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	16 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 runs from Manchester, the state’s...	NH	28 mi	Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	66 reviews
Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail The Sanford-Springvale Rail Trail runs for 5.9 miles between Sanford and Springvale. The gravel trail traverses the woods on either side of Sanford’s scenic Springvale community as it links a shady...	ME	5.9 mi	Gravel	16 reviews
Squannacook River Rail Trail 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	3 reviews
Topsfield Linear Common The northern end of the Topsfield Linear Common is not directly accessible as it dead ends in the woods. Access the trail mid-route or from its southern end, where it has a seamless connection with...	MA	5.2 mi	Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt	2 reviews
Boxford Rail Trail The Boxford Rail Trail is a short, rustic pathway open on a former rail corridor in rural Essex County. Now home to overhead electric wires owned by National Grid, the trail is open via a license...	MA	2.1 mi	Dirt, Grass	4 reviews
Brookline Rail Trail 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	1 reviews
Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail 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	2 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	12 reviews
Granite Town Rail-Trail 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	4 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	11 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
Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area Trail Note: This rail-trail is prone to frequent flooding and may be challenging to navigate at times. The rail trail through the Martin H. Burns Wildlife Management Area begins at the Massachusetts Bay...	MA	3.4 mi	Dirt, Gravel, Sand	11 reviews
Ware River Rail-Trail The Ware River Rail-Trail is an unpaved 15-mile rail-trail that stretches between Barre and Baldwinville, running through Hubbardston and Templeton along the way. Following along the Burnshirt...	MA	15 mi	Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel	14 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	1 reviews
Village Spur Rail Trail 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	1 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
Henniker & Hopkinton Rail Trails The Henniker Rail Trail is an unpaved single-track path that follows a former rail corridor for 2.3 miles. The rail-trail picks up east of the former passenger station. Situated south of the Town of...	NH	6.7 mi	Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand	0 reviews
Potanipo Rail Trail The Potanipo Rail Trail is composed of three segments across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Running through the woods along a former a rail corridor, the trail parallels the Nissitissit River for a...	MA, NH	3.4 mi	Crushed Stone, Gravel	0 reviews
Potanipo Rail Trail (MA) Paralleling the Nissitissit River as it runs through the woods, the Potanipo Rail Trail heads south towards Pepperell from the New Hampshire-Massachusetts state border. The Massachusetts section of...	MA	1.7 mi	Crushed Stone, Gravel	0 reviews
Warner Rail Trail and Bagley Rail Trail The Warner Rail Trail and the Bagley Field Rail Trail are part of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail, an eventual 34-mile rail-trail connecting Lake Sunapee and Concord, New Hampshire's state...	NH	1 mi	Crushed Stone, Gravel	0 reviews

Recent Trail Reviews

Pine Tree Brook Path

Good for little kids Mountain Biking

August, 2026 by andrew.magruder

My 6 and 9 year old grandsons rode the 2.5 round trip with maybe 100 feet of walking their 20” mt bikes over rough spots and a couple of logs. The trail is 95% shaded. We parked on Breck Rd and crossed Thacher Rd to the trailhead. Lafayette Rd has a large circle at its end by Pope’s Pond that you clearly can park at.

Northern Rail Trail

Could Use More Investment

August, 2026 by trylondm

I was involved with the development of this trail so my review is somewhat biased. The eastern half in Merrimack County (Danbury to Boscawen) is in beautiful shape (due to federal financing) with a nice stone dust surface. The western half (Grafton to Lebanon) is much more scenic but was done mostly by volunteers with some local funding so has a highly variable surface, great in areas and poor in others.

Highlights include the trail in Lebanon as it crisscrosses the Mascoma River, in Enfield where it runs several miles alongside Lake Mascoma and downtown, and all of Merrimack County thanks to its trail surface.

I dearly wanted to give it a 5-star rating but had to admit that it was a bit of a slog going through the central (and high point) towns of Grafton and Orange. Wish the state of New Hampshire would put some resources into this trail, which would truly make it a premiere destination and top-rated trail.

Charles River Bike Path

Skip the Western End

August, 2026 by trylondm

This trail gets better and better as you get closer to downtown Boston. It also gets more crowded. Very scenic with lots of views of the river and such, but as always in Boston, there will be detours here and there due to construction. Probably gets better the more times you ride it and get to know its quirks. Not a trail if you are looking for speedy biking due to the number of pedestrians, runners, and other folks - it is certainly well-loved by Bostonians!

Western end beyond the Galen Bridge to Waltham gets squirrelly with odd and sometimes confusing routing and signage - not recommended unless you've got all day like I did.

Accordion

Nashua River Rail Trail

Still a 5 Star Trail

August, 2026 by trylondm

Yes, the comments about all the root heaves along the paved trail are true, but otherwise a very attractive ride. The TrailLink description is very accurate. Might be special in foliage season.

Upper Charles Trail

Tale of Two Trails

August, 2026 by trylondm

Biked end to end today. Best described as two very different rail trails that are joined by a squirrelly connection.

Holliston (eastern) end is beautiful stone dust surface. It can be soft in places but is a terrific, well-maintained trail with excellent historical signage (think Casey at the Bat) and an unusually attractive short tunnel. Trail is long and straight and crosses several swampy water features chock full of flowers and wildlife. Sadly, the trail ends abruptly at the Holliston border with Sherborn with a short connector to a small parking lot.

The Holliston segment changes to pavement at the Milford town line and adds another mile or so to that segment. After that, there are a number of road crossings (some major) and sidewalks to make it to the main Milford rail trail.

The Milford segment is better described as a paved bike path that spends some time on a former railroad bed. The pavement is generally excellent, with only a few root heaves. It too is very attractive and an enjoyable ride as it winds through the woods and beside a lake. After an easier-than-expected crossing of the I-495 corridor, the trail continues north for another mile or so of rail trail until ending at the Hopkinton border.

All in all, each segment gets a 5 rating, each for very different reasons. The connection between the two is less interesting and makes the end-to-end experience less desirable. But credit where credit is due: Massachusetts drivers were invariably polite and respectful of the warning lights at all flashing road crossings. I'm not sure I could say the same about drivers in my home state.

Methuen Rail Trail

Important future connection

August, 2026 by dh7yh9mwbz

Pretty nice, short portion of paved trail. I parked at IHOP to check it out, lots of parking. Methuen did a good job with their section, now is time for Lawrence and Salem to pave their sections to connect with Windham and Derry. With just this one section finished it is likely only locals that currently use it but it will be great when it is part of the larger network.

Londonderry Rail Trail

Good piece to larger network

August, 2026 by dh7yh9mwbz

I have ridden the Methuen/Salem/Windham/Derry links of this former rail line and today did this section. It is flat, nicely paved with good parking options, traveling through some suburban and commercial stretches, a few wooded areas, even past a former reservoir but is mostly uninteresting. However, when the missing pieces are connected, and the embarrassingly poor Salem section is finally paved it will be great to travel all the way from the Lawrence, MA line to at least Manchester airport and then hopefully on to Lebanon some day.

Mass Central Rail Trail

Hadley to EastHampton- Norwottuck Rail Trail

August, 2026 by jlwinetrout

Beautiful 1st ride on the Norwottuck Rail Trail. We parked at the Marshalls in Hadley (trail starts right behind the building) and road a little over 10 miles into EastHampton and back. It was a very easy ride (my 1st ride of this length) on asphalt.

Nashua River Rail Trail

Nice but bumpy

July, 2026 by ellenkillam

I haven't been on this trail for a few years so was disappointed to find there is still an issue with bumps from tree roots and small sink holes. I did not do the entire trail because of this. It is too bad because it is a nice trail.

Old Eastern Marsh Trail

Beautiful experience

July, 2026 by 62lark

Rode this trail today (7/17/26) in combination with several other adjacent trails. Smooth, well-paved, lots of rest stops, beautiful marsh lands, continued onto the Clipper City trail at the southern end in Newburyport. One of the nicest trails I've ridden.

Clipper City Rail Trail

Loop completed

July, 2026 by 62lark

Outstanding trail wandering through Newburyport, great mix of quiet woods and urban setting. The Trail has been completed to include the piece from the cemetery to the train station, making the entire route complete. Wonderful experience today!

Assabet River Rail Trail

Very nice Marlborough to Hudson ride

July, 2026 by andrix

Assabet is a 5 mile or so paved trail in good shape. We started at 72 Jefferson St. in Marlborough, MA where there was plenty of parking spaces and a path to the trail. The Assabet is pretty much a city/suburb experience with a few road crossings that need to be executed with care. Just recently it has been joined in Hudson by the 7 mile spanking brand new Hudson to Sudbury Trail (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail system). Then, in Sudbury the Bruce Freeman trail joins making for all sorts of possibilities for some great rides. My wife and I plan next time to park in Sudbury at the spot where the Bruce Freeman and Hudson to Sudbury connect (there's parking near) and make our riding choices from there.

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