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Swanzey, NH Hiking Trails and Maps

1007 Reviews

Looking for the best Hiking trails around Swanzey?

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

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Length
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61 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
13.7 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Assabet River Rail Trail
10.4 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Bridge of Flowers
0.1 mi
State: MA
Concrete

Canalside Rail Trail
3.6 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

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

Jonathan Daniels Trail
0.9 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone

Londonderry Rail Trail
4.5 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Manhan Rail Trail
9.5 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Mass Central Rail Trail
59 mi
State: MA
Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

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 River Rail Trail
12.4 mi
State: MA, NH
Asphalt

Northern Rail Trail
57.8 mi
State: NH
Cinder, Crushed Stone

Old Railroad Trail
2.7 mi
State: NH
Dirt

Piscataquog Trail
2.1 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Roland Bergeron Bike Path
6 mi
State: NH
Asphalt
Accordion

South Spencer Rail Trail
1.62 mi
State: MA
Crushed Stone

Twin Cities Rail Trail
4 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

West River Trail

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

Windham Rail Trail
4.3 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail
21.5 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Bobby Woodman Rail Trail
1.7 mi
State: NH
Dirt, Gravel

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-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail
5.65 mi
State: NH
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail
7 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Gravel, Sand

Granite Town Rail-Trail
3 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Lye Brook Falls Trail
2.2 mi
State: VT
Gravel

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

Potanipo Rail Trail (NH)
2.7 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel

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

South Manchester Rail Trail
1.5 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Stevens Rail Trail
1.65 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Sugar River Trail
9.5 mi
State: NH
Ballast, Gravel, Sand

Toonerville Rail-Trail
3.2 mi
State: VT
Asphalt

Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail
7.8 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Dirt

Hoot, Toot and Whistle Trail & Riverwalk
2.3 mi
State: VT
Dirt

Ware River Rail-Trail
12 mi
State: MA
Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Appel Way Trail
1.3 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Ashburnham Rail Trail
1.3 mi
State: MA
Dirt

Nashua Heritage Rail-Trail
1.3 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Valley Trail
9.1 mi
State: VT
Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel

Bennington Rail Trail
1.65 mi
State: VT
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Brookline Rail Trail
4.5 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Catamount Trail - Sections 1 and 2
18.1 mi
State: VT
Dirt

East Branch Trail (VT)
0.5 mi
State: VT
Gravel

Henniker & Hopkinton Rail Trails
6.7 mi
State: NH
Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand

Keene Industrial Heritage Trail

1 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Merrimack River Greenway Trail
0.33 mi
State: NH
Asphalt

Potanipo Rail Trail
3.4 mi
State: MA, NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Potanipo Rail Trail (MA)
1.7 mi
State: MA
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Rocky Hill Trail

0.9 mi
State: MA
Asphalt

Squannacook River Rail Trail
1.8 mi
State: MA
Crushed Stone

Warner Rail Trail and Bagley Rail Trail
1 mi
State: NH
Crushed Stone, Gravel
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Overview Visitors to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail will find the full splendor of the scenic Berkshires along a 13.7-mile paved trail. The Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) follows MA 8 through...
 MA 13.7 mi Asphalt
Overview The Assabet River Rail Trail connects five old mill towns that owe their revitalization to present-day high-tech industries. A midpoint gap splits the 10.4-mile trail. It offers a forested...
 MA 10.4 mi Asphalt
The Bridge of Flowers delights the senses of visitors walking among the trees and blossoms on the old trolley bridge spanning the Deerfield River, which connects two communities in northwestern...
 MA 0.1 mi Concrete
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
The smooth paved surface of the Londonderry Rail Trail offers a pleasant, tranquil 4.5-mile adventure for trail users in south-central New Hampshire. Its route follows a corridor once used by the...
 NH 4.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The Manhan Rail Trail, well integrated into the local communities it serves, offers a pleasant ride or stroll. It conveniently weaves together parks, community points of interest,...
 MA 9.5 mi Asphalt
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. Currently, nearly 60 miles from Boston to Northampton...
 MA 59 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
Closure Notice: The Nashua River Rail Trail is closed until further notice due to flooding. Please check with the Town of Groton for more up to date information. Overview The Nashua River Rail...
 MA, NH 12.4 mi Asphalt
Overview Spanning nearly 58 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...
 NH 57.8 mi Cinder, Crushed Stone
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
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
The Roland Bergeron Bike Path runs about 6 miles alongside nearly the entirety of Albuquerque Avenue in Litchfield, NH. Completed in 2010, the 8-ft wide asphalt path averages about 5 yards in from...
 NH 6 mi Asphalt
Accordion
The South Spencer Rail Trail runs for less than 2 miles from downtown Spencer to an area south of town near Spencer State Forest. The path, which is also known as the Depot Trail, occupies a former...
 MA 1.62 mi Crushed Stone
The Twin Cities Rail Trail will be a 4.7-mile multiuse trail connecting downtown Fitchburg and downtown Leominster, providing a variety of recreational opportunities and an alternative transportation...
 MA 4 mi Asphalt
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
Overview 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...
 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 21.5 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt
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
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
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
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
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
Overview 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...
 NH 3 mi Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand
The heavily wooded Lye Brook Falls Trail runs for 2 miles through the Lye Brook Wilderness of the Green Mountain National Forest near Manchester. The blue-blazed hiking trail follows the bed of a...
 VT 2.2 mi Gravel
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
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
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 begins in Manchester, the state’s...
 NH 28.1 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel, Sand
The South Manchester Rail Trail is a developing bike/pedestrian path that currently runs through the City of Manchester's southeast neighborhoods to the border with the Town of Londonderry. The...
 NH 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Stevens Rail Trail is part of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail, which follows the historic Concord-Claremont Railroad corridor. Located about a dozen miles west of Concord, the Stevens Rail...
 NH 1.65 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
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
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
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
Although short, the Hoot, Toot and Whistle Trail provides an enjoyable journey through peaceful woodlands on Wilmington's west end. As you might guess, the rail-trail gets its name from the former...
 VT 2.3 mi Dirt
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
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
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
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
The scenic Valley Trail spans 9 miles connecting Dover and Wilmington in southern Vermont along the Green Mountain National Forest. It provides a critical off-road pathway for bypassing State Route...
 VT 9.1 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel
Running between downtown Bennington and the Northside Drive neighborhoods, the Bennington Rail Trail provides new opportunities for both recreation and active transportation. Following a former...
 VT 1.65 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, 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
The Catamount Trail offers 300 miles of backcountry skiing stretching across Vermont, from the Readsboro on the Massachusetts border, to North Troy near Canada. The trails are popular for winter...
 VT 18.1 mi Dirt
The East Branch Trail is a 0.5-mile ungroomed, backcountry pathway built on a former logging railroad bed in southern Vermont's Windham County. The remote, heavily wooded trail lies just north of the...
 VT 0.5 mi Gravel
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
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
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
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
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
The Rocky Hill Trail weaves through the tranquil greenery of the Burts Bog Greenway Conservation Area in Northampton, Hampshire County. The 121-acre peat bog is an ecologically sensitive site that's...
 MA 0.9 mi Asphalt
The Squannacook River Rail Trail is presently 1.8 miles long, from Depot St. in the center of Townsend, MA, to the Harbor Church parking lot in Townsend Harbor. The trail occupies the Greenville...
 MA 1.8 mi Crushed Stone
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

Recent Trail Reviews

Sugar River Trail

amazing Trail

April, 2024 by nariipr

We had a great time on this trail, which was easy to navigate. It was our first outing this season since we acquired an ATV for my wife and we enjoyed spending time together while exploring nature. We encountered people walking their dogs and bikers along the way. The trail was well-maintained and clean. We made sure to slow down and say hello to everyone we met. We will definitely be back on this trail again!

read more …

Canalside Rail Trail

You can expand your ride…..

March, 2024 by basil1986

I love this trail! Rode it on 3/14/24 when weather was 62 degrees. This trail is short but can be expanded if you cross the metal bridge by the brewery and take the road to the left leading to the Fish Research Hatchery on the opposite side of the canal. If you meander through the little neighborhood on that side as well you can extend it further and get another view of the old mill complexes. I get 20 miles out of the ride. Bring a lunch there are picnic tables on both sides!

read more …

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

Not ADA compliant

February, 2024 by ljt trike rider

It looked very nice from the parking area, but could not get through the barricades with a recumbent trike. Drove over an hour and gates were shut and would have had to lift trike over gates. Disgusted with Massachusetts and whomever designed the barricades. Has anyone heard of the ADA?

read more …
Accordion

South Manchester Rail Trail

Nice trail

December, 2023 by andtun1

I live in the area & have walked my dog using the section from S. Beech to Gold Street for years. A new section from Gold to Perimeter Road is finally completed as well. I can't wait to try the new section in the summer when I can ride my bike or rollerblade.

read more …

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

Great fall ride.

November, 2023 by cantabty

Excellent experience on this fresh paved trail. The scenery of the ponds and mountains in the distance was worth the trip.

read more …

Nashua River Rail Trail

Nashua River Rail Trail

November, 2023 by thejake91739

I traveled all the way from California with high expectations for this trail and I wasn't let down (except for the repairs being made on the damaged portion of the trail). It's all good. I made it work.

What an awesome trail for a mid October bike ride!
- The colors of the trees reflected upon the numerous ponds and lakes.
- The pleasant chirping and squawking of active birds.
- Leaves fluttering gently to the ground.
- A wide, smooth path carpeted in golden brown leaves.
- Historic buildings.
- Industrious squirrels.
- Old, historic stone walls.
- Deep, dark woods.
- Rolling, grass covered hills.
- Harvested pumpkins on a farm being sorted into bins.
- Goats, horses, and the friendliest trail users you could ever hope to cross paths with!

I took a leisurely four hours out and back and over 200 photos and video to capture my wonderful memories of this trail. Thank you Massachusetts and New Hampshire!

read more …

Stevens Rail Trail

This was a great ride in both directions. After talking with Tim at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival we found out they were adding more trail on the other side of the bridge starting next week.

October, 2023 by imaginetravelsgd

This was a great ride in both directions. After talking with Tim at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival we found out they were adding more trail on the other side of the bridge starting next week.

read more …

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

Smoother ride from Newfields end

October, 2023 by rf0595

My brother and I had no problem riding this beautiful trail on e-bikes with 1 5/8 inch tires on a weekday in Sept. 2021 and again in August 2023. Both times we rode west from Newfield and noted that the trail has noticeably more rocks as we headed west of Raymond. We were glad we had front suspension forks. Dearborn Forest just past Onway Lake was our turnaround point at about 17 miles. At Route 125 (Main St.) in Epping, be sure to take the right trail at the fork to continue on the Portsmouth branch. The left trail is the Fremont Branch where you may find yourself riding with ATV's.
At Freetown Road (Route 102) in Raymond, McDonalds is just south of the trail. If you are looking for a tastier burger and have more time, go north one block on Route 102 to Route 27 (Hannaford on your right), then go left one block to Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery (featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" television series).

read more …

Cheshire Rail Trail (Cheshire Branch Rail Trail)

We found the Trail notTrail not as described

October, 2023 by luvaneezer

Cheshire Trail South. Rode north from State Line Circle toward Kenne. We are experienced road cyclists, now riding gravel bikes. We are looking for reasonably surfaced longer trails and hoped this would be one of them. Sadly, we found this trail to be rocky, rutted, with lots of roots, and uncleared blowdown. The vigilance required to remain upright made it difficult to enjoy the beauty all around. The suddenly occurring steep inclines to roads seemed borderline dangerous. If we lived closer it would be a great trail to walk with the dogs

read more …

Nashua River Rail Trail

Great Trail w/recent storm damage

September, 2023 by dianei

First: be aware that a recent storm has washed out a section of the trail about 2 miles from the Ayer parking lot in Sept 2023. People are portaging past it, but some set-ups might not work in this situation. That said, this is a great trail. Plenty of parking at many points along the way, some even have EV chargers!

read more …

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

Like so many, GREAT!!

September, 2023 by twelch11

This is a wonderful trail. But I must add that I am very fond of many of the rail trails in New Hampshire. My wife and I are old and use E bikes with fat tires for our rail trail trips. However, on this trip we passed several riders using road bikes with skinny tires, and they were doing just fine.

From the start of the trip at Lake Massabesic to the end at Ash Swamp Road, this trail proved to be a most enjoyable trail with very few spots that required a little caution. Leaving Massabesic the trail is wide, hard packed and easy going. Mostly wooded areas with many brooks, swamps and for the most part, great scenery.

There were very few muddy or wet areas but all of them were easily navigated. But keep in mind, this trail crosses a few very busy highways. Luckily the first three busy roads you will encounter have tunnels, so you don’t have to cross the roads. Out of caution we got off our bikes and walked them through the tunnels, but a good rider might not have to do that.

As you make your way east there are some very interesting sites like the Emerson Mill site and a couple others that might spark later trips. The trail goes past several lakes and large rivers with very interesting spots to stop for a break or a snack. As you move east you will approach the Star Speedway, (a small racetrack) but is not open during the morning or early afternoon time periods. Further on you will have to cross a very busy route 125. Buy don’t worry, there is a traffic light on either side of the road and all you must do is press the button and wait for the light to stop all the cars, very fast and simple.

There is a rail museum and ice cream spot if you need a break or sugar fix right on the trail, so it makes a stop easy and quick. Continuing east you finally make it to the eastern end at Ash Swamp Road. There is an old rail station that is under restoration there with plenty of parking and easy access. All in all, this is a great trip that shouldn’t be missed.

read more …

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)

Beautiful woodsy trail with water features

September, 2023 by lvs_tl

I'd thought maybe this trail wouldn't be suitable for my road bike w/ slightly wider tires, but it worked out fine. Surface was mostly hard packed dirt/gravel, at least the 9 miles I rode starting at the southern end in Newfields. There were some muddy spots and a few rocks and roots to avoid, but never had to get off the bike and walk. Ponds, swamps, brooks and lots of woods. A few easy road crossings, no road noise on this part. Well worth a ride.

read more …
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