Find the top rated running trails in Swanzey, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_155550_st.jpg)
_0_st.jpg)
_146077_st.jpg)
I started at the Massabesic Lake trailhead which offered plenty of parking as well as a beautiful start to my ride. There were no mile markers or any history signs on the trail so mileage is difficult to track. The first four to five miles of my ride were very rough with large rocks strewn all over the trail and three tunnels underneath roadways. The rocks in this section are all very well marked by orange spray paint, I just had to take my time on my hybrid bike. A hybrid bike will do just fine on the trail but a mountain bike would offer more confidence in this section.
After this first section of trail I found the rest of the trail to offer beautiful scenery as well as a much smoother ride. There are a fair share of road crossings but all but two are very quiet roads that had very little traffic. Raymond offers the perfect mid-trail stop to take pictures as well as a place to get food. Epping also offers more places to get refreshments. The last stretch of the trail from Epping to Newfields was my favorite part of the trail and offered an easy finish to my ride.
This trail is not at all as described. It started off on crushed gravel for a few hundred yards. As soon as it entered the woods it became a foot path of a nearly contiguous stretch of single-track biking with (occasionally without) large roots and rocks to navigate. We walked our bikes more than we rode them and went a half mile without getting to the reservoir before finally turning around.
We started the trail in Keene. The first 5 miles were nice, but we had to dodge pretty deep chipmunk holes. The trail is very poorly marked and we missed seeing the Sawyer Crossing Covered bridge which could not be seen by the trail. After 7.5 miles we got turned around by heavy mud, water and a downed tree. I would say this trail might be perfect for equestrians and aggressive mountain bikers.
I tried to access this trail from the northern end which proved impossible. There is no road access until you get to parking areas on either end of the causeway. The trail is not marked with any signage at those places, either, but the track is evident when you cross into the fishing access parking areas off Rt 119. As mentioned, the trail is muddy and filled with puddles during this rainy August, and several trees across the trail. I was not able to reach the northern end because of a very large, multi-branched tree across the trail about a mile south of there. But it was pleasant riding close to the Connecticut River and there were almost no other people on the trail on a weekday.
We rode part of this trail while doing some single track riding on the Crosstown trails in West Dover, which connects with this trail. This is not a family friendly paved trail which is the impression I had from the description. I am glad I didn't plan to ride it from Dover to Wilmington with my 9 year old. The part of the trail we saw was single track comparable to a hiking trail. It is not wide, not flat, and not smooth. It is narrow, windy, and filled with rocks and roots. It is not appropriate for little kids or bike trailers.
The Crosstown trails in this area are wide gravel paths. Great for kids who can make it up a decent hill. The single track in the area is nice. It needs some trail maintenance and reroutes along with clearing and trimming. Some areas are nice to ride, others are a mess of roots which are difficult. The trails on the map were very well mapped. It was a nice find on a trip to the area, we will be back!
NOT ASPHALT! Only one small section (1.5 miles) in Dover is paved... ended up biking Rt100 from Wilmington to Mt. Snow, not much of a shoulder but not much traffic and pretty flat.. nice scenery!
I biked the 13.50 mile section from Canaan to Lebanon (and back). The surface is mostly packed gravel. The first three miles (from Canaan) is challenging as the gravel is somewhat looser. However, I had no real problem on my Trek Dual Sport bike. The section along Mascoma Lake is beautiful. I startled a couple of deer along the way.
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.
The entry leads you to believe there is a 9 mile asphalt trail linking two towns in a Vermont valley with just a small gap near the north end. Unfortunately, there is no such thing. The trail is a very confusing series of blue signs which go through the woods on dirt (mud) tracks, over grass lawns with no identifiable trail, and on busy and narrow town roads (the only asphalt on the trail). Talking to locals, we discovered that parts of the trail are used for mountain biking, but that the idea of a continuous trail linking West Dover and Wilmington is a dream that has yet to be realized.
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).
My wife and I rode this trail from one end to the other. The scenery was beautiful, the ride was easy and the people were nice. Lots of lake views. Some hills but not difficult. Parking was a small challenge but not impossible. I would do it again in a minute.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
_155871_st.jpg)
_158489_st.jpg)
