Explore the best rated trails in Somersworth, NH, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Northern Rail Trail and Eastern Promenade Trail . With more than 67 trails covering 386 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The trail itself is excellent. A great place for a leisurely walk, bike or skate between Newburyport and Amesbury with options to continue/connect to the rail trail for a longer trek. But while the trail is awesome, I don’t understand why people feel entitled to let their dogs roam off leash along the trail? This makes it not only uncomfortable for those walking, but dangerous for those biking or skating that don’t want to be chased by a dog, friendly or not, that can be the cause of an accident. It’s really not the dogs fault… it’s the owners ignorance and disrespect for anyone that shouldn’t have to alter what they are doing in order to be deal with your dog. If you want to walk your dog off leash, there are numerous other places nearby that can accommodate you.
This is a nice trail. It can be a bit hard to ride with road tires, much easier with a hybrid. You often run in to walkers, the people who use this trail are always friendly. It is a Part of the East Coast Greenway and a nice extension to the Topsfield / Danvers trail. I have run into "through riders" doing some part of the East Coast Greenway.
One of our favorite trails! Several locations to hop on or off the trail, whether you’re looking for a short walk or a more lengthy adventure. The swamp walk shouldn’t be missed. Enjoy ambling along the boardwalk through the swamp where you may see beavers, turtles, snakes or a great blue heron or two. I recommend parking at Choate Farm and following the well-marked wooded path through the woods to the rail trail. Kids love it!
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.
At only 2.1 miles, Eastern Promenade Trail packs a great deal of interest into its short length.
Starting near the Highway 295 bridge you'll be blessed with sensational views of the bay. Next, as you make your way past Fish Point, you'll be rewarded with the sight of massive cruise ships, vintage narrow gauge trains, and historic buildings.
What brought the greatest pleasure to me on this October Sunday morning bike ride were the throngs of people walking their dogs! It was like being at the National Dog Show! I had to stop at East End Beach which is essentially a dog park to watch the dogs happily play and cavort. This trail was most heavily populated with the dog walkers, joggers, and other pedestrians. We bicyclists were few and far between.
Be sure to combine this with the Back Cove Trail loop for nearly 8 miles of riding and get more bang for your buck!
(But do not bother combining it with another connecting trail - the Bayside Trail, which doesn't go along a bay and is about as appealing as riding down an alley)
Back Cove Trail is short, but sweet. The hard packed dirt is perfect for a jog, walk, or quick bike ride.
I started at 8:00 on an exceptionally still, brisk, mid October Sunday morning. The water was like glass and provided a perfect reflection of the downtown Portland skyline.
Other photo ops of the cove, wildlife, and beautiful classic homes were revealed to me as I made my way around the loop.
At only 3.6 miles, be sure to combine this with the also interesting Eastern Promenade Bike Trail for a total of nearly 8 miles between the two.
(Don't bother including the Bayside Trail which also connects to Back Cove and Promenade. It doesn't go by a bay and is about as appealing as riding down an alley)
Imagine having a country estate in the woods of Maine and being afforded the opportunity for long, leisurely strolls down your own private lane. That's the feel of the Eastern Trail experience from Biddeford to Kennebunk.
I did it on a bike rather than on foot, but most of the friendly locals I encountered were walking or jogging to take advantage of the ideal weather and perfectly flat, smooth trail for a mid October afternoon outing.
Because of the natural trail surface and the spectacular fall color, I chose to take it nice and slow in order to savor my time there. I can't imagine doing this trail any other way since I found myself carefully peering into the woods on both sides taking in the sights.
My memories of this trail are of simplicity and peacefulness: a beaver pond here, a small creek winding through the woods there, the crossing of the Kennebunk River, a single track muddy path up to Alewive Road in Kennebunk after crossing over busy Highway 95, conversing with friendly local bicyclists, and of course the wooden rail fences lining much of the leaf carpeted trail through the gloriously colored woodlands.
My wife and I love this trail. We ride trails throughout NE and in NY and PA. This one is right up there among the best. The first leg from the Sanbornville roundabout has some rough sections that can be easily avoided by starting at the next parking area. ( where there is a spotless rent-a potty). From there the trail is smooth dirt surface. It is one lane wide either along side of the old tracks or between. Although it doesn’t make for good side by side riding it gives the trail an intimate charming feel. It crosses inside and outside the tracks often which is easy and makes it more interesting. The views constantly amaze and a f
One of the most beautiful rail trails in NH. In the fall it is breathtaking. It is quite narrow though, so passing requires one to step off the trail. The trail crosses over the tracks every mile or two and there's been mats or planks placed there to make crossing easier with bike tires. However for the most part the mats have been worn down so much they're mostly useless. There are also many spots where the chip and sand have eroded away so dismounting is necessary.
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.
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).
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