NH Rail Trails and Bike Paths

Regional Resource & Referral Guide

Great North Woods | Western White Mountains | Mt. Washington Valley | Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee | Lakes Region | Monadnock Region | Concord Area | Manchester/Salem Area | Nashua Area | Seacoast Region | Information Resources

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Great North Woods

Presidential Rail Trail, Jefferson to Gorham 18.3 miles
Highlights: Cherry Pond, Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, views of Presidential Range, Israel & Moose rivers.
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/presidential-recreational-rail-trail

Upper Coos Recreational Rail Trail, Colebrook to Beecher Falls 10 miles
Highlights: alongside wild and scenic Connecticut River, active rails used by local rail car club.
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/upper-coos-recreational-rail-trail

Explore these and more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Ammonoosuc Rail Trail  (Woodsville to Littleton) 19 miles
  • Profile Rail Trail (Bethlehem) 1.5 miles
  • Warren Rail Trail (Warren to East Haverhill) 10 miles
  • Woodsville (Blackmount) Rail Trail  (Haverhill to Woodsville) 5 miles

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Western White Mountains

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, Littleton to Woodsville 19.2 miles
Highlights: Ammonoosuc River, 345’ Bath Covered Bridge (1832), Lisbon Depot.
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/ammonoosuc-recreational-rail-trail

Franconia Notch Recreation Path, Franconia to Lincoln 8.8 miles
Highlights: paved, mountain views, notch, river, forest
https://www.cannonmt.com/things-to-do/activities/recreation-path

Warren Recreational Rail Trail, Warren to East Haverhill, 4 miles
Highlights: 70’ Redstone Missile, Black Brook
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/warren-recreational-rail-trail

Profile Recreational Rail Trail, Bethlehem 1.5 miles
Highlights: goes between Route 3 and Route 302
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/profile-recreational-rail-trail

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

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Mt. Washington Valley / Conway

Sawyer River Trail / Sawyer River Road, Hart’s Location to Lincoln 7.5 miles
Highlights: forested, old logging road, part singletrack, views
https://www.traillink.com/trail/sawyer-river-trail–sawyer-river-road/

Conway Branch Recreational Rail Trail, Ossipee – Conway, 21 miles
Highlights: active trains, Silver lake
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/conway-branch-recreational-rail-trail

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

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Dartmouth / Lake Sunapee

Northern Recreational Rail Trail, Lebanon to Boscawen 59.3 miles
Highlights: spans 2 counties, exceptional surface, farm lands, lakes & quaint towns, Mascoma Lake, Enfield Depot, Potter Place Depot, Highland Lake, covered bridge
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/northern-recreational-rail-trail

Sugar River Recreational Rail Trail, Newport to Claremont 9.5 miles
Highlights: 2 covered bridges, Sugar River
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/sugar-river-recreational-rail-trail

Explore these and more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail  (Concord to Newbury) 35 miles  —  Still in planning phase. Completed segments:
    • Stevens Rail Trail (Warner to Hopkinton) 1.3 miles
    • Tilly-Wheeler Rail Trail and Lower Lake Todd segment (Bradford) 1 mile
    • Warner Rail Trail (Warner) 1 mile
    • Fischerville Rd to Carter Hill Rd segment (Concord) 2.5 miles
  • Mascoma River Greenway  (Lebanon) 3 miles
  • Northern Rail Trail  (Boscawen to Lebanon) 58 miles
  • Sugar River Rail Trail (Newport to Claremont) 9.5 miles — Additional segment:
    • Bobby Woodman Rail Trail  (Claremont) 1.7 miles

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Lakes Region

Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Wakefield to Wolfeboro 12 miles
Highlights: exceptional surface, has rails on some parts used by local rail car clubs, Lake Winnipesaukee’s Back Bay, Lake Wentworth, Crescent Lake
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/cotton-valley-rail-trail

WOW Trail, Laconia to Belmont 4.25 miles
Highlights: portions on active tracks, views of Lake Opechee, goes through downtown Laconia, Leslie Roberts Beach, connects with Belmont’s Winnisquam Scenic Tail. Plans to connect to regional rail trails.
https://www.wowtrail.org/the-trail

Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail, Belmont 1.8 miles
Highlights: Leslie E Roberts Beach, paved, lake views, Lake Winnisquam
https://www.traillink.com/trail/lake-winnisquam-scenic-trail/

Winnipesaukee River Trail, Franklin to Tilton 5.1 miles
Highlights: Upside Down Covered Bridge, paper mill remains, Winnipesaukee River
http://www.winnirivertrail.org/

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

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Monadnock

Common Pathway, Peterborough 6.5 miles
Highlights: Contoocook river, old rail bed, sidewalks in town, connects with Old Railroad Trail
http://peterboroughopenspace.org/trails/the-common-pathway.html

Old Railroad Trail, Peterborough 2.7 miles
Highlights: scenic riverside ramble
http://peterboroughopenspace.org/trails/old-railroad-trail.html

Cheshire Recreational Rail Trail, North Walpole – Fitzwilliam 42 miles
Highlights: arch bridge over Ashuelot River, break in trail through Keene, charming towns, ride through ravines
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/cheshire-recreational-rail-trail

Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail, Keene to Winchester 21 miles
Highlights: Ashuelot River, Views of Mt Cresson, wetlands, bridges
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/ashuelot-recreational-rail-trail

Fort Hill Recreational Rail Trail, Hinsdale 8.9 miles
Highlights: Connecticut River
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/fort-hill-recreational-rail-trail

Monadnock Recreational Rail Trail, Mass line – Jaffrey 7.2 miles
Highlights: downtown Peterborough, ponds, wetlands
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/monadnock-recreational-rail-trail

Hillsborough Recreational Rail Trail, Hillsborough – Bennington 7.7 miles
Highlights: Railroad Trestles, historic mill sites, Contoocook River
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/hillsborough-recreational-rail-trail

Greenville Recreational Rail Trail, Greenville – Mason 2.2 miles
Highlights: views, small ponds
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/greenville-recreational-rail-trail

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Harrisville Rail Trail (Harrisville) Segments:
    • Chesham Depot Rail Trail section .5 mile
    • Skatutakee Lake Road & trail section – 1.4 miles
    • East View Trail section – 1.4 miles
    • Jaquith Rail Trail section (Hancock to Harrisville) 1.5 miles
    • New Boston Rail Trail (New Boston) 4 miles

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Concord

Northern Rail Trail, Boscawen to Lebanon 57 miles
Highlights: flat, historic villages, lakes, streams, hills
https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/northern-rail-trail

Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail  (Concord to Newbury) 35 miles  —  Still in planning phase. Completed segments:

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Merrimack River Greenway  (Pembroke to Boscawen) 12.7 miles — Still in planning phase.
  • Heads Pond Rail Trail (Hooksett) 1.7 miles

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Manchester / Salem

New Boston Rail Trail, New Boston 1.5 miles
Highlights: Piscataguog River
https://www.nbrailtrail.com/

Goffstown Recreational Trail, Goffstown to Manchester 5.5 miles
Highlights: connects to Piscataquog Trail. Runs parallel to Mast Road and Piscataquog River. Glen Lake, Namask Lake.
https://goffstownrailtrail.org/

Piscataquog Trail, Manchester 2.1 miles
Highlights: West side to downtown, links to recreational amenities such as West Side Ice Arena, football, soccer and softball fields. Connects to Goffstown Recreational Trail.
https://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Recreational-Trails/Piscataquog-Trail

Londonderry Rail Trail, Londonderry 6 miles
Highlights: links to Derry & Manchester Rail Trails, part of Granite State Rail Trail
https://londonderrytrails.org/about-the-rail-trail/

Derry Rail Trail, Derry 4 miles
Highlights: paved, wetlands, woods, part of Granite State Rail Trail
http://www.derryrailtrail.org | https://www.traillink.com/trail/derry-rail-trail/

Windham Rail Trail, Windham 4.1 miles
Highlights: paved, part of Granite State Rail Trail, connects to Manchester-Lawrence branch trail, wildlife, shaded ledges, pond marshes, wooded
https://www.windhamrailtrail.org/the-windham-rail-trail.html

Granite State Rail Trail Salem – Manchester 20 miles
Highlights: Parts still under construction. Encompasses Londonderry, Derry & Manchester rail trails.
https://www.facebook.com/GraniteStateRailTrail

Manchester / Lawrence Recreational Rail Trail, Londonderry – Salem – Lawrence, MA 8.7 miles
Highlights: very segmented and much is privately owned, part of Granite State Rail Trail
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/manchester-lawrence-recreational-rail-trail

Head’s Pond Rail Trail, Hooksett 2.7 miles
Highlights: Lakins Pond, Head’s Pond, wildlife
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7091437/heads-pond-trail

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch), Newfields to Manchester 25.3 miles
Highlights: scenic small towns, forest lands, diverse wetlands, Lake Massabesic, Raymond Depot, Rockingham Depot
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/rockingham-recreational-rail-trail,-portsmouth-bra

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Derry Rail Trail  (Derry to Windham) 4 miles
  • Goffstown Rail Trail  (Goffstown to Manchester) 5.5 miles
  • Heritage Trail  (Manchester) 1 mile
  • Londonderry Rail Trail (Londonderry) 4.5 miles
  • Salem Bike-Ped Corridor (Salem to Windham) 5.2 miles
  • South Manchester Rail Trail  (Manchester) 2.4 miles

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Nashua Area

Mine Falls Park, Nashua 8 miles – multiple trails
Highlights: loops Mine Falls park, Oxbow Lake, Mill Pond, Nashua River, Sports fields
https://www.nashuanh.gov/491/Mine-Falls-Park

Heritage Rail Trail, Nashua
West is complete, East is under construction until 2021
https://www.nashuanh.gov/1269/Heritage-Rail-Trail-East

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Brookline Rail Trail  (Brookline to Milford)  4.4 miles
  • Granite Town Rail Trail (Milford to Brookline) 3 miles
  • Nashua River Rail Trail (Nashua to Ayer, MA) 12 miles
  • Potanipo Rail Trail (Brookline to Hollis) 6.5 miles
  • Souhegan Valley Rail Trail (Nashua to Wilton) 16 miles – Still in concept phase.

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Seacoast Region

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch), Epping to Windham 18 miles
Highlights: wetlands, quiet forest, historic depots
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/rockingham-recreational-rail-trail,-fremont-branch

Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch), Newfields to Manchester 25.3 miles
Highlights: scenic small towns, forest lands, diverse wetlands, Lake Massabesic, Raymond Depot, Rockingham Depot
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/rockingham-recreational-rail-trail,-portsmouth-bra

Dover Community Trail, Dover
Highlights: some is completed, some still under construction, Cochecho River, urban
https://www.facebook.com/DoverCommunityTrail/

Farmington Recreational Rail Trail, Farmington – Rochester 6 miles
Highlights: parallels the Cocheco River and Route 11
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails/farmington-recreational-rail-trail

Explore more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Seabrook Rail Trail  (Seabrook to Hampton) 2.5 miles  –  Still in planning phase.

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The trails listed below include a combination of rail trails and rail trail segments that are currently connected by roadways and paths.


INFORMATION RESOURCES for even more trails

NH State Parks – recreational rail trails
https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/recreational-rail-trails

NH DOT Bureau of Rail and Transit
http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/aerorailtransit/railandtransit/

NH Rail Trail Coalition
https://www.nhrtc.org

updated February 2021

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