Rockingham Portsmouth Branch RT, NH

• 4-star trail
• 28 miles each way
• Easy | Low gradient
• Manchester-Rockingham, NH | Merrimack & Seacoast Regions
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The image shows a vintage locomotive with the number 20 on its side, displayed in an outdoor setting with a clear blue sky. The locomotive is red and black, featuring a large headlamp on the front and is situated on tracks. There is a passenger car attached behind it, painted in red. To the left of the locomotive, there is a covered platform structure resembling a train station waiting area.

Historic rolling stock on parade at former Raymond Station

Constructed by the Portsmouth and Concord Railroad company and serving the region's towns for over 130 years, the route is now known as a very popular rail trail called the Portsmouth Branch of the Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail. At 28 miles in length it also ranks as the second longest in the state after the Northern Rail Trail.

This predominantly smooth and level hardpack trail links downtown Manchester to the former railroad station of Rockingham, merely a couple of miles south of Newmarket. Originally, twelve passenger depots were originally situated on this line though only two remain today. You can see the locations of these former stations by turning on markers inside our map. The town of Raymond have not only refurbished their station and use it to house the Raymond Historical Society's collection, but also proudly showcases a refurbished steam locomotive and several historical rail cars adjacent to the rail trail.

Hardpack,

Live Rail,

No Access, ⬤ Parking Expand ↓ Map

4★ Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail 28.0 mi ea way, easy, gain 580ft (830ft E-W)
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

Towards the eastern end of lies Rockingham Station, currently undergoing a gradual restoration owing to the efforts of the local landowner. Here the end of the trail meets up with live rail tracks. In addition to the presence of a north-south rail line, a section of the Portsmouth and Concord Railroad remains in service from this point, leading into Portsmouth and its nearby Naval Shipyards. Additionally branching off this railroad route some 8 miles eastward marks the start of the Seacoast Greenway Rail Trail.

Further features along the mostly wooded Rockingham Rail Trail Portsmouth Branch include wetlands and several lakes, including Manchester's popular Massabesic Lake that has a spacious parking area - a great starting point for a rail trail adventure. Near Raymond, the rail trail crosses Lamprey River twice over a couple of well-preserved steel girder bridges. Less scenic but also necessary are the two dark corrugated culvert-style underpasses that stretch under large highways and will likely require you to dismount due to low headroom.

The image shows a first-person view from inside a corrugated metal tunnel, looking out onto a trail surrounded by bare trees and brush under a clear blue sky. The perspective is from behind the handlebars of a bicycle, with one hand wearing an orange jacket visible on the right handlebar.

Exiting one of the low-headroom culvert-style underpasses

The 18 mile long Fremont Branch rail trail connects directly with this trail at Epping and runs southwest until it connects with several other trails at the Windham Station Junction, including direct connections to Derry and Windham rail trails, along with a short road connection to link to the Windham Greenway Rail Trail. We've linked to our separate reviews of these trails at the bottom of the article.

Manchester serves as a hub for multiple additional rail trail connections, including the Piscataquog-Goffstown Rail Trails (leading to the New Boston Rail Trail) and the recently extended South Manchester Rail Trail (leading to the Londonderry Rail Trail). At the foot of this page there are links to reviews and maps for these rail trails, and there's always our map of New Hampshire rail trails if you're looking to visualize all the possible connections and bicycle touring options.

Trail Conditions: Hardpack surface, very occasional protruding stones. Mostly negligible gradient. East Candia has a modest 25ft/mi gradient for 5 miles sloping upward to the West. Flooding possible at Rockingham after heavy rains.

The image shows a person riding a bicycle on a dirt path next to a body of water, possibly a river or lake. The cyclist is wearing an orange jacket and black pants, and the bicycle appears to be a mountain bike. The path is surrounded by grass and leafless trees, indicating it might be autumn or early winter. The sky is partly cloudy with ample sunlight casting shadows on the path.

Riding past Wetlands near Rockingham.

The image shows a steel girder bridge with a wooden deck, covered in graffiti, leading into a trail flanked by bare trees and evergreens. The ground is dusted with snow and the sky is clear blue.

One of two steel girder bridges over the Lamprey River near Raymond.

The image shows a large, solitary tree with a wide canopy and leaning trunk, situated on the edge of a calm body of water. The sky is mostly clear with some scattered clouds, and it appears to be daytime. In the background, there is another landmass across the water and some sparse vegetation along the shore. To the left in the distance, there are what appear to be park benches or picnic tables suggesting this might be a recreational area.

Manchester's vast Lake Massabesic.

The image shows two individuals riding bicycles on a trail through a forested area. The trail appears to be covered with fallen leaves and is surrounded by tall, bare trees, suggesting it might be autumn or winter. The sky is clear and blue, indicating fair weather conditions. One individual is wearing a bright green jacket and the other a red one, which creates a contrast with the natural brown tones of the environment.

Rail trail cyclists on a winter morning.

Tangents:
• New Hampshire State Parks: Rockingham Rec Rail Trail
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Rockingham Portsmouth Branch
• TrailLink: Rockingham Portsmouth Branch
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
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