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Lake Winnisquam & WOW Rail Trails, NH

• 4-star trail
• 4 miles each way
• Easy | Low gradient
• Winnisquam to Laconia, NH | Lakes Region
. NH Rail Trails

The image shows two people riding bicycles on a paved path next to a body of water, likely a lake or river. The path is surrounded by green grass and trees, and there is a building with a mural on the right side of the image. The sky is clear with a few clouds, indicating a sunny day.

Passing lake views at Bartlett Beach, on the WOW Trail.

Built on the Southern shores of Lake Winnisquam, threading through the town of Laconia and heading North along Opechee Bay, this route links two trails to become an excellent and varied tour through part of the scenic lakes region of New Hampshire.

From the small parking lot in Belmont the trail leads to the active tracks of the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and follows them North on a rail-with-trail route. Proceeding along the state owned railroad right-of-way on paved trail gets us about half a mile before the trail takes a right turn and heads into lightly hilly woodland. The trail twists and turns through undulating terrain that wasn't much of a problem for our bicycles. In fact it was quite a fun and different diversion for this rail trail rider.

⬤ Asphalt ⬤ Live Rail ⬤ No Access ⬤ Parking

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Lake Winnisquam & WOW Rail Trails 4.2 mi ea way, easy, mostly low gradient
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

P Free parking

After crossing the road to Belmont Town Beach the route transforms into the WOW trail, recognizable by the green dotted line down the middle of the paved trail, and named for the three lakes that it passes near. The trail rejoins the live railroad and runs alongside with more great views of Winnisquam Lake and Bartlett Beach.

Entering the town of Laconia, buildings obscure any views and you must continue parallel to the railroad, past the large station at the center of town and out towards Lakeport and Opechee Bay. Thankfully the route of the trail manages to avoid any road biking, mostly with dedicated trail but occasionally by co-opting a former sidewalk or two. Some views of the Bay can be spotted as you ride North towards what is currently the end of the trail at Lakeport. Just beyond and across the road is also the former station building of Lakeport, where many vacationers must have alighted on their way to their lake houses, back in the days of steam.

The image shows a person riding a bicycle on a paved path that runs parallel to a set of railroad tracks. The path is marked with green lines, and there are several parked vehicles, including a red truck, on the right side of the path. The scene is set in a suburban area with houses and buildings visible in the background. The sky is partly cloudy with patches of blue.

"Rails with Trails" allows for a multitude of trail use.

As a family we enjoyed a fun out-and-back ride of this combined route, and would recommend it even more when combining with a visit to the beaches, the ice cream shop in Laconia or the miniature golf course located half a mile from the South end of the trail.

We've identified the best trail parking on our maps as usual. The South end has only three spots plus an ADA accessible space, whereas the North end at Lakeport has a ton of parking near the Lake Opechee Inn and Spa. More parking is available in marked spaces at Belmont and Bartlett beaches (only park in rail trail identified spots). Parking around Laconia station is limited to two hours, but some neighborhood streets a little further out have no such restrictions.

Plans are under development to add more rail-with-trail heading Southwest towards Tilton where you can pick up the Winnipesaukee River Trail. There are also further plans to extend the WOW trail North to Wiers Beach and Lake Winnipesaukee. We've provided a link to these organizations below if you want to learn how you can help with the expansions.

⚠ Trail Conditions: Asphalt throughout, with one area shared with a sidewalk. The WOW trail (to the northeast) is a 2.2 mile flat trail. Lake Winnisquam trail (to the southwest) is 2.0 mile trail with 150ft of easy to moderate hills.

The image is a composite of two photographs. The left photograph shows a large rock with a painted emblem that reads 'WINNI TRAIL' in black letters. The emblem is oval-shaped with a blue and green design, possibly representing a landscape or map. The rock is situated in a grassy area with trees in the background. The right photograph depicts a red caboose train car on a short section of railway track. The caboose has a small American flag attached to it and a ladder leading to the roof. In front of the caboose, there is a black folding bicycle parked on the pavement.

The image shows a person riding a bicycle on a paved path through a forested area. The path is surrounded by tall trees, some of which have green foliage while others are bare. There is a small wooden shelter with a picnic table on the right side of the path, and a yellow road sign indicating a curve ahead.

Undulating woodland trail on the Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail.

The image shows a historic train station with a large, distinctive building featuring a steeply pitched roof and a tall chimney. The station is adjacent to a set of railway tracks that run parallel to a platform. The area around the station is well-maintained, with street lamps and a paved walkway. In the background, there is a large stone building with a tower, possibly a church or a municipal building. The sky is partly cloudy, and the overall scene suggests a quiet, small-town atmosphere. The image is interesting because it captures the charm and architectural details of a historic train station.

Catch the Hobo Railroad scenic railroad excursion from Laconia Station.

Tangents:
• AllTrails Public: WOW Trail
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