Warner Rail Trails, NH

• 3-star trails
• 1.0 miles each way
• Easy difficulty | Elevation gain nominal
• Sunapee Region | Warner NH
• Driving Directions: Warner | Bagley

Steel truss bridge over Warner River, Bagley Field Rail Trail.

The ambitious plan to create a 34 mile long park spanning between New Hampshire's state capital and Lake Sunapee is gradually being realized thanks to the efforts of many volunteers and donors, and lots of small victories along the route. The town of Warner boasts two such victories - the Warner Rail Trail and the Bagley Field Rail Trail, presently separated by a distance of two miles, but work is underway to extend the Bagley trail closer to Warner.

Trailspotting has a guide to all publicly accessible sections of the Concord-Lake Sunapee Rail Trail project linked at the bottom of this page.

Bagley Field Rail Trail | 3★ | 0.7mi each way - A straight shot of a trail through woodland to the West and past the Bagley Field sports fields to the East. The hidden gem along this trail is definitely the restored steel truss bridge that spans one hundred feet across the Warner River.

Riding the Bagley Field trail through woodland.

Warner Rail Trail | 3★ | 0.3mi each way - Although short in length, there's plenty to see along this trail. From the Dalton Covered Bridge at the East end, to the charming center of Warner to the West. The trail also boasts a novel approach to attract the younger side of the audience, with a story walk. Beginning at the Pilsbury Free Library on Depot Street, a story is revealed page-by-page over the course of twenty one podiums placed along the third of a mile route. The story is replaced by a new one every month.

We combined our rail trail walk with a return riverside walk on the opposite banks of Warner river, where we were able to pick out an informal path along the river banks between the ball fields of Riverside Park and the covered bridge. This was the best place to enjoy some riverside views, since the rail trail itself doesn't provide as much of a view as we'd like. Also, pick the right day to visit and you could also pay a visit to Warner's New Hampshire Telephone Museum.

Trail Conditions:
Hardpack, finished stone-dust covered trail recommended for all users. There are no changes in trail elevation.

Dalton Covered Bridge, East end of Warner Rail trail.

A fall stroll on the Warner Rail Trail and Story Walk.

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These trails are part of the Concord Lake Sunapee Rail Trail (CLSRT) project to link Concord and Lake Sunapee with a rail trail. See the CLSRT website to find out how you can help. Trailspotting's CLSRT articles are located here.