Rail Trails of New Hampshire
.
Rail trail, 
Other trail, 
Bike lane, 
Road bike,
Live rail, 
Historic rail.
Flat and wide trails criss-cross the state through woodland, past ponds, along rivers, over historic bridges and between charming small towns. Often separated from road traffic by miles, these routes once carried steam trains but now offer tranquility and a way to explore New England like never before. Scroll down for full list of categorized Rail Trails, links, elevation gain & trail conditions.
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Rail trail, Other trail, Bike lane, Road bike, Live rail, Historic rail. Flat and wide trails criss-cross the state through woodland, past ponds, along rivers, over historic bridges and between charming small towns. Often separated from road traffic by miles, these routes once carried steam trains but now offer tranquility and a way to explore New England like never before. Scroll down for full list of categorized Rail Trails, links, elevation gain & trail conditions.
Trailspotting's NH Rail Trail Reviews
Display all of Trailspotting's reviews that feature rail trails in New Hampshire.
Display all of Trailspotting's reviews that feature rail trails in New Hampshire.
Best Bike Rides in New England
David Sobel's 2022 book features rail trails and beyond, onto scenic backroads of the northeast states.
David Sobel's 2022 book features rail trails and beyond, onto scenic backroads of the northeast states.
New Hampshire Rail Trails
Charles F Martin's 2016 book provides more historical background than Trailspotting ever will.
Charles F Martin's 2016 book provides more historical background than Trailspotting ever will.
| Rail Trail | Review | Length | Gain | Cond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst |
Map | 1.9 mi | 60, 30 | Rough |
| Ammonoosuc🏆 |
Map |
19.1 mi | 1010, 700 | Rough |
| Androscoggin | Map | 3.4 mi | 50, 150 | Rough |
| Ashuelot🏆 | Map |
23.0 mi | 630, 920 | OK |
| Belmont Village Spur | 4★ | 2.1 mi | 70, 70 | OK |
| Bobby Woodman🏆 | 3★ | 1.7 mi | 50, 50 | Good |
| Brookline🏆 | 4★ | 4.5 mi | 70, 160 | Rough |
| Brown's Way | Map | 2.5 mi | 230, 140 | Rough |
| Buffler Memorial | Map | 0.6 mi | 82, 30 | Rough |
| Cheshire North🏆 | Map |
23.0 mi | 1180, 990 | OK |
| Cheshire South🏆 | 4★ | 20.3 mi | 1170, 760 | OK |
| Colby | 3★ | 0.7 mi | 30, 10 | Rough |
| Cotton Valley🏆 | 5⭐ | 12 mi | 350, 290 | Good |
| Derry🏆 | 4★ | 3.8 mi | 110, 100 | Good |
| Dover🏆 | 4★ | 4.2 mi | 130, 170 | OK |
| Everett Dam | 3★ | 2.0 mi | 40, 90 | OK |
| Farmington🏆 | 3★ |
7.2 mi | 70, 180 | Rough |
| Fisherville Road🏆 | 4★ | 2.5 mi | 20, 40 | OK |
| Fort Hill🏆 | Map |
6.9 mi | 160, 180 | Rough |
| Franconia Notch | Map, Link |
8.8 mi | 560, 938 | Good |
| Goffstown🏆 | 4★ | 5.6 mi | 90, 220 | Good |
| Granite Town🏆 | 4★ | 2.9 mi | 190, 95 | OK |
| Hancock East🏆 | Map, Link |
0.5 mi | 40, 60 | Rough |
| Hancock West🏆 | Map, Link |
1.5 mi | 110, 90 | Rough |
| Harrisville Chesham🏆 | Map, Link |
0.6 mi | 10, 0 | Rough |
| Harrisville Eastview🏆 | Map, Link |
1.9 mi | 90, 70 | Rough |
| Harrisville Jaquith🏆 | 3★ | 2.8 mi | 90, 240 | OK |
| Harrisville Skatutakee🏆 | Map, Link |
0.3 mi | 10, 20 | Rough |
| Heads Pond🏆 | 4★ | 1.8 mi | 70, 50 | Good |
| Henniker | 3★ | 2.3 mi | 60, 70 | OK |
| Henniker Line | 3★ | 2.1 mi | 60, 50 | Rough |
| Hillsborough🏆 | 4★ | 7.4 mi | 160, 120 | OK |
| Hooksett Riverwalk | 3★ | 1.0 mi | 10, 10 | Good |
| Lake Winnisquam🏆 | 4★ | 1.8 mi | 60, 30 | Good |
| Lilac City🏆 | 3★ | 1.9 mi | 20, 20 | Rough |
| Londonderry🏆 | 4★ | 4.5 mi | 200, 190 | Good |
| Mascoma🏆 | Map, Link |
2.3 mi | 180, 90 | OK |
| Mason-Greenville🏆 | 4★ | 8.6 mi | 50, 50 | OK |
| Mast Yard | 3★ | 1.7 mi | 20, 40 | OK |
| Monadnock🏆 | 4★ | 8.9 mi | 230, 200 | OK |
| Nashua Heritage🏆 | Map, Link |
1.3 mi | 0, 40 | Good |
| Nashua River🏆 | 4★ | 12.2 mi | 320, 280 | Good |
| New Boston🏆 | 4★ | 4.8 mi | 180, 70 | Good |
| Northern🏆 | 5★ |
58.0 mi | 1540, 1860 | Good |
| Peanut | 3★ | 1.4 mi | 40, 30 | OK |
| Peterborough🏆 | 4★ | 8.5 mi | 260, 220 | Good |
| Piscataquog🏆 | 4★ | 2.0 mi | 70, 110 | Good |
| Potanipo🏆 | 4★ | 3.5 mi | 62, 110 | OK |
| Presidential🏆 | Map, Link |
20.3 mi | 710, 1030 | OK |
| Profile🏆 | Map |
2.1 mi | 160, 30 | Rough |
| Rockingham-Fremont🏆 | Map |
18.0 mi | 310, 480 | Rough |
| Rockingham-Portsmouth🏆 | Map | 27.9 mi | 960, 1210 | OK |
| Roxbury | Map | 1.9 mi | 140, 30 | Rough |
| Salem🏆 | Map, Link |
5.0 mi | 40, 140 | Good |
| Sargeant Station Rd | 3★ | 0.9 mi | 20, 30 | OK |
| Seacoast Greenway | 4★ | 11.6 mi | 140, 170 | OK |
| South Manchester🏆 | 3★ | 1.6 mi | 50, 50 | OK |
| Stevens🏆 | 3★ | 2.2 mi | 30, 50 | Good |
| Sugar River🏆 | 5⭐ | 9.3 mi | 470, 250 | OK |
| Tilly Wheeler | 3★ | 0.6 mi | 20, 30 | OK |
| Upper Coos🏆 | Map |
9.0 mi | 150, 240 | Rough |
| Warner🏆 | 3★ | 0.3 mi | 0, 10 | Good |
| Warner Bagley Field | 3★ | 0.7 mi | 20, 20 | OK |
| Warren🏆 | Map |
10.8 mi | 750, 760 | Rough |
| West Hopkinton | 3★ | 2.3 mi | 50, 50 | Rough |
| Windham🏆 | 4★ | 4.1 mi | 50, 170 | Good |
| Windham Greenway | 3★ | 2.6 mi | 130, 20 | Rough |
| Winnipesaukee River🏆 | 4★ | 4.9 mi | 270, 130 | OK |
| Woodsville🏆 | Map | 3.7 mi | 110, 70 | Rough |
| WOW🏆 | 4★ | 2.4 mi | 120, 110 | Good |
Good - Asphalt or hardpack trail conditions
OK - Occasionally rough surface
Rough - Hiking & mountain/rugged bikes
Gain - Elevation gain (ft) moving West to East or North to South. Second number is return gain.
🏆 - NH Rail Trail Challenge (see below)
OK - Occasionally rough surface
Rough - Hiking & mountain/rugged bikes
Gain - Elevation gain (ft) moving West to East or North to South. Second number is return gain.
🏆 - NH Rail Trail Challenge (see below)
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New Hampshire Rail Trail Challenge
The New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition's mission is to promote the development and use of former railroad corridors as a network of trails. Also check out their Rail Trail Challenge & patch.
The New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition's mission is to promote the development and use of former railroad corridors as a network of trails. Also check out their Rail Trail Challenge & patch.
Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail
This trail crosses the whole state, along river valleys and throug the White Mountains on rail trails, dirt roads, bike paths and quiet paved roads.
This trail crosses the whole state, along river valleys and throug the White Mountains on rail trails, dirt roads, bike paths and quiet paved roads.