Rail Trails of New Hampshire
.
Rail trail,
Access trail,
Road bike,
Live rail,
Historic route.
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. Please scroll down for full list of categorized Rail Trails, links, elevation gain & trail conditions.
Green lines on our map indicate rail trails that are enjoyed daily by hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and many other types of user. We link in our maps to our trail reviews and official trail websites if you want to know more. The black lines indicate live rails - please remember that walking along railroad track is not only illegal but dangerous, including track that you might believe to be inactive. Historic rail routes are shown as gray lines, many of which cross private property that are not accessible to the public. Note that our maps are a combination of desktop research and fieldwork and errors may crop up occasionally.
Trailspotting continues to explore and review rail trails throughout New England, where we provide detailed information on each route including mapping and photography. Find our latest rail trail reviews or subscribe to Trailspotting using one of the buttons at the top of the page to be notified as we add more reviews.
Trailspotting Links:
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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. Please scroll down for full list of categorized Rail Trails, links, elevation gain & trail conditions.
Green lines on our map indicate rail trails that are enjoyed daily by hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and many other types of user. We link in our maps to our trail reviews and official trail websites if you want to know more. The black lines indicate live rails - please remember that walking along railroad track is not only illegal but dangerous, including track that you might believe to be inactive. Historic rail routes are shown as gray lines, many of which cross private property that are not accessible to the public. Note that our maps are a combination of desktop research and fieldwork and errors may crop up occasionally.
Trailspotting continues to explore and review rail trails throughout New England, where we provide detailed information on each route including mapping and photography. Find our latest rail trail reviews or subscribe to Trailspotting using one of the buttons at the top of the page to be notified as we add more reviews.
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Maps, directions and links for all New Hampshire's covered bridges.
Maps, directions and links for all New Hampshire's covered bridges.
Fire Towers of New Hampshire
Discover our map of New Hampshire fire towers and the trails on which to find them.
Discover our map of New Hampshire fire towers and the trails on which to find them.
Rail Trail | Review | Length | Gain | Cond |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amherst B&M |
3★ | 0.9 mi | 40, 10 | 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 | 3★ | 3.7 mi | 170, 60 | OK |
Bruce Edes Forest | 3★ | 0.3 mi | 0, 0 | Good |
Buffler Memorial | 3★ | 0.7 mi | 130, 20 | Rough |
Chesham🏆 | 3★ | 0.5 mi | 0, 0 | 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 |
Eastview-Jaquith Road🏆 | 4★ | 2.8 mi | 90, 240 | 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 |
Old Dublin Rd 🏆 | 3★ | 2.3 mi | 90, 170 | Rough |
Hancock🏆 | 3★ | 1.0 mi | 50, 90 | OK |
Harrisville🏆 | 3★ | 1.9 mi | 90, 50 | 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🏆 | 3★ | 1.3 mi | 0, 0 | 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🏆 | 4★ | 28.0 mi | 580, 830 | Good |
Roxbury | 4★ | 2.2 mi | 190, 40 | 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🏆 | 4★ | 1.9 mi | 50, 50 | Good |
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🏆 | 4★ |
9.5 mi | 140, 230 | Rough |
Warner🏆 | 3★ | 0.3 mi | 0, 10 | Good |
Warner Bagley Field | 3★ | 0.7 mi | 20, 20 | OK |
Warren🏆 | 4★ | 15.3 mi | 480, 640 | OK |
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)
Trailspotting Links:
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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 through the White Mountains on rail trails, dirt roads, bike paths and quiet paved roads.
This trail crosses the whole state, along river valleys and through the White Mountains on rail trails, dirt roads, bike paths and quiet paved roads.
Best Bike Rides in New England
David Sobel's 2022 book features rail trails and beyond, onto scenic backroads of the northeast states (affiliate link).
David Sobel's 2022 book features rail trails and beyond, onto scenic backroads of the northeast states (affiliate link).
New Hampshire Rail Trails
Charles F Martin's 2016 book provides more historical background than Trailspotting ever will (affiliate link).
Charles F Martin's 2016 book provides more historical background than Trailspotting ever will (affiliate link).