Fall Foliage Fun: Bike a Rail Trail!
- Fredric Gluck
- Oct 1
- 4 min read
Are you ready to experience exquisite fall foliage via bicycle? A rail trail – a linear slice of heaven – is a delightful car-free way to enjoy foliage and biking on old railway beds turned into bike and pedestrian trails. Rail trails are often surfaced with fine crushed gravel or sometimes pavement which means they’re usually easy riding for most types of bicycles.
Due to the gradual grades used in railroad building, these trails are never too steep, and they’re always car-free.
Here are six of our favorite rail trails, some close to the Seacoast and others a bit of a drive but well worth it.
When riding these trails, remember trail riding etiquette: bicycle riders always yield to pedestrians; keep right, pass left and use your bell (or your voice) when passing someone.
Ride safe and have fun!
Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail. A Seacoast biking favorite, this trail can take you all the way from Newfields to Manchester (28 miles one way). Park at the old train depot on Ash Swamp Road in Newfields or at parking spots at several road crossing along the trail. You will ride on gravel or packed dirt passing by ponds, bedrock cliffs and open fields.
This a recreational rail trail which means you may encounter other cyclists, horseback riders (remember they have the right of way), walkers, runners and (if you are brave enough to do it in the winter) snowmobiles.
After your ride, enjoy a meal and a drink in nearby Newmarket.
More information:
Seabrook-Salisbury Rail Trail Connector. The Coastal Trails Network is an emerging 30-
mile, public system of multi-use off-road bicycle and pedestrian trails and bike lanes linking the unique coastal features, town centers, neighborhoods and transportation hubs in the
communities of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury.
This short Seabrook-Salisbury trail connects to the Old Eastern Marsh Trail which is part of the Costal Trails Coalition a 30-mile, public system of multi-use off-road bicycle and pedestrian trails and bike lanes. This network of trails links the unique coastal features, town centers, neighborhoods and transportation hubs in the communities of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury.
You get a taste of different landscapes: the woods, the marshes and the Merrimack river. You can meander through downtown Newburyport if you choose. The trail is briefly "on road" in Salisbury, (just follow the signage).
More information is here.
Cotton Valley Rail Trail. This 12-mile, multi-use gravel trail links the towns of Wolfeboro, Brookfield, and Wakefield by way of a former railroad right-of-way. This family friendly multi-
use trail meanders along two lakes, over trestles, scenic wetlands, beaches, back woods and fields. It is mostly rural so plan to bring your own snacks, water etc. As a multi-use trail, you will encounter walkers, runners and even the occasional hand-powered rail cart!
There are seven areas to park along the trail (see this map) so you can plan rides of various lengths. The trail is mostly flat but has some hills near Route 16.
Most of this ride is actually on a paved strip between the old rails so be prepared for some single-file riding. Use caution when using platforms to transition on and off the rails.
There are many eateries and shops and great views of lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro.
More information is here.
Northern Rail Trail. The Northern Rail Trail is the longest rail trail in the state of New Hampshire. Spanning 57 miles from Lebanon to Boscawen, the scenery includes
woods, rivers and lakes with a cinder or crushed stone surface. You can hop on the trail at any of the 19 parking areas along the trail. See this map for details
The four season, multi-use trail goes through the towns of Lebanon, Enfield, Canaan, Orange, Grafton, Danbury, Wilmot, Andover, Franklin, and Boscawen.
More information is here.
Presidential Rail Trail / Cross NH Adventure Trail. The 18-mile (one-way) Presidential Rail Trail
is part of the Cross NH Adventure Trail, which stretches 83 miles across the state from Vermont to Maine. The PRT offers spectacular scenery of the northern Presidential mountain range as it wanders through forests, open fields, rivers, ponds and marshes.
Its 18-mile length begins in Gorham in the east, follows Route 2 and ends in Whitefield, New Hampshire in the west with numerous parking areas along the way.
Don’t miss the short side-trail for stunning views from Pondicherry Pond in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge (Whitefield). Look for birds, bears, moose, turkeys and wild flowers.
Go here for more information and maps with details of parking areas.
Franconia Notch Bike Path. This paved multi-use trail runs 8.7 miles through the Franconia
Notch State Park in the White Mountain National forest. It visits most of the park's attractions such as the Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site, Echo Lake, The Basin, and the Flume Gorge. The path roughly follows I-93 through the pass.
On this path, you'll see spectacular views of the peaks and forest. The trail features significant hills and includes an elevation gain of 340 feet to the foot of Cannon Mountain, and a drop of 750 feet to the Mt. Pemigewasset trailhead (going south).
More details:
This is an updated version of a post former SABR President and rail trail enthusiast Anne Rugg wrote several years ago.
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