All Aboard! Take a ride through history on the
North Country Rail Trails
New Hampshire was once crisscrossed with railways. One of the most influential and well known was the Grand Trunk Railroad that connected the Port City of Portland, ME to Montreal. The B&M (Boston & Maine) connected every nearly major town and city in the state. As rail transport gave way to other forms like automobiles the existing corridors laid dormant for quite some time. In many areas there have been extensive projects to make use of these well-designed pathways. By removing the tracks and re-surfacing, they are being rejuvenated as Rail-Trails. Now we can Walk, Ski, Jog, Bike, and Ride along with ease. Many trails have multiple access points and can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and abilities.
The Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail
This 83 mile trail of interconnected rail trail, back roads and bike paths travels across the state from the Maine to Vermont Border. This trail has multiple access points and seemingly endless opportunity for section rides. And for those that really enjoy a challenge and are looking to complete the trail in one trip, there are services all along the way! Through a cooperative effort there are stations along the trail for self-serve bike repairs and tire fills! Through the efforts of North Country Welcomes Bicyclists Program grant program equipment was purchased and installed across the state.
The Presidential Rail Trail
This 8 1/2 mile trail runs from Jefferson to Gorham and takes you through some of the rugged marshes and breathtaking landscape at the base of the Presidential Mountain Range. A cruise along this trail gives a unique perspective of the rugged terrain, and amazing flora and fauna of our area. This stretch is also adored for its sweeping views of the mountains and meadows of wildflowers.
Pondicherry Rail Trail
An in and out trip of 3 miles each way, this shorter section of trail takes you to the Tudor Richards Viewing Platform in the heart of the reserve. This area has been a popular bird watching destination and records have been kept of the species since 1899. In that time 241 species have been noted and 122 of those breed within the refuge!
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Research and Image Sources:
www.xnhat.org
www.friendsofpondicherry.org
www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/cross-new-hampshire-adventure-trail
Discovering the North Country’s rail trails just might inspire your readers to tackle the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge. We have more than 300 miles of rail trails to explore in our state – and the Presidential is among the most beautiful. Check out https://nhrtc.org/new-hampshire-rail-trail-challenge/. Enjoy!