Rail-Trails Northern New England: The Definitive Guide to Multiuse Trails in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

359 Pages·2018·35.49 MB·English

by  Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Rail-Trails: Northern New England
1st Edition
Copyright © 2018 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Cover and interior photographs copyright © 2018 by
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Maps: Lohnes+Wright; map data courtesy of Environmental Systems Research
Institute Cover design: Scott McGrew; Book design: Annie Long Library of Congress Cataloging-in-
Publication Data Names: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Title: Rail-trails : Northern New England : the definitive guide to multiuse trails in Maine, New Hampshire,
and Vermont.
Other titles: Great rail-trails series.
Description: First edition. | Birmingham, Alabama : Wilderness Press, an imprint of AdventureKEEN,
[2018] | At head of title: The Official Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Guidebook. | “Distributed by
Publishers Group West”—T.p. verso.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018006304| ISBN 9780899978970 (paperback) | ISBN 9780899978987 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Rail-trails—New England—Guidebooks. | Rail-trails—Maine—Guidebooks. | Rail-
trails—New Hampshire—Guidebooks. | Rail-trails—Vermont—Guidebooks. | Hiking— New England
—Guidebooks. | Hiking—Maine—Guidebooks. | Hiking—New Hampshire— Guidebooks. | Hiking—
Vermont—Guidebooks. | Bicycle trails—New England—Guidebooks. | Bicycle trails—Maine—
Guidebooks. | Bicycle trails—New Hampshire—Guidebooks. | Bicycle trails—Vermont—Guidebooks.
| Bicycle touring—New England—Guidebooks. | Bicycle touring—Maine—Guidebooks. | Bicycle
touring—New Hampshire—Guidebooks. | Bicycle touring—Vermont—Guidebooks. | Outdoor
recreation—New England—Guidebooks. | Outdoor recreation—Maine—Guidebooks. | Outdoor
recreation—New Hampshire—Guidebooks. | Outdoor recreation—Vermont—Guidebooks. | Railroads
—Right of way—Multiple use—United States. | New England—Guidebooks. | Maine—Guidebooks. |
New Hampshire—Guidebooks. | Vermont—Guidebooks.
Classification: LCC GV191.42.N3 .R35 2018 | DDC 796.510974—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018006304
Manufactured in the United States of America Published by:
An imprint of AdventureKEEN
2204 First Ave. S, Ste. 102
Birmingham, AL 35233
800-443-7227; fax [phone]
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Distributed by Publishers Group West
Front cover: New Hampshire’s Winnipesaukee River Trail, photographed by Anthony Le; back cover:
Vermont’s Missisquoi Valley Rail-Trail, photographed by Dennis Coello All rights reserved. No part of this
book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise,
without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.
SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy have made every attempt
to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss,
damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for
your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not
mean that it will be safe for you. Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check
local conditions, know your own limitations, and consult a map.
About Railsto-Trails
Conservancy
eadquartered in Washington, D.C., Railsto-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a
H
nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from
former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier
people.
Railways helped build America. Spanning from coast to coast, these ribbons
of steel linked people, communities, and enterprises, spurring commerce and
forging a single nation that bridges a continent. But in recent decades, many of
these routes have fallen into disuse, severing communal ties that helped bind
Americans together.
When RTC opened its doors in 1986, the rail-trail movement was in its
infancy. Most projects focused on single, linear routes in rural areas, created for
recreation and conservation. RTC sought broader protection for the unused
corridors, incorporating rural, suburban, and urban routes.
Year after year, RTC’s efforts to protect and align public funding with trail
building created an environment that allowed trail advocates in communities
across the country to initiate trail projects. These ever-growing ranks of trail
professionals, volunteers, and RTC supporters have built momentum for the
national rail-trails movement. As the number of supporters multiplied, so did the
rail-trails.
Americans now enjoy more than 23,000 miles of open rail-trails, and as they
flock to the trails to connect with family members and friends, enjoy nature, and
get to places in their local neighborhoods and beyond, their economic prosperity,
health, and overall well-being continue to flourish.
A signature endeavor of RTC is TrailLink.com, America’s portal to these
rail-trails, as well as other multiuse trails. When RTC launched TrailLink.com in
2000, our organization was one of the first to compile such detailed trail
information on a national scale. Today, the website continues to play a critical
role in both encouraging and satisfying the country’s growing need for
opportunities to ride, walk, skate, or run for recreation or transportation. This
free trail-finder database—which includes detailed descriptions, interactive
maps, photo galleries, and firsthand ratings and reviews—can be used as a
companion resource to the trails in this guidebook.
The national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, RTC is
committed to ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and
the connections they inspire. Learn more at railstotrails.org.