Explore the best rated trails in Keene, NH, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Northern Rail Trail and Warner Rail Trail and Bagley Rail Trail . With more than 60 trails covering 462 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I'm in love with this trail. Much of the trail path is dirt, but there is a new area with fine gravel. I find this such a peaceful trail and consider it to be in good maintenance. Thanks to everyone that maintains the trails.
This section (8/2024) is about 5 miles long. It goes through woodland and past leafy backyards, but it runs alongside the towers for a high-tension power line. Trees have been clear-cut about 25 feet on both sides of the trail, so there's no shade along this section. But the trail is wide, very straight, and smoothly paved. It has a few small ups and downs and crosses four or five quiet roads before it comes to a traffic signal at the intersection of Routes 126 and 27. Just beyond, the trail turns to crushed stone with a few sandy patches. There's a large supermarket and shopping center adjacent to the trail at that point.
This trail was lovely. I did the entire trail both ways in a couple of hours. Mostly flat and well maintained. Began in Tilton on Rt 140 and road to the end in Franklin. Many nice places to stop along the way. Took some great pictures. It was a bit confusing when the trail ends and you are routed down Main Street in Tilton. I almost turned around at this point. Honestly It’s really not that far through town. Just be careful of cars backing out of parking spots. The vistas are worth it, keep going. Looking forward to checking out another trail.
Lots of wildlife along this pristine trail with plenty for bathroom facilities and benches to take a break. Trail is maybe 70% shaded which kept the temperatures down but still glad we had our suntan lotion. The trail passes a large lake and goes through plenty of wetlands giving lots of interesting views. Road crossings were well marked and safe. Our stay at the Williams Inn in Williamstown was definitely a cut above the norm and from there was maybe a 15 minute drive to the trailhead.
Great trail we loved it would recommend it for sure enjoy
One of the best biking trails smooth great steady cruiser trail loved it
Looks like the trail has been repaired . New asphalt in some spots. There are areas off the trail to use restrooms and purchase refreshments. I will definitely ride this trail again.
We hit this little trail on a warm afternoon when we had two hours unscheduled. The Leominster end was fine and the Fitchburg end was rather a rough neighborhood. We were riding tandem, so the many stops were slightly vexing. We spent most of the ride shifting down to dismount or shifting up from dismounting. There were plenty of dining options all along the route, and ice cream at the parking spot. Room for 6 cars, but plenty more right at the municipal Carter Park. At 0.2 miles, we smelled something really good. Ate lunch at Taqueria El Amigo 2. It was a very nice little Mexican restaurant with pineapple, mandarin, and other interesting sodas. The food was very good.
First off. . . Glad that they finally did something with that stretch of track. I use to ride my mountain bike along them. The trail itself is very nice, clean and wide. To echo, what others have stated, why too many stops and stoplights. Definitely a great walking path. Also, it just ends. . . You get to the end at Fourth St - Fitchburg and the signage tells you to take a left, then a right, onto Middle St. then a right onto First St and it just ends?! I hope the complete more.
This trail had sand, deep in areas made it not fun for gravel biking.
Overall this is a great trail and one of my favorites, but I'll give you the detailed breakdown from North to South. Starting near the YMCA in Winchendon it is a beautiful paved trail with great scenery and lots of good parking here and a little further down near Glenallen Street. Just after you cross the large bridge at the beginning, there is an inconspicuous and not very inviting junction with the unpaved Ware River Rail Trail on the right that I have not ridden. I rode all the way down to North Ashburnham Road where I turned right, took a right on Route 12 for a short bit, then turned left on Old Gardner Road to get to the next section of paved trail and skipped the unpaved portion between Route 12 and Old Gardner Road. This next section is very nice as well, although I'm not a fan of the underpass at Commercial Drive because it collects water at the bottom even during the summer. I always ride the narrow dirt track over the top to avoid the water in the tunnel. There is at least one maintenance station between here and Route 140 and a few benches to stop and rest on. Once you cross Route 140, I'm not a big fan. There are no muddy spots, but that's because a lot of crushed stone has been placed in sections on the trail which makes for a very rough ride. I'm hoping this crushed stone is a prelude to placing some compacted crushed gravel for a better riding surface. We shall see. I stopped at Park Street and then rode down into Gardner from there. It is all very nice and it would be 5 stars if the southern section had a better surface.
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