Northern Rail Trail
Cinder and gravel follow 58 miles of lakes, farms, cuts, villages, and former stations between Lebanon and Boscawen.
Artwork inspired by League of New Hampshire Craftsmen
A former railroad creates New Hampshire’s longest rail trail. Cinder and gravel follow 58 miles of lakes, farms, cuts, villages, and former stations between Lebanon and Boscawen. What distinguishes it locally is the close relationship among rail cuts, Mascoma Lake, and historic depots, each carrying a different part of the story.
Choose a station-to-station segment with a planned turnaround rather than treating the whole corridor as one pin. Road crossings, seasonal surfaces, snowmobiles, and sparse services vary greatly by segment. The payoff comes from noticing how historic depots changes the reading of Mascoma Lake, especially after the main attraction has made its first impression.
- Length
- 58 miles
- Corridor
- Former Northern Railroad
- Uses
- Walk and bike
Quick guide
- Start with
- Choose a station-to-station segment with a planned turnaround rather than treating the whole corridor as one pin.
- Look closely at
- Notice how Mascoma Lake changes the meaning of historic depots rather than treating either as background.
Know before you go
- Start with
- Choose a station-to-station segment with a planned turnaround rather than treating the whole corridor as one pin.
- Look closely at
- Notice how Mascoma Lake changes the meaning of historic depots rather than treating either as background.
- Connect the story
- Follow cuts, depots, farms, and Mascoma Lake to understand how the former railroad linked communities across changing terrain.
- Plan around
- Review hours, admission, parking, and access together before planning Northern Rail Trail; each addresses a different practical constraint.
Good to know
Road crossings, seasonal surfaces, snowmobiles, and sparse services vary greatly by segment. Confirm the current schedule and access conditions before setting out.
Notice these
- rail cuts
- Mascoma Lake
- historic depots