Rail-Trails Northern New England: The definitive guide to multiuse trails in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Overview

Explore 60 of the best rail-trails and multiuse pathways across three states—Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont—with this official guide

All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted into public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails—as well as other multiuse pathways—in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Bucket-listers won’t want to miss Vermont’s 13.4-mile Island Rail Trail, which boasts a spectacular 2.7-mile marble causeway crossing Lake Champlain. Those who like short and sweet might check out the 2.1-Eastern Promenade Trail showcasing Portland’s Casco Bay and Portland Harbor, or for lengthier adventures, New Hampshire’s 58-mile Northern Rail Trail—the longest rail-trail in the state—offers a variety of wooded landscapes, waterside enjoyment, and welcoming small towns. Whether you’re on your feet, wheels, or cross-country skis, there’s something for everyone in this collection of multiuse trails in Northern New England.

In this book, you’ll find:

Detailed maps for each trail, plus driving directions to trailheads

Icons indicating the activities each trail can accommodate

Succinct descriptions written by rail-trail experts

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy serves as the national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, more than 22,000 miles of open rail-trail across the country, and more than 8,000 miles of potential trails waiting to be built—with a goal of ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899979397
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	07/01/2018
Series:	Rail-Trails
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,150,245
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to converting former railroad corridors to public, multiuse recreational trails that offer easy access to runners, hikers, bicyclists, skaters, wheelchair users, and equestrians.

The official Rails-Trails guidebook series is published by Wilderness Press. Find out all the ways Wilderness Press and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy are working together over on the blog.

If you want to find out more about Rail-Trails, check out the Conservancy's official website, or give them a follow over on Twitter. Hope you get the chance to make your way to a Rail-Trail near you. They are so fun!

Read an Excerpt

Saint John Valley Heritage Trail
Location: Aroostook County
Endpoints: Fort Kent to Saint Francis
Mileage: 16.9
Roughness index: 2
Surface: Crushed stone

The Saint John Valley Heritage Trail traces 16.9 miles of the former Fish River Railroad corridor, which was taken over by the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, a line that transported goods and passengers across northern Maine. Skirting the Saint John River, the well-maintained, crushed-stone trail offers views of the forests, farmlands, and wetlands on the Canadian side of the river.
Start your trail exploration in the historic town of Fort Kent. The wooden blockhouse is the only remnant of the Aroostook War of 1838–1839, a border dispute be- tween Maine and New Brunswick that was settled with- out any actual ghting. The fort is on Blockhouse Road, at the confluence of the Fish and Saint John rivers.
Your first stop should be the restored 1902 train station, which served as the Fish River Railroad terminus. Now owned by the Fort Kent Historical Society, it houses a museum devoted to the railroad.
Back on the trail, you’ll soon cross a pedestrian bridge over the Fish River. As the trail continues through Fort Kent, watch for road crossings and spurs that lead to restaurants, service stations, and other businesses. Beyond town, the trail passes through forests and wetlands along the banks of the Saint John.
Although the trail parallels State Route 161 for several miles, the mixed forest remains quiet and serene. In the town of Wheelock, the trail crosses to the north side of 161. This section offers the best views of villages and farms in New Brunswick. When you reach the town of Saint John, the trail again crosses Route 161, passing behind homes and shops. Exercise caution, as this is a busy road.
Nearing the trail’s end in Saint Francis, you’ll pass a railroad turn- table recently restored by Fort Kent High School students, who also built a path leading into town. The trail soon ends at a large parking lot and trailhead.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
How to Use This Book

Maine
1 Aroostook Valley Trail
2 Auburn Riverwalk
3 Bangor and Aroostook Trail
4 Belfast Rail Trail on the Passagassawaukeag
5 Calais Waterfront Walkway
6 Down East Sunrise Trail
7 Eastern Promenade Trail
8 Eastern Trail
9 Four Seasons Adventure Trail
10 Kennebec River Rail Trail
11 Kennebec Valley Trail
12 Lagrange Rail-Trail
13 Mountain Division Trail
14 Narrow Gauge Pathway
15 Papermill Trail
16 Saint John Valley Heritage Trail
17 Sanford Railroad Trail
18 Sipayik Trail
19 Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail
20 Whistle Stop Rail-Trail

New Hampshire
21 Ammonoosuc Rail Trail
22 Ashuelot Rail-Trail
23 Cheshire Rail Trail (Chesire Branch Rail Trail)
24 Common Pathway
25 Cotton Valley Rail-Trail
26 Derry Rail Trail
27 Dover Community Trail
28 Fort Hill Branch Rail-Trail
29 Franconia Notch Recreation Path
30 Goffstown Rail Trail
31 Head’s Pond Trail
32 Lake Winnisquam Scenic Trail
33 Londonderry Rail Trail
34 Monadnock Branch Rail-Trail
35 Nashua Canal Trail (Mine Falls Park)
36 New Boston Rail Trail
37 Northern Rail Trail
38 Pisctaquog Trail
39 Presidential Range Rail Trail
40 Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch)
41 Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Portsmouth Branch)
42 Sawyer River Trail
43 Sugar River Trail
44 Warren to East Haverhill Railroad Grade Trail
45 Windham Rail Trail
46 Winnipesaukee River Trail
47 WOW Trail

Vermont
48 Beebe Spur Rail Trail
49 Cross Vermont Trail (Montpelier & Well River Trail)
50 Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail
51 Ethan Allen Park Trails
52 Island Line Rail Trail
53 Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
54 Missisquoi Valley Rail-Trail
55 South Burlington Recreation Paths
56 Stowe Recreation Path
57 Ti-Haul Trail (with Shelburn Bay Trail)
58 Toonerville Rail-Trail
59 West River Trail
60 Williston Village Bike Paths Index Photo Credits Support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy