MARBLE RAIL TRAIL:
MANCHESTER, VERMONT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: September 12, 2024
Length: Marble Rail Trail; 2.5 miles
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park Loop Trail; 1 mile Loop
Difficulty: Marble Rail Trail; Easy. Mostly flat, narrow, crushed gravel rail trail. One steep hill.
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park Loop Trail; Easy. Flat, crushed gravel trail.
Directions:
To Start from the North Road parking lot in Manchester [Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 7 & 30, follow Route 30 north for 3.7 miles to North Rd on your right. Follow North Rd and the parking lot will be on your right.
The Marble Rail Trail partially follows the former 1904 Manchester, Dorset & Granville RR, known as the “Mud, Dirt & Gravel RR”. This RR moved marble from the quarries in Dorset to Manchester Depot. After being cut and polished at the finishing mill, blocks of marble left Manchester on another train headed to New York City to build massive structures such as the New York Public Library. The trail begins from the Manchester Elementary School at School St. It travels North, passing by the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, in Manchester, which includes a Loop Trail around the park. It then continues North, passing through Hunter Park. It then utilizes the old rail bed up to North Rd. For more information visit; MARBLE RAIL TRAIL .
Starting from the North Road parking lot [Northern End]; Map located at trailhead. The narrow, crushed gravel Marble Rail Trail enters the woods and travels Southeast, along the old rail bed. Informational signs located along the trail. Travel through woods and fields before crossing Mt Aeolus Rd at 0.3 miles. Head back into the woods and cross a one-lane bridge (old RR marble box culvert) at 0.7 miles, before a 2nd one-lane bridge (spot the old RR bridge ties on your right). Trail turns South and soon travels through a field, before re-entering the woods and turning West, off the old rail bed at 1 mile. Picnic table & bench. Pass by another picnic table & bench, as the trail travels South, down a steep hill. Travel alongside Pig Pen Rd and some sports fields, before coming to the Hunter Park parking lot at 1.5 miles. Continue right, past another sports field and enter the woods, crossing a bridge over the West Branch Batten Kill, before coming to an *Intersection & Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park at 1.9 miles.
Note; This is part of the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park Loop Trail, which circles around the park.
Continue left, South, alongside Eckhardt Field & Applejack Stadium. Cross Rec Park Rd at 2.2 miles.
Note; The Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park Loop Trail continues [0.3 miles] straight, West, past a skate park and ball fields, turning North, past Knapp Field to an intersection [0.6 miles].
Note; Left, West, leads to Event parking.
Continue right, East, past Rec Park Road parking, passing a Dog Park (water fountain) back to the *Intersection of the Marble Rail Trail after a [1 mile Loop].
I didn't check out this last section, as I didn't realize the trail turned South here. Turn left along Rec park Rd, past a parking lot where the crushed gravel Marble Rail Trail continues South. Pass by a community garden and enter the woods, soon crossing a bridge over the West Branch Batten Kill. You then travel past another sports field, before coming to school St after 2.5 miles and the end of the trail. Manchester Elementary School straight ahead.
HH
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
