NEW BOSTON RAIL TRAIL:
NEW BOSTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 07, 2014
Length: New Boston Rail Trail; 4.5 miles
Southern Section 1; 1.6 miles
Southern Section Loop (includes on-road); 4 miles
Central Section 2; 1.5 miles
Northern Section 3; 3/4 miles
Difficulty: Southern Section; Moderate. Flat, hard packed dirt and gravel rail trail. Mt bike a must as you'll encounter tree roots and some old RR ties. Was rehabbed in 2015 so may be Easy now.
Central Section; Moderate. More of a hiking trail according to the town website. I didn't check out this section.
Northern Section; Undeveloped from Parker Rd to Route 114 according to the town website. I didn't check out this section.
Directions:
From the junction of Route 13 & 114 in Goffstown follow Route 13 west for 4 miles. Turn right on Greg Mill Road, cross the river and turn left into the Lang Station parking lot.
To start from the Hillsborough County Youth Center parking lot; Continue west on Route 13 another 2 miles to Hillsdale Lane on your right. Follow this road into the Youth Center and keep right along the dirt road. Just past the horse barn is the trailhead and parking area.
The New Boston Rail Trail follows the old rail bed of the 1893 Boston & Maine RR, which was abandoned in the 1970's. The trail parallels the South Branch of the Piscataquog River. The Southern Section 1 was Rehabbed in 2015). The Central Section 2 is more of a hiking trail at this point and the Northern Section 3 is undeveloped. For more information visit; NEW BOSTON RAIL TRAIL .
Starting from the Lang Station parking lot; A map board is located here along with the old Lang Station, which was built by the RR as an open shelter and constructed of local stones.
Note; The Central Section 2 heads north across the road. I didn't check out this section, but there is a nice iron & wood pedestrian bridge just across the road that has nice views of the Middle Branch of the Piscataquog River. Beginning in Oct 2018 this 1.5 mile section out to the Parker Road parking lot will be under construction. Northern Section 3 is undeveloped 3/4 miles out to Route 114.
Note; The Southern Section 1 was rehabbed in 2015 so my description may be off a bit.
Heading south along the Southern Section 1 the wide trail heads into the woods, starting off as hard packed dirt & gravel, but soon includes tree roots. After 0.3 miles you come alongside the South Branch of the Piscataquog River. Cross a culvert a 0.5 miles where the trail narrows and travels along a slight ridge. At 0.9 miles you'll encounter some old RR ties still embedded in the trail. Cross a cement bridge at 1.6 miles and you'll come to the Hillsborough County Youth Center parking lot.
Note; You may opt to loop back to the Lang Station parking lot via Route 13 if you feel comfortable riding on-road with a narrow shoulder. It's flat, smooth and has more views of the river. Simply continue straight along the dirt road through the Hillsborough County Youth Center, passing by horse barns and fields and across the Hillsdale Lane Bridge to Route 13 at 2 miles. Head left on-road, passing by the River Road Spring on your right at 2.4 miles. Turn left on Greg Mill Rd, cross the river and return to the Lang Station parking lot after a 4 mile loop.
HH
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT