POTANIPO RAIL TRAIL:
BROOKLINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: September 08, 2026
Length: Potanipo Rail Trail Northern Section; 0.9 miles
Mary's Trail; 0.25 miles
Potanipo Rail Trail Southern Section; 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Potanipo Rail Trail Northern Section; Easy. Flat, crushed gravel rail trail.
Mary's Trail; Easy. Flat, narrow crushed gravel trail.
Potanipo Rail Trail Southern Section; Moderate. Flat rail trail w/tree roots.
Directions:
To Start from the Route 13 parking lot for the Northern Section; From the MA line continue north on Route 13 for 1.5 miles. Parking lot on the right. From Meetinghouse Rd & Route 13 in Brookline follow Route 13 south for 1 mile. Parking lot on your left.
To Start from the Oak Hill Road parking lot for the Central Section; From the MA line & Lawrence St continue north on Oak Hill Rd for 0.3 miles. I have not seen this parking lot, but I believe it is a small dirt & grass pullout on the right.
To Start from the West Hollis Road parking lot for the Southern Section; From the MA line & Brookline St continue north on West Hollis Rd, quickly cross the Nissitissit River and come to the parking lot on your right.
The Potanipo Rail Trail follows the old rail bed of the former Brookline & Pepperell RR, which as built to ship ice from Southern New Hampshire into the Boston area. This ice was harvested from Lake Potanipo in Brookline, NH and chosen for the purity of its water by the Fresh Pond Ice Company. In NH, the trail consists of 3 sections, with a Gap between them. The Northern Section has been developed, I didn't check out the Central Section and the Southern Section is short and only partially developed to the MA border. In MA the old rail bed continues, but the connection was in poor shape. I have not checked out the MA section. For more information visit; POTANIPO RAIL TRAIL; NH & TRAILLINK; POTANIPO RAIL TRAIL; MA .
Northern Section:
Starting from the Route 13 parking lot; Head down to the rail bed and continue right.
Note; Left, the old rail bed quickly ends at Route 13.
Quickly come to a Map Board for Mary's Trail.
Note; From here you can access the Northern End of Mary's Trail. This narrow, crushed gravel trail follows the Nissitissit River with overlooks of the river. Cross a wooden bridge to another overlook and informational sign. Cross another bridge and return to the Potanipo Rail Trail after 0.25 miles.
The wide, crushed gravel Potanipo Rail Trail continues Southeast, through the woods. Pass by the Southern End of Mary's Trail. Cross S Main St at 0.3 miles, where the trail narrows and has been overtaken by grass. Cross a bridge over a stream at 0.6 miles, before passing by a granite marker (old RR MILE MARKER?) on your left and then catching a glimpse of the Nissitissit River. Come to Bohannon Bridge Rd, across from which you'll find a Map Board after 0.9 miles. Right, across Oak Hill Road you'll find parking next to a ball field.
Note; The old rail bed continues but is more of a hiking trail.
Southern Section:
Starting from the West Hollis Road parking lot; This is part of the Beaver Brook Association Great Meadow. Informational Board. This was the location of the former West Hollis RR Depot. The hard packed dirt, gravel and grass Potanipo Rail Trail enters the woods and travels through a Pine forest. Pass by the Beaver Brook marsh on your left, where a causeway takes you over Beaver Brook. The trail is now full of tree roots as it enters MA after 0.4 miles. Not sure how the MA section is, as I ended up turning around.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT