Biking the Derry Rail Trail

Beavers are responsible for most of the wetlands here.

The first day of summer and the weather was gorgeous in New Hampshire -- the perfect day to explore the Derry Rail Trail which has been on my "wish list" for a while. (My apologies upfront if I don't have all my facts straight on this one; the Derry Rail Trail Alliance website seems a tad outdated, so I can only share the little bit I know.)

I definitely loved this trail! It has easy access, is completely paved and almost 100% flat. Now I know some bikers would say that all sounds pretty "boring." But I enjoyed the scenery, the coolness of the woodlands, and the bits of history along the way. Best of all, there's a new section of trail (opened in 2012) connecting it to the Windham Rail Trail. The Derry portion is just under three miles and the Windham Trail is about four miles, for a round-trip total of 14 miles. We probably biked about 8 miles of it today.

Along the Way
The Derry Trail starts in downtown near Sabotino's Restaurant, which is located in an old rebuilt Depot Station. The trail follows an abandoned Boston & Maine railroad bed and has a few well-marked road crossings. During one stop, we saw a big snapping turtle's head moving in the water.

There was a great breeze as we biked through the trees and a few stone cut-throughs. On our right (headed to Windham), there was a miles-long stonewall in the woods. At one point, we even saw a stonewall that ended in a small wetland (below).

Now for some quick bits of history: There's a nicely restored train depot where the Derry and Windham trails connect, as well as a restored caboose at the end of the Derry Trail. None of these have indoor access, but at least they're neat to look at. There's also an old cellar hole (state archeological site) with an informative marker. I'll leave those details for you to discover on your own! If you venture here, be sure to write in and let us know your thoughts.

Look closely and you'll see a stone wall in the water!

Things to Know Before You Go: Parking is available in a municipal lot behind Sabotino's. From Broadway Street, take a right on Abbot Court. You can also park in Hood Park; Take a left onto Manning Street just after crossing the red crosswalk in front of Sabotino's. Follow Manning Street past the courthouse to where it ends at a stop sign. Hood Park is right in front of you.

Approved Uses: Like most NH trails, this one is mixed use. It appears to be a great place for families. We saw bikers, runners, in-line skaters and a sign saying that snowmobiles are allowed. I believe ATV's are not allowed.

Check Out NH's Northern Rail Trail

Thanks to Patrice of Life Less Ordinary for sharing this post. The Northern Rail Trail has been on my wish list for a while. Glad to hear it's worth the trip! If you're biking in the Granite State this spring, be sure to let us know all about it.

Just Keep Pedaling (and You Won't be Bothered by Black Flies)

J and I hit the Northern Rail Trail Saturday and it did not disappoint. Right now, there’s about 10 miles completed through Andover and just over the Franklin line, and supposedly another 25 miles between Lebanon and Danbury (but we can’t attest to that). Plus, in 2010, they are planning to connect the Andover line to Danbury and Boscawen. That would make for nearly 60 miles of rail trail!

The 10-mile section we did was just great! You ride on crushed gravel through wooded areas, passing a few lakes, ponds, streams and lots of signs of the old railway. For a spring day, I was surprised that it wasn’t that crowded, but it could have been the black flies. If you just don’t take any breaks from riding, they won’t bother you!

The trail is open all four seasons for multiple uses and I imagine it’s gorgeous in the fall with the colors. The rail line ran from White River Junction, Vt., to Concord from the 1840s to the 1960s. At the northern end of the 10-mile section we did, there’s an old train depot, Potter’s Place, which in itself, is pretty cool.

Directions and Parking: There are 3 parking areas along this 10-mile section. We parked at the Highland Lake Inn, which is on the SE side of the trail and serves as a welcome center for the trail (has toilet facilities). There is also parking at Blackwater Park and Potter Place. Those areas actually seemed more crowded than where we parked. All of the parking areas are off Route 11 in Andover. Check out http://www.fnrt.org/ for maps and more information.

What You Need to Know: The bike path is wide in most sections, but it’s used for multiple purposes, so be conscious of bikers, walkers, runners, strollers and horses and yield-to/passing rules. The path is not paved, but the crushed stone was still smooth enough. It was not too crowded when we went on a Saturday, but I imagine it does get crowded. When you park at Highland Lake Inn, you are not at the SE terminus of the trail. It goes another 2 miles or so over the Franklin town line. Potter Place is the NW terminus of the trail.

Hiking and Biking Suggestions

It's springtime in New Hampshire! Yes, that means lots of mud. But if you hurry, at least you'll get in some good outdoor time before black fly season. Not sure where to go and what to do? Today I'm posting links to an article on hiking and a news item about a new rail trail. Enjoy!

Take a Hike
Cliff Calderwood posted this great article, Popular Walks in the New Hampshire Lakes Region on http://www.visitingnewengland.com/. I'm intrigued by the West Rattlesnake Trail on Squam Lakes (little effort and great views, according to Cliff.) Also, the Mud Pond Trail in Fox State Park (Hillborough, NH) sounds interesting. All the trails (there are six) seem do-able for the average hiker interested in exploring nature. Some of them are suitable for children, too. Thanks, Cliff!

Ride a New Rail Trail

I just read about a grand opening celebration for a new rail trail in Newburyport (MA) and Salisbury NH. I can't find specifics other than the date (May 23) and time (noon to 4:00 p.m.). Also, the trail includes a water shuttle across the Merrimack River. I'll try to do more research to find out exactly where this is; in the meantime, if you have details, please write in. Kudos to the many people from Coastal Trails Coalition who likely worked years to make this happen!

More on Biking Mine Falls

We get a lot of "google hits" for Mine Falls Park in Nashua. If you're not familiar with the parking and entrances, it can be a tad confusing. So consider this my attempt to make the information about MF more accessible. For those who don't know, Mine Falls is a 325-acre walking, jogging, and biking park between the Nashua Canal and Nashua River. I've included links to some maps below.

For quick reference, check out pdfs of these maps. To view them you'll need to do a quick sign-up on the Keep and Share site...only takes a minute:

• Mine Falls Trails


• Mine Falls Entrances

The first link is a drawn-to-scale scale map showing all of the park's trails, although it doesn't list trail names. To be honest, the trail names are not all that important. You really can't get lost here if you stick to the trails since they all loop around.

We rode Mine Falls today for a little over an hour. We parked at the end of Whipple Street, started out going west on the yellow trail, passed under the turnpike (this part is really noisy) and then followed the green trail to the gatehouse and dam.

Retracing our steps, we returned to our starting point and then headed east on the blue trail that took us behind the Millyard (shown above) in downtown Nashua. Doug says the park seems to "shrink" each time he rides it. That's probably because he's getting more familiar with it!

The second link is a map (not drawn to scale), that has a description of each of the seven entrances. This map is helpful if you want a general overview and points of reference.

So there you have it. I wrote a longer post about Biking Mine Falls Park last year. If you're a newbie to the area, you might find some useful tidbits there. Happy biking!

Five Cool Ways to Spend a Summer Day in New Hampshire

Yes, we love New Hampshire, but we're also partial to the neighboring state of Maine. In fact, we're headed to Long Island, Maine on vacation. (Year round population: 200; Summer population: 700.) We're not taking our kayaks or our car -- the island is only 1 mile wide by 3 miles long -- but we are taking our bikes. Before we unplug for a week, I thought I'd leave you with a list of cool ways to spend a summer day in New Hampshire.

We haven't experienced all of these mini-adventures yet. So if you've tried any of them, please write in and let us know. Enjoy! (Photo of Mt. Willard by Greg Paret.)

1.Kayak secluded Long Pond in Benton, NH
Aim for early morning, if you can. That's when you're more likely to see loons, bald eagles, beavers, and other wildlife. In the afternoon, visit nearby Lost River Gorge, where the brave-hearted are welcome to venture into cool, dark caves to see what they can see. You can read about our trip to Long Pond in 2007 here. Would love to make a return trip!

2. Plan a short visit to Madison Boulder
We're going to visit a rock, you ask? Well, this isn't just any rock; it's the largest erratic boulder in New England. We guarantee it's more impressive in size than the famed Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. To see for yourself, check out fellow New Hampshire blogger J.W. Ocker's video of his trip to the rock. (I love his site, O.T.I.S, which stands for "Odd Things I've Seen." ) Follow your stop at the rock with an afternoon at nearby White Lake State Park, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim under a canopy of pine trees.

3. Take a bike ride around Strafford-Bow Lake.
In her book, Bicycling Southern New Hampshire, Linda Chestney describes it as the "perfect family ride." There's little traffic and you'll be able to experience some of New Hampshire's simple allure: "stone walls, large maples, birches, tree-canopied roads, and old burial grounds." Add a place for picnicking and swimming at the end of the ride and what more could you ask for?
4. Kayak (or canoe) the Connecticut River between New Hampshire and Vermont.
If you're looking for peaceful and scenic flatwater paddling, check out North Star Canoe Rentals in Cornish for shuttle and trip information. You'll paddle beneath the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge (the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States) while enjoying views of Mount Ascutney. This one's on my wish list.

5. Hike Mount Willard for great views of Crawford Notch.
We haven't tried this yet, but one source calls it "the best view for the easiest hike" in the White Mountains. The hike is 3-miles round trip, with a gentle and steady climb to a wide open summit. Check out Hiking with Chuck's website for photos and all the details you need to plan your hike.

Biking Windham Rail Trail

We road the scenic 4.1 mile Windham to Salem Rail Trail on Sunday; that's 8.2 miles round trip. It's a great spot when you're short on time. With several stops, it took us about 1.5 hours. Since I publish so many water photos here, I wished I had taken a photo of the wooded trail instead. But we're in luck, because fellow New Hampshire blogger Jim Johnson and his girlfriend Kristin (on doublejrunning) have some beautiful photos of this place that they've posted on smugmug. (Thanks Jim and Kristin!)

Some highlights of the trail
This is a pleasant ride which is about 95 percent paved; only the last half mile or so is gravel. The trail welcomes non-motorized traffic and is busy with bicyclists, strollers, joggers, and in-line skaters, but not so busy that we felt crowded or rushed.

It's a mostly wooded trail except for two ponds and some farm pastures and marshes. I especially like the section that feels air conditioned because it's cut between two high stones. Also of note are several stone walls and a granite arch bridge. According to the Rail Trail website, there's a cellar hole from an 1800s sawmill, but we missed it. That's okay, we'll find it next time. This was our second time on the trail, but it won't be our last!

Directions: We started our ride by the train depot parking lot off Depot Road in Windham. Your best bet is to check the Windham Rail Trail website for more information and directions.

New Hampshire Biking Maps Are Out There

It took a little work, but I did get some "official" 2008 New Hampshire biking maps put out by the Department of Transportation. My first stop was a local bike shop, but the map they gave me was a few years outdated. Next I stopped at the State Rest Area (Tourist Information Center?) near exit 6 in Nashua. Success! They gave me two maps: one for the Merrimack Valley Region (where we live) and another for the White Mountains (where we're headed in a few weeks).

The maps are pocket size, maybe 3 by 4 inches when folded. Obviously, they're available by tourist region - I think there are six or seven in the state.

The downside is that New Hampshire doesn't seem to have that many decent off-road bicycle routes that are suited for touring (not mountain) biking. The maps show "recommended bike routes," most of which are regular paved roads. They also show "improved rail trails," and "unimproved rail trails," as well as what they call "recreational bicycle loops."

Just to give you an idea, the Merrimack Valley Region has three recreational bike loops and four bike paths, some of which are pretty short. I'm going to study them a little more closely to see what I can learn and will try to share information here. For now, if you'd like a bicycle map of your own, go to your nearest state rest stop and ask at the counter, if there is one. The maps aren't available in the "take-one" racks, you have to ask for them. Hope to see you on the trail!

Where in NH Are You Biking?

We took our bikes out last Sunday and took a short 6-mile ride on the Nashua River Rail Trail. It's a scenic 12.5-mile paved trail from Hollis to Ayer, MA. Saw a near collision between a big ol' snapping turtle trying to cross the trail and an unsuspecting bicyclist. Reminds me I need to pay close attention to my surroundings. That turtle was big!

I'm on the hunt for more bike trails and paths to explore this year. Of course, we have some tried and true favorites. Nearby Mine Falls Park offers lots of variety through wooded areas between the Nashua Canal and Nashua River. That's a good one for us because it's so close. A co-worker from Hudson remarked this week that she wonders why it doesn't get "more publicity."

And then there's the short but nice Windham trail. Good for when you're short on time, but still want to get outdoors.

My hunt for new trails this winter led me to the NH Bike-Walk Alliance website. I've actually been following the work of these incredible bike enthusiasts for a while. They have one page devoted to rail trails in the state, including those in the early planning stages. From their homepage, look for a link that says "NH Rail Trail Index."

In 2008, the folks at the Department of Transportation also worked long and hard with bicycle groups throughout NH, including the Bike-Walk Alliance, to create bicycle maps for the state. They're available for download here, but I haven't had much success getting these to print out in a readable format. The maps show improved and unimproved rail trails, on-road routes and bike paths.

Apparently, the maps are available in limited supply at the state's rest areas and select locations -- but you have to ask for them. At least that's the word on the Bike-Walk Alliance website. So my mission this week is to track down a hard copy of the state's "official" biking map.

In the meantime, if you have a favorite bike trail in your own backyard, please write and let us know!

Happy Birthday to Us!

New Hampshire... Love it or Leaf it turned one on March 1st. It's common in the blogosphere to mark this milestone by bragging about your site stats...how many visitors you've had and how many pages were viewed in the past year.
By comparison, our site stats aren't that impressive--we've had about 5,000 page loads in a year; some sites get that in a single day -- but the numbers make little difference to me. We're a small niche blog, meaning we'll never play with the big kids.

That's okay with me. What I care most about is serving up useful information for those who do land here.

If you are a faithful reader or a first time visitor, thanks for stopping by! I hope we continue to earn your trust and loyalty.

I can honestly say...after three years of kayaking, one year of biking, and one short season of snowshoeing, my enthusiasm for exploring New Hampshire's natural beauty hasn't faded at all. I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait for spring! Please write and let us know what's on your "outdoor adventure" wish list.

What's Your Excuse for Not Getting Back on a Bike After All These Years?

Do you remember first learning to ride a bike? I do. It was in the early 1960s, back before bike helmets and training wheels. Well, maybe those things were around then, but I didn't have them.

Instead, I had a gently sloping patch of grass and our next door neighbor, Mr. Holmes, trotting alongside me, until I finally took my first wobbly ride.

Since I've never been well-coordinated, I'm sure it took me a while to master balancing, pedaling and braking, but obviously I did -- never to look back until today, 40-plus years later.

There was a long stretch of my adult life, maybe 15 years, when I didn't ride at all. Now I want to make up for lost time. Each time I get on my bike, some of the exhilaration I felt when I first learned to ride comes back to me. It's the fresh air in my face; the exertion it takes to ride uphill, followed by the thrill of coasting down the other side.

If you're over 50, and like me, you haven't ridden in a long time, I'd encourage you to try it again. Let's debunk some of those excuses right here and now for why you haven't gotten back on a bike even though you loved riding as a kid. I've heard all of these excuses in the past year from friends and family who aren't old at all.

1.) I don't have good balance. Frankly, neither do I. Sometimes I weeble and wobble. But my balance has actually improved in the past year. It might have something to do with developing stronger core muscles and regaining a little self confidence just by doing it. And if balance is a big problem, maybe you can look into an adult trike. Don't laugh. My Uncle Joe rode one around his neighborhood until he died at age 90-something.

2.) My knees aren't as young as they used to be. No kidding. That's why you might want to ride for short distances to start with. (Read more on how to pamper your knees while biking here.) Taking Aleve (or similar medication) before a long bike ride can also help. My daughters shake their heads when I mention this, but would they rather have me sitting on the sidelines? I don't think so.

3.) Sharing the road with crazy drivers scares the heck out of me. The simple answer is rail trails. They offer off-road biking, usually on an easy, groomed surface, and in most cases, some pleasant scenery. That being said, we did enjoy some on-road biking this year. It's all about choosing roads with light traffic or riding during off-peak hours.

4.) Rail trails are boring. I just heard this one this week. I'm sure there are some trails that evoke one long yawn because they're straight, flat and have nothing special to look at. That's where a little advance research can help. You can start right here on NH Love It or Leaf It by checking out our biking posts. Another good source is pedaling.com. I'll continue to add resources and reviews on rail trails as I find them or ride them.

5.) Today's 24-speed bikes are too complicated. I'm sure the young sales clerk at Goodale's Bike Shop had trouble keeping a straight face when I walked in there a year ago and announced I didn't want to look at anything with more than three speeds. (Little did I know that 10-speeds were already ancient history.) The truth is, when it comes to bicycles today, you can find whatever you want if you search hard enough and venture beyond a "top-of-the line" bike shop. There's a guy in Nashua who retrofits older bikes back to single speed. Figure out what you want and then go for it! P.S. Just for the record, I ended up with a 24-speed; I'm still trying to figure out all the gears, but I like a challenge.

Parting Thought

Helen Hayes, the "First Lady of American Theater," who died at the age of 92, was asked in an interview if she regretted anything. She said she had only one regret. "I never rode a bike. I wish I had. That's all."

Check Out These Windham Rail Trail Photos

I'm definitely in denial about winter approaching and the end of our paddling and biking season. In fact, we had our first snowflakes today -- a slushy mess! Never mind. I recently discovered a great blog by fellow Granite Stater Jim Johnson of Salem. Jim is into running, hiking, and biking, with a big emphasis on running. His blog has an incredible amount of detail about road races, his workouts and his results (everything from 5Ks to the run up Mount Washington.) You can check it out at http://www.doublejrunning.blogspot.com/.

What especially caught my eye on the blog is the photo gallery -- including some great photos Jim and his girlfriend Kristin took of the Windham Rail Trail during foliage season. We biked this trail a few years back, but I've never reviewed it.

The Windham Rail Trail runs just 4.1 miles, beginning at the intersection of Routes 111 and 28 in Salem and running to North Lowell Road in Windham. (We rode it in reverse.) It's a great excursion when you're short on time or energy, but you still want to get out and enjoy nature. I could try to describe the trail, but the photos say it so much better. See for yourself at Jim and Kristin's photo gallery.

Enjoy a NH Love it or Leaf it Photo Tour

Turkey Pond in Concord, NH

It's November (cold and gray) and our kayaking and biking season is quickly coming to a close. I plan to spend the next few months researching some great places to explore for next season and trying to get outdoors to enjoy winter. But to be honest, I'm not a big fan of snow, cold, and ice (brrrr!).

I'll also write a season wrap-up soon, highlighting our favorite spots and experiences for 2008. In the meantime, you're invited to take a brief tour from our photo album. This one is a mix of photos on smugmug.com from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Enjoy!

On-Road Biking in Newington, NH

We wanted to plan a bike ride in the Portsmouth area for Labor Day and after consulting pedaling.com, settled on a route near Pease Tradeport (the former Air Force base). It was a beautiful day for a ride and actually a nice choice for an on-road route.

My inspiration for this ride was a 14-mile route I found on pedaling.com. Using Google maps, I tried to shorten the route to about 10 miles. Not sure how well I succeeded since we missed a turn and I didn't have a working odometer. But all in all, it was a very pleasant country ride with few hills and very light traffic, taking us mostly through Newington. Our reward at the end was a stop at Redhook Ale Brewery located in Pease Tradeport.

So here's the route we took:
We started at the Park 'n Ride on Grafton Road (off Route 33) in Portsmouth, located inside Pease Tradeport.
1. Turn right out of the entrance onto Route 33.
2. At .4 mile, turn right on Portsmouth Avenue (unmarked), across from the Sunoco station.
3. At a little over one mile, turn right on Newington Road, which eventually becomes McIntyre Road.
4. After about 5 miles, turn right on Little Bay Road.
5. Take a right on Nimble Hill Road and then left on Arboretum Drive, taking you back into Pease.
6. Follow Arboretum Drive (which becomes New Hampshire Avenue) to a Right on Grafton Road. This takes you back to the Park 'n Ride.

The most scenic part of the ride was on Newington Road. It's a typical New Hampshire country road with apple orchards, cows, horses, and corn fields. Quite pretty and very relaxing.

You could actually ride your bike to Redhook Ale Brewery if you were to stay on New Hampshire Avenue which curves around to become Corporate Drive -- but it would probably add another 1-2 miles to your excursion. We chose to drive for that cold brew and mid-afternoon lunch, enjoyed al fresco. It was a refreshing way to finish the ride!

Things to Know Before You Go: The Great Bay Wildlife Refuge (1,054 acres) is also located on this route. While we rode along the wooded refuge, we never actually saw the entrance and didn't take a side trip. I understand there are a number of walking trails there.

Directions: I recommend doing a 'mapquest' or GPS entry to 185 Grafton Road, Portsmouth, the address for the Park 'n Ride.

Biking Mine Falls Park in Nashua

What a beautiful summer day! We left our "to do" list for another day and took our bikes out to Mine Falls Park in Nashua. This is a classic case of almost overlooking what's in our own backyard. Mine Falls is about 4 or 5 miles from our house, in the heart of the city. It's a 325-acre woodland between the Nashua River and the Nashua Canal.

We certainly were familiar with Mine Falls before today...we cheered on our youngest daughter at many a soccer game there back when she was playing. We've also kayaked the Nashua Canal and had even walked a trail or two. But today was really the first time we explored several trails by bike and I have to say, I think we'll be returning often. This place is easy to get to and it's cool.

The trail surface at Mine Falls is mixed, but very rideable. Short sections are paved and the rest is mostly hard-packed dirt. The Park has a series of intersecting loop trails, which are part of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail. Don't ask me the trail names or the mileage -- all I know is that we crisscrossed the Park and were often riding alongside the picturesque river or the canal.

In a few spots, the road noise from the Everett Turnpike is pretty loud, but otherwise this is a very pleasant ride. We spotted a Great Blue Heron, a turtle sunning itself on a log, and several ducks napping. Mine Falls is a fairly busy spot -- you'll be sharing the trail with other bicyclists, walkers, and joggers. But don't let the busy-ness or the intermittent noise scare you off from enjoying the park. It really is a small oasis in the heart of the city.

A guy named Chuck who writes Hiking with Chuck has an incredible amount of information about Mine Falls on his website, including some trivia. Apparently Chuck jogs or walks MF at least once a week. Aside from detailed information about the flora and fauna you can see there, Chuck has some interesting observations and stories about the wildlife he's encountered in the Park.

We're hoping to return before too long, possibly to launch our kayaks onto the river from one of two boat launches. Maybe we'll see you on the trail or on the water!

Things to Know Before You Go: There are orange markers trailside, indicating poison ivy. Sorry, I can't recall seeing any facilities here, although there may be some near the soccer fields.

Directions: Mine Falls has several access points. We entered the park from the end of Simon Street, off of West Hollis Street. You can also enter at the end of Coliseum Avenue in Nashua or near the Conway Arena on Riverside Street (near Nashua High South). I realize these are general directions only, but at least it gives you some starting points.

Take a Look at Pedaling.com

There's good news and bad news: I came across the website Pedaling.com, which has lots of cool features. You can search for rides by state, region, trip length, terrain and more. You can even set up a trip planner to take with you. I like all that!

The bad news is there aren't many rail trail options listed for New Hampshire. But you just may find something to your liking here. I'm trying to get up the courage to take an on-road trip, somewhere with light traffic. This site lists some good possibilities and may just be the push I need.

While we're on the topic of biking...I have a really ambitious trail I'm adding to my wish list. The province of Quebec has a 2,700 mile network of bike trails! The Route Verte, unveiled in 2007, stretches from one end of Quebec to the other, passing through 320 towns--obviously, I'm talking about biking just one tiny portion of it. I first read about this amazing network in the Boston Globe. I think it's fair to say you can see a little of everything along the Route Verte: lakes, canals, farmland, forests, historic forts, churches, and more.

There's even one 30-mile loop that's "sprinkled with works of outdoor art." There's a website devoted to the Route Verte if you'd like to read more. Personally, I find that site a little overwhelming since I don't know the area. I prefer reading descriptive narratives like the one I read in the Globe. See you on the trail!

Minuteman Bikeway on my Wish List

We haven't been out biking or kayaking for a bit, but we're always on the lookout for new places to add to our wish list. Tops on our list right now is a bike trail outside of New Hampshire, but one that we've been wanting to try for a while. I just learned this week that the 11-mile Minuteman Bikeway in Massachusetts has been named to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. This is a huge deal, since there are only five trails nationwide inducted into this Hall of Fame.


When they say this is a busy trail, they're not kidding! Estimates put the total number of all users (cyclists, joggers, skateboarders, etc.) at two million people annually. This 12-foot-wide path is used for both recreation and commuting -- what a wonderful option with today's high gas prices. Minuteman Bikeway passes through parts of Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford-- and is noteworthy for its historic sites, including some of the Revolutionary War's earliest battle sites.

You can read an excellent article about this award-winning trail on the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website. You can also learn more by visiting the Minuteman Bikeway's official website here. If you've biked this trail, why not send us a comment and let us know what you found?

Burlington Bikeway is One of the Best

I almost feel like a traitor writing this...but Burlington (Vermont) is a recreational bicyclist's paradise. This beautiful lakefront city offers lots of reasons to plan your first visit or start daydreaming about your next trip back.

We're talking easy biking--nothing competitive, too fast or challenging. As someone commented about the Burlington Bikeway, "It's for families and folks who haven't been on a bike in 50 years." Well, that's just a slight exaggeration. (It hasn't been 50 years!) We pedaled here on Monday and did see a few more competitive, experienced types,too.

What's not to love?
For starters, there are multiple bike rental shops in the area and numerous access points to the trail. The bikeway is mostly all paved, very well maintained, and well-marked. The 12-mile trail offers great waterfront views of Lake Champlain from Burlington to Colchester. And then there are the beautiful Adirondack Mountains on one side and the Green Mountains on the other.

You'll find numerous parks and natural areas along the way, a trail bridge over the mouth of the Winooski River, and I'm told...Colchester's Causeway Park, which takes you three miles into the middle of the lake! (We didn't know about this feature beforehand and unfortunately, didn't quite make it that far.)

One of the things I loved best about this trail, apart from the spectacular scenery, were the wonderful scents filling the late spring air. Lilacs and a fragrant white-flowering shrub mingled with the smell of freshly mowed grass.

And there's more
The Burlington Bikeway isn't the only opportunity in the area. Apparently there's another trail that takes you around the city's somewhat hilly streets. The Bikeway also connects with the Cross Vermont Trail, and a trail that eventually takes you all the way to Montreal!

Now you know why I said this city is a bicyclist's paradise. You can read more about the trails at Local Motion. Also see more photos from our visit starting with my sidebar link to www.flickr.com. When you get to flickr, just select "browse" photostream on the right. (No need to sign up or join.)

Things to Know Before You Go: Keep in mind you'll be sharing this multi-use trail with runners, walkers, and inline skaters. There are 5 miles of trail in Colchester (at the north end) that are unpaved and not recommended for street bikes.

New Boston Rail Trail is a Challenge

Remember when I said we're amateurs when it comes to both kayaking and biking? Well, I have a lot to learn about rail trails. We read about the New Boston to Goffstown Rail Trail on the internet, loaded the bikes in the back of the pickup, and set out with great anticipation to find it. The information I'd read online gave no details about the condition of the trail, so I wasn't sure what to expect. (This photo taken at the beginning of the trail is misleading...it's practically the only smooth section we encountered.)

What we found at first was an abandoned rail bed that was impassable with our hybrid bikes. There were huge tree stumps, deep gullies and rocks (shown at right). To an experienced mountain biker, maybe this is tame -- but we didn't have the right gear or experience to tackle this terrain.

Luckily, there were some locals nearby who pointed us toward a connecting portion of the trail that wasn't too bad. We still had to watch out for tree stumps and some rail road ties, but there were some easier sections, too. This was a short (maybe 1.5 mile?) section of trail within New Boston that meanders along the south branch of the Piscataquog River.

While I don't plan to return to this trail anytime soon, there were some positive notes: New Boston's town center is quintessential New England. There's a white steepled church, a gazebo, and a vintage country store where we bought lunch. Plus, there's one of those picture-postcard views of valleys and mountains as you drive from New Boston to Mont Vernon.

Understanding Trail Designations: After we biked here, I found this trail on a NH bike map designated as an abandoned trail bed. Other trails are classified as "Rails to Trails." I'm guessing one is unimproved and the other is improved/maintained. If you have more knowledge about trail designations, please send us a comment.

What to Know Before You Go: The New Boston trail is better suited for walking. If you want to bike, hybrid or mountain bikes are highly recommended. For us, this turned out to be a short 3-mile ride over some fairly challenging terrain. Hardier, more experienced types might be willing and able to tackle the longer section (8 miles round trip) which ends at the Goffstown town line.

Directions: From the center of New Boston, take Route 13 North for a short distance of about 1 mile. Turn left just past a small gas station (on the right) to the 4-H Fairgrounds. There's parking there. We actually entered the trail at Lang Station, further down Route 13. Turn left on Gregg Mill Road to Lang Station State Forest. Lang Station is the small stone house originally built to shelter RR passengers. The section of trail we biked was on the same side of the road as the parking lot.

Two Cool Biking Websites

Just discovered two informative websites about rail trails. Thanks to Tim Jones, outdoor columnist with the Nashua Telegraph, for mentioning www.traillink.com in a Telegraph article today. There's detailed information about some of the trails and limited information on others. But the rider reviews seem to be quite helpful and there's more useful info here than anything else I've been able to find on the internet so far.

Also discovered www.nashuacitystation.com/trails.php which focuses on recreational rail trails of southern New Hampshire. This site has fewer details, but it looks like a good starting point and has links to some of the rail trail websites.

Do you have any favorite biking trails to share? Be sure to submit a comment and let us know.

Biking the Rockingham Rail Trail

We took full advantage of this gorgeous spring day to take out our bikes. (Paying bills and laundry can always wait, can't they?) Our destination was the Rockingham Rail Trail, beginning near Lake Massabesic in Manchester. The terrain here was a little challenging for us, but the payoff was some great scenery.

At 25 miles, this trail is the state's longest rail trail. It runs east of Manchester, all the way to the town of Newfields, which is about 12 miles from the coast.

It's described as a gravel trail. To be honest, we've never biked anything that wasn't paved, so we didn't know what to expect. The answer is "a little of everything." There was mud, lots of small rocks (we're not talking "pea-sized" gravel here) and some ruts left behind by ATVs. But then, there were sections of hard-packed dirt that were just fine. I wouldn't recommend taking a regular street bike on this trail. Our hybrids (street bikes with heftier tires) did very well, even if we struggled a little from our inexperience and being out of shape.

As you start out, you're following the shoreline of Lake Massabesic. Along the way, there are marshlands, ponds, and a small waterfall. It's times like these when I wish I could identify more birds.

We didn't ride the entire route by a long shot. The mid-way point is Raymond, NH and after that, you bike alongside the Lamprey River. I understand the last two miles to Newfields is a jaunt through meadows and woods. Our starting (and return) point at Lake Massabesic was a good one. We enjoyed lunch at a picnic table facing the lake after our bike ride. Next time, maybe we'll bring our kayaks!

What you need to know before you go: Posted signs say that ATVs and other motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trail; But one source said they are allowed and the evidence seems to suggest that you will find them here. If that's the case, then I would avoid weekends. In addition to hikers and bicyclists, equestrians are also permitted on the trail.

Directions: To reach the trail's western start in Manchester, take exit 1 off Route 101 East; then head south on Route 28, proceed around a rotary, and turn left into the parking lot at Lake Massabesic. There's plenty of parking. To access the trail from Candia, take Route 27; go south on Langford Road and take a right onto Depot Road.

Facilities: There are two non-flush public toilets, one is handicap accessible. Aside from bathroom facilities, you'll find benches lining the shorefront of the lake and one lone picnic table.