Peterborough Rail Trail NH

• 4-star trail
• 9 miles each way
• Moderate | Low gradient
• Peterborough, NH | Monadnock Region
. NH Rail Trails

The image shows a picturesque scene of a small waterfall or weir on a river, with a stone wall and vibrant flowers in the foreground. The flowers include purple and pink blooms. There are trees with green foliage and a clear blue sky with some clouds. In the background, there is a brick building, likely part of a small town or village.

Admiring picturesque Peterborough, ice-cream in hand.

Established beneath Mount Monadnock and along the banks of the Contoocook River, Peterborough is a small, picturesque New Hampshire town popular with visitors for its dining, antique stores and proximity to the hills and lakes that surround it. Although it's now virtually impossible to reach the town by any other way but road, we can enjoy tracing a journey along the former railroad line into the town from the North, where the Monadnock Railroad was extended to connect to the Milford-Bennington line. This route is also known as the Common Pathway.

The North half of the trail is on the Eastern side of the US-202 and known as the Old Railroad Trail. Here the trail passes through thick forest and mostly follows the Western banks of the Contoocook. Initially the unpaved trail is wide enough for two bikes to pass, but it becomes single track towards the end of the trail and occasionally a little muddy. Up here, it’s well worth a one mile side-trip to the Hancock-Greenfield covered bridge, which is accessible via the moderately trafficked Forest Road.

⬤ Asphalt ⬤ Hardpack ⬤ Rough ⬤ Road ⬤ No Access ⬤ Parking

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤⬤⬤⬤ 4★ Peterborough Rail Trail 8.5 mi each way, moderate, gain 260ft (220ft S-N)
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

Parking at the North end is sparse. You could either start where the trail intersects the US-202 (see our 'Directions' link above), or alternatively park near the covered bridge at the Powdermill Pond boat launch (see links embedded in the blue dots on the map).

The Southern section of the trail - known locally as the Common Pathway is located West of the US-202 heads towards Peterborough on a flat, wide trail which becomes paved from Prescott Hill Road. Highlights on this section include picturesque pond views, a boardwalk section near Hunt Road and upon arriving in Peterborough includes the Brenner Bridge footbridge crossing where the Nubanusit Brook meets the Contoocoock.

The image shows a serene outdoor scene featuring a bicycle parked on a paved path next to a calm, reflective body of water. The path is surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery, creating a peaceful and natural setting. The water reflects the trees and the clear blue sky, adding to the tranquility of the scene.

The Northern section follows closely the contours of the Contoocook.

Unfortunately, reaching Peterborough requires biking on road. We’ve made careful note of the 2 miles of road biking sections on our map to help you plan your journey. Traffic on these roads is somewhere between light and moderate, depending on the time of day.

The last half mile of Southbound cycling terminates at Noone Falls, formerly the site of a sawmill and now a pan-Asian restaurant with a patio that overlooks the waterfront. Although not signed, public parking is a common sight at the Old Sharon Road end of the lot. I parked in a lot behind the mill, after confirming with an employee that it was acceptable to do so.

The image shows a scenic view of a river with a pedestrian bridge crossing over it. The bridge is made of metal with a reddish-brown color and has a simple, functional design with railings. The river below is flowing steadily, surrounded by lush green vegetation and trees. The sky is clear with a few clouds, indicating a pleasant day.

Brenner Bridge footbridge on Peterborough's waterfront.

Trail conditions are mostly good and elevation change is nominal. The hardest parts of the trail are occasionally and unimproved muddy single-track sections towards the North. The rest of the trail is either paved or very well compacted.

Overall, a fun trail that is best when paired with a visit to Peterborough’s attractions, or at least a visit to the covered bridge. The trail does get a failing grade for the way it drops trail users directly into road traffic – particularly at Summer Street where we’re expected to travel in the road gutter facing oncoming traffic, which by our reckoning is illegal as well as dangerous. I'm looking forward to the day that US road engineers start accommodating for bikes with more than just a painted white line as an afterthought.

⚠ Trail Conditions: Patchy trail with sections of asphalt, hardpack, road biking and rough trail. Peterborough section is more road than trail. Trail is mostly flat with slight uphill near Noone Falls at the South end.

The image shows a picturesque scene of a waterfall surrounded by lush green trees. The waterfall cascades over a man-made structure, creating a curtain of water that flows into a river below. The trees frame the waterfall, creating a natural archway that draws the viewer's eye towards the center of the image. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the serene and tranquil atmosphere of the scene.

Noone Falls at the Southern terminus of this trail.

The image shows a covered bridge with a red roof spanning over a calm river, surrounded by dense green forest. The river reflects the sky and the surrounding trees, creating a serene and picturesque scene. The bridge is part of a road that cuts through the forest, and there are power lines running parallel to the road. In the background, there are distant hills or mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

The Hancock-Greenfield covered bridge.

Tangents:
• Official: Peterborough Open Space
• AllTrails Public: Old Railroad Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

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