Mason & Greenville Rail Trails, NH

• 4-star trail
• 9 miles each way
• Moderate | Moderate gradient
• Mason to Greenville, NH | Monadnock Region
. NH Rail Trails

The image shows a serene natural landscape featuring a small lake or pond surrounded by tall evergreen trees. The water is calm, reflecting the blue sky above. The scene is framed by trees on either side, creating a picturesque view of the water and the forested area beyond.

One of two large ponds along the route.

The hilly and twisting stone-wall fringed roads around the towns of Greenville and Mason are picturesque, but not indicative of terrain suitable for a flat railroad bed. So perhaps it wasn't surprising when construction of this route from Massachusetts ran out of money in 1850, and the engineers instead chose to terminate the line at Greenville, instead of Peterborough as planned.

The Mason Rail Road Trail combines with the shorter Greenville Recreational Trail to make a continuous journey through woodland, passing numerous creeks and a couple of ponds. Situated in an area of low population, this trail is relatively quiet at most times. On this particularly sunny day in May we met a total of three hikers, two horseback riders and one harmless Northern watersnake coiled in the middle of the trail. For the record, New Hampshire only has one venomous snake - the timber rattlesnake, which is a protected species and exceedingly rare.

⬤ Hardpack ⬤ No Access ⬤ Parking

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Mason & Greenville Trails 8.6 mi ea way, moderate, moderate gradient
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

The North end traces a route along the side of the Souhegan River Valley before ending abruptly at the abutments of the former Greenville Railroad Bridge (link below), a 624 foot long valley-spanning structure of which several abutments still remain standing. Reaching the abutment requires walking the last 0.2 miles beyond the Adams Hill Road parking area due to uneven and muddy terrain.

It's apparent when you reach the Massachusetts state border at the South end of the trail, as the railroad track still sits insitu, as it has since the line was abandoned in 1979. Hikers can continue to follow the track in the direction of Townsend as the route is surprisingly not overgrown - possibly thanks to clearance by snowmobilers. We haven't mapped this route beyond the gray line shown on our map.

The image shows two individuals riding horses on a forest trail. The trail is surrounded by trees, some of which have sparse foliage, indicating it might be early spring or late fall. The riders are wearing helmets and protective vests, suggesting they are taking safety precautions.

Friendly equestrians on the trail.

If you're planning to explore the full length of this trail, we recommend starting at the Southern end so that your outbound travels are in the (lightly) uphill direction. The 40 foot per mile gradient isn't very noticeable, but when compounded with the roughness of some sections of this trail it can take a toll. Unmarked roadside parking at the intersection of Mason and Morse roads is available 0.2 miles from the trail.

Nearby on Mason Road is a historical marker memorializing the boyhood home of Uncle Sam. As the marker reads: "Nearby stands the boyhood home of Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) who was generally known as 'Uncle Sam'. He supplied beef to the Army in 1812. The brand on his barrels was 'US'. The transition from US to Uncle Sam followed and became the popular symbol for the United States."

⚠ Trail Conditions: Hardpack with rough and bumpy sections making up 30% of total trail length means this trail isn't great for strollers or road bikes. There is some mud to be found at the Greenville end of the trail. The trail's gradient is light to moderate at 40 feet per mile, descending towards the north.

The image shows two different forest trails. The left side of the image depicts a trail flanked by rocky walls with trees growing on top and alongside the path. The right side of the image shows a more open trail with trees on both sides and a clear sky above. Both trails are surrounded by tall trees with sparse foliage, indicating a season where the trees are not fully leafed out, possibly early spring or late fall. The trails appear to be well-maintained and suitable for hiking or walking.

Cuttings and embankments required to span the hilly terrain.

The image shows a red house with a gabled roof and a central chimney, surrounded by trees and greenery. There is a historical marker sign in front of the house that reads: 'UNCLE SAM'S HOUSE: Nearby stands the boyhood home of Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) who is generally known as 'Uncle Sam.' The symbol's roots are traced to Sam's meatpacking business during the War of 1812. The meat was branded as 'U.S.' The transition from 'U.S.' to 'Uncle Sam' followed, becoming the popular symbol for the United States.'

Uncle Sam's house, nearby on Mason Road.

Tangents:
• External Link: Greenville Railroad Bridge
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Mason Rail Trail
• TrailLink: Mason Railroad Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Granite Brookline Potanpio Rail Trails (11 mi) · 4★ Mount Watatic (1-3 mi) · Show Map

Rail Trails of New England
The first and only complete rail trail map. With photos, reviews and downloads.

New England Fire Towers
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.