Are dogs allowed on Northern Rail Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Northern Rail Trail but must be kept on a leash at all times. Pack out waste and respect wildlife.

Do I need a permit to hike Northern Rail Trail?

No, Northern Rail Trail does not currently require a permit. Still check for seasonal closures or day-use fees with the managing agency before heading out.

How difficult is Northern Rail Trail?

Northern Rail Trail is rated expert. It is 53.7 miles long with 4,341 feet of elevation gain. Difficulty ratings reflect a combination of distance, elevation gain, and terrain — your experience will depend on your fitness level and trail conditions.

Is Northern Rail Trail suitable for kids?

Northern Rail Trail is not typically recommended for young children due to length, exposure, or technical terrain. Older kids with hiking experience may be fine — use your judgment based on your family's comfort level.

Status unknown — verify before visiting

We don't have current condition data for this trail. Check with the land manager before you go.

See New Hampshire trail conditions

ExpertPoint to Point

New Hampshire

Northern Rail Trail

Lebanon, New Hampshire

53.7 mi

Distance

4,341 ft

Elev. Gain

18h 35m

Est. Time

Point to Point

Route Type

Expert

Difficulty

About This Trail

Imported description

The route of the Boston & Maine Railroad leads to the Northern Rail Trail. The Northern Rail-Trail is a great place to enjoy the outdoors with your family. It's a nice trip to get to Danbury from Lebanon. The Northern allows riders to get a close view of the Mascoma River seven times within the first four miles. The Witherell Recreation Center is where the trail starts. The first few miles of the trail are dominated by Tagalongs, tandems, trailers, and training wheels, which makes the trail very attractive to children and their parents. It starts to thin out on the trail.

From Wikipedia

The Northern Recreational Rail Trail, also known as the Northern Rail Trail, is a 58-mile (93 km) multi-use rail trail in western New Hampshire, USA, running from Lebanon to Boscawen. It uses the right-of-way of the Boston and Maine Railroad's former Northern Line, which was acquired by the State of New Hampshire in 1996. The trail is managed by the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails.

Source: Wikipedia — text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Verify trail conditions and seasonal closures with the managing agency before you go.

Trail Conditions

Unknown

We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.

No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.

Elevation Profile

Min:84 ft

Max:315 ft

1,323 ft

1,410 ft

Trail Details

Dogs on leash

Route Type: Point to Point
Surface: Dirt

Official sources & verification

We don't have curated agency sources for this trail in our cache yet. Outdoors is not the permitting authority — confirm conditions, permits, and access with the managing agency before you go. If you know who manages this trail, please tell us.

Reviews

No reviews yet

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Legacy import — verify before navigating

Path geometry came from our pre-launch legacy database. Routes have not yet been re-verified against the operator and may differ from the actual trail.