| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Sugar River Rail Trail, Bobby Woodman Rail Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in Newport, NH at the eastern terminus of the Sugar River rail trail. Lots of space. There are 4-5 other large trailhead parking areas along the route - for snowmobile and horse trailers - both of which are allowed on this corridor |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Old RR corridor: waterways are all bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
NH Parks & Rec: Trails Bureau was out cutting downed trees and cleaning the 1906 Wrights covered bridge |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
All owners recalled their pets and leashed promptly as dogs are not allowed off leash on this trail, very thankful for considerate owners along this trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not really. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Tons of stuff lost in the woods. Mostly strung up in the trees trailside - which made running almost literally into a dolls arm a little shocking momentarily! |
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 | Comments: |
Looking for mud-free trails to build up some mileage, found just what I was looking for. Out and back of Sugar River and Bobby Woodman Rail Trail sections for a 21.68-mile morning run/stroll. Great surface conditions - I did see the sandy patches bikers had mentioned in previous reports, but for foot traffic this was no issue at all. Great trail network for a sandal run, minimal debris and junk to step over or watch for. Really really great conditions - dry trail with a light flurry falling from the sky all morning.
If looking to do one or the other of these two rail trail corridors, I'd strongly recommend the Sugar River portion, much more enjoyable forest, Sugar River flows right alongside the trail corridor - absolutely stunning, the trail is in great shape. Pier Bridge and Wrights Bridge are incredible feats of railroad engineering - beautiful wooden truss bridges, great historical kiosks trailside. Bobby Woodman rail trail was blah - follows right along Washington Street through the commercial district, so there are lots of traffic lights, cars entering or exiting the shopping centers. Met a really nice couple who were out cleaning up nasty old beer cans from the drainage gully trailside, thanked and chatted for a bti before soon turning back to head east, to Newport.
E-bikes, ATVs and such are allowed on the Sugar River RT, just a heads up on that for oncoming traffic. Nice to have alternative places to roam and build up strength and endurance in the legs while higher elevation trails dry out somewhat.
I'll leave a link below for anyone looking for more info on this rail trail in the form of a blog post with good ol' color photography. Enjoy! |
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 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
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 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/sugar-river-rail-trail |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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