New Hampshire Rail Trail: Portsmouth to Hampton is Greenlighted

There's exciting news coming down the line, and it's in the form of a rail trail in New Hampshire.  The state of New Hampshire now owns the entire Hampton branch of the former Boston and Maine Rail corridor.

This is important, because now, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation can work with the adjoining towns of this 17.2 stretch to develop a beautiful rail trail linking Portsmouth to North Hampton.

This is part of the master plan of the East Coast Greenway Project connecting Maine to Florida, according to greenway.org.  The vision is trails for,

...bicyclists, walkers, runners, inline skaters, horseback riders, wheelchair users, cross-country skiers and more — of all ages and abilities — feel safe for commuting and recreation.

Trailspotting.org says that eight miles of the Portsmouth line is under construction and people are discouraged from using the dirt trail, as it's transformed into a paved trail.  'No Trespassing' signs have been left up to discourage use, but people are still out there on the rugged roads, some still with ties and tracks.

Naysayers note the added traffic and lack of parking along the trail, but the Facebook New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway page notes parking will be added in some locations, like near the skate park of route 33 in Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth part of the trail is currently closed as it is an active construction site, with an anticipated opening date of October 2024.

Sure, dates move, as construction is dependent on the weather and other factors. But this trail will provide more visitors to each of the eight towns on the 17 miles of trails.

Seabrook, Hampton Falls, Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, Greenland, New Castle, and Portsmouth will all benefit from the project, which involves a partnership between the state and local governments.

The Maine Eastern Trail runs from Kittery to South Portland, and the Massachusetts Trail will ultimately link Salisbury to Boston.  Salisbury and Newburyport trails are completed.