Ride a Rail Bike Through New Hampshire's White Mountains

A bike... on railroad tracks.

I thought this was going to be one of those "it'll be fun" activities that secretly turns into leg day. I was wrong.

Not a mountain bike.

Not a regular bike trail.

Credit: Granite State Railway via Facebook

If you're anything like me, your first thought is probably, *"How does that even work?"*

Turns out it's pretty simple. You hop onto a specially designed rail bike that sits on the tracks, start pedaling, and cruise through parts of the White Mountains that most people never get to see.

It looks like something you'd find on a travel show, not something that's right here in New Hampshire.

One of my favorite parts about living in New Hampshire is that every few weeks I stumble across something that makes me stop and think...

*"Wait... you can do that here?"

That's exactly what happened when I found out you can actually ride a rail bike through the White Mountains.

According to Granite State Railway, there are a couple of different Rail Bike tours.

Lincoln (White Mountains):
If you're looking for the mountain views, this is the one. You'll pedal through the White Mountains with forests, rivers, and some seriously beautiful scenery that feels like you're seeing a part of New Hampshire most people never get to experience.

Laconia (Lakes Region):
If you're more of a lake person, the Laconia ride is a great option. The tracks take you alongside Lake Winnisquam, over a railroad trestle, and through some really peaceful scenery. It's one of those rides where you're in no hurry to get to the end.

The best part? You don't have to be some hardcore cyclist to enjoy it.

The bikes are built to be easy to pedal, and because you're riding on steel rails instead of pavement, they glide along much more smoothly than you'd probably expect. It's more about enjoying the experience than getting a workout.

I also love that it's one of those activities that's hard to put in a box.

It would make a great date.

It'd be fun with a group of friends.

Families would have a blast.

And if you've got someone visiting from out of town who's already seen the beaches, hiked Mount Washington, or explored North Conway, this is something they're probably not expecting.