The Windham Rail Trail Alliance has literally paved the way for people to enjoy the great outdoors. Greeted by the sounds of running water, chirping birds, and rustling leaves, visitors to the recently renovated 4.1-mile section of the Rockingham Recreational Trail in Windham, NH, are enveloped by a canopy of trees, which provide for a tranquil and scenic trail in the busy Merrimack Valley area.
Last year, Governor John Lynch proclaimed September 16 “Windham Rail Trail Day,” and since then, the feedback from the community and region has been “absolutely tremendous,” according to Mark Samsel, Windham resident and president of the Windham Rail Trail Alliance. “The trail adds a safe and passive recreational opportunity in a greenway environment,” he says, and it is an asset for which the community is grateful. On September 15, a public activity is being planned to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the trail and its success.
Sisters Jeanne Roussel and Andrea Hynes, both of Derry, say they enjoy the trail because it gives them a place to talk, uninterrupted. Roussel loves that it’s paved because it provides a sense of security while in the woods. Terri Stanley, a Windham resident, says she enjoys the trail because it is quiet and she can take her child and dog there.
All “passive recreation,” which is anything that does not require a motor, is allowed on the trail. Walking, running, bike riding, and rollerblading are popular, and Samsel says that there is also more equestrian use today than before the renovation. What makes the trail especially appealing for those with horses is the unique 5-foot stone dust shoulder, which is attracting both locals and those from surrounding cities. Popular winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, the latter of which is allowed with adequate snow cover. Fishing is also possible in the two ponds and marshes along the trail.
According to Samsel, every season is favorable to visit the trail. “Fall is always pretty because of the foliage,” he says, “and what is unique about summer is that the trail is shaded, so when you have a 90-degree day, the trail is probably 10 to 15 degrees less.” The trail is lined by 35-foot walls of vegetation, which Samsel says create a rainforest effect and keep the trail cool.
The best time to see the abundance of wildlife along the trail is early in morning, and at sundown. Deer, fox, moose, birds, owls, turtles, and fisher cats have all been observed. Also, heron, beaver, and various species of duck and geese may be found.
The renovation of the trail was initiated in 2003 after a bill passed that only permitted Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) use on the trail when it is snow covered. The state of New Hampshire formed a Citizens Advisory Committee to develop a bicycle and pedestrian path along the Route 93 corridor, and the abandoned Manchester to Lawrence and Concord to Portsmouth rail beds, in addition to segments of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail, provided the foundation for the trail. Local investors gave the committee seed money to create a non-profit organization made up of Windham citizens, The Windham Rail Trail Alliance, which is dedicated to the development, maintenance, and promotion of the trail. Samsel says a lot of gratitude also goes to Peter Zohdi, who was a major sponsor and engineer for the trail.
A recent addition to the trail was the former B&M Caboose C-16. A donation offer of a similar caboose in January led to the eventual purchase and move of the current renovated buggy.
“Unfortunately, the renovations required of the donated caboose far exceeded the capabilities and time needed to bring it back to shape,” Samsel explains. “We were very fortunate to have been offered the renovated C-16 at a price that fit our budget.”
The caboose was moved from Lawrence and placed on a 49-foot section of rail laid by members of both committees. “Even with an experienced rail foreman supervising the work, it gave us an appreciation of the efforts of the crew who constructed the M&L line in 1849,” notes Samsel.
At this time, the caboose does not have formal open hours. However, if a committee member is at the caboose, visitors can stop by for a tour.
Samsel believes the trail is one of the prettiest in the region, an opinion he qualifies by the fact that there is so much to see in only four miles. Those four miles are enough to make a person feel part of nature, with the occasional house seen through the trees and the intermittent openings that allow sunlight to pour through serving as the only reminders of nearby civilization.
From the Windham Depot parking lot on North Lowell Road in Windham, which serves as the main entrance, the trail rail runs south to Roulston Road. The parking lot is open from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunset. Visit www.windhamrailtrail.org for more information.
Get Outside – Windham Rail Trail – Fall 2007
Last year, Governor John Lynch proclaimed September 16 “Windham Rail Trail Day,” and since then, the feedback from the community and region has been “absolutely tremendous,” according to Mark Samsel, Windham resident and president of the Windham Rail Trail Alliance. “The trail adds a safe and passive recreational opportunity in a greenway environment,” he says, and it is an asset for which the community is grateful. On September 15, a public activity is being planned to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the trail and its success.
Sisters Jeanne Roussel and Andrea Hynes, both of Derry, say they enjoy the trail because it gives them a place to talk, uninterrupted. Roussel loves that it’s paved because it provides a sense of security while in the woods. Terri Stanley, a Windham resident, says she enjoys the trail because it is quiet and she can take her child and dog there.
All “passive recreation,” which is anything that does not require a motor, is allowed on the trail. Walking, running, bike riding, and rollerblading are popular, and Samsel says that there is also more equestrian use today than before the renovation. What makes the trail especially appealing for those with horses is the unique 5-foot stone dust shoulder, which is attracting both locals and those from surrounding cities. Popular winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, the latter of which is allowed with adequate snow cover. Fishing is also possible in the two ponds and marshes along the trail.
According to Samsel, every season is favorable to visit the trail. “Fall is always pretty because of the foliage,” he says, “and what is unique about summer is that the trail is shaded, so when you have a 90-degree day, the trail is probably 10 to 15 degrees less.” The trail is lined by 35-foot walls of vegetation, which Samsel says create a rainforest effect and keep the trail cool.
The best time to see the abundance of wildlife along the trail is early in morning, and at sundown. Deer, fox, moose, birds, owls, turtles, and fisher cats have all been observed. Also, heron, beaver, and various species of duck and geese may be found.
The renovation of the trail was initiated in 2003 after a bill passed that only permitted Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) use on the trail when it is snow covered. The state of New Hampshire formed a Citizens Advisory Committee to develop a bicycle and pedestrian path along the Route 93 corridor, and the abandoned Manchester to Lawrence and Concord to Portsmouth rail beds, in addition to segments of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail, provided the foundation for the trail. Local investors gave the committee seed money to create a non-profit organization made up of Windham citizens, The Windham Rail Trail Alliance, which is dedicated to the development, maintenance, and promotion of the trail. Samsel says a lot of gratitude also goes to Peter Zohdi, who was a major sponsor and engineer for the trail.
A recent addition to the trail was the former B&M Caboose C-16. A donation offer of a similar caboose in January led to the eventual purchase and move of the current renovated buggy.
The caboose was moved from Lawrence and placed on a 49-foot section of rail laid by members of both committees. “Even with an experienced rail foreman supervising the work, it gave us an appreciation of the efforts of the crew who constructed the M&L line in 1849,” notes Samsel.
At this time, the caboose does not have formal open hours. However, if a committee member is at the caboose, visitors can stop by for a tour.
Samsel believes the trail is one of the prettiest in the region, an opinion he qualifies by the fact that there is so much to see in only four miles. Those four miles are enough to make a person feel part of nature, with the occasional house seen through the trees and the intermittent openings that allow sunlight to pour through serving as the only reminders of nearby civilization.
From the Windham Depot parking lot on North Lowell Road in Windham, which serves as the main entrance, the trail rail runs south to Roulston Road. The parking lot is open from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunset. Visit www.windhamrailtrail.org for more information.