Just north of the CVS Pharmacy on Mammoth Road in Manchester lies the inconspicuous entrance to the Rockingham Rail Trail.

The unpaved former railroad trail can take walkers and bicyclers almost to the seacoast. Or, if they prefer a shorter trip, to Lake Massabesic.

Recently, work started on a $1.2 million upgrade of the trail.

When it is completed this winter, the trail will be level, covered with gravel and stonedust, and it will be wider, 12’ wide in most places. This should make for smooth travel both on foot or by bicycle. Until now the rough path was most suited to mountain bikes, this upgrade should make the trail more “family-friendly”.

The beginning of the tail lies in a residential area of the city, it’s border consisting of backyards.

When finished the upgrade will include nine connections to neighborhood streets, nearly all in this first half-mile.

Heading east, one encounters a tunnel of some 300 feet of corrugated metal that runs through a berm that shoulders Interstate 93.

After the tunnel, the next adventure is a quarter-mile of soggy ground and cattails. The mud holds patterns of knobby bicycle tires, the gravel will be a great improvement here, although, the trail will narrow to 8’. The upgrade calls for the installation of underground pipes to keep water flowing between both sides and off of the trail.

After the swamp, the trail crosses the intersection of Candia and Proctor roads. Next Lake Massabesic comes into view. At one point, 200 feet of lily pads separates the trail from the northern waterline of the lake. Just a short distance from there lies Massabesic Front Park, which offers a calm place to sit, walk or park and enjoy gazing at the forested hillsides that rise up from blue waters.

Once the work is complete, I imagine the trail’s popularity growing especially in the eyes of people made homebound by social distancing requirements.

The city has three other off-road trails: the Riverwalk, the Piscataquog River, and the South Manchester Rail trails. Next up is an expansion on both sides of the South Manchester trail.

Inspired by an article written by mhayward@unionileader.com

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Rockingham Rail Trail Upgrade