Patch Awarded to Finishers of the NH Rail Trails Challenge
by Ellen Kolb, NHRTC Treasurer
A new year prompts fresh resolutions. If you’ve decided to make 2023 your year for improved fitness, more travel, or giving back to your community, let the Granite State’s rail trails be part of your plan. The New Hampshire Rail Trail Coalition’s website can give you some ideas.
Maybe you’re beginning a fitness program (with your healthcare provider’s OK), or perhaps you’re already active. Either way, fresh air and pleasant surroundings make the trails a good choice for walks, runs, and bike rides. Some trails are paved, making them more family-friendly as well as easier for users with limited mobility. For variety, visit your favorite trail in different seasons.
If you haven’t heard about the New Hampshire Rail Trail Challenge, the new year is a fine time to catch up. The challenge is to explore all of the rail trails in the state. That’s more than 300 miles of trails! As you drive to the trailheads, you can discover parts of New Hampshire you might not have visited before. You’ll find trails in every county. Some are short urban trails perfect for an afternoon visit, like Manchester’s Piscataquog Trail. Others like the Northern Rail Trail can be the destination for a long holiday weekend. There’s no fixed schedule for the challenge, so explore at your leisure. Check out the details of the Rail Trail Challenge at nhrtc.org.
Is this the year for you to volunteer with a local nonprofit agency? Consider lending your time and talents to the rail trail “friends” group in your area, where you can help develop outdoor recreational opportunities for everyone. Volunteers with these organizations perform trail maintenance work, raise funds for trail expansion, and share with others their enthusiasm for the trails in order to build community support.
NHRTC’s board members wish you a happy 2023, and we hope to meet you on the trails this year.
To read more about Ellen Kolb’s walks around New Hampshire, check out her blog: http://granitestatewalker.com/