Please click on the link below to sign-up for our Newletter!! Subscribe to our newsletter FNRT Home News General Information Who We Are History Trail Surface Trail Uses Trail Access Useful Links Lodging near the Trail NH State Trails Plan Maps Progress & Plans Photo Gallery by Town Andover Scenes Andover Usage Andover Fall Scenes Supporting Organizations Testimonials How You Can Help Our Contributors Contact Us Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County P.O. Box 154 Andover, NH  03216 Email:  Info@FNRT.org 603-735-5061		Mission: Improve, promote, and maintain the Northern Rail Trail as a four season, multi-use trail through Merrimack County.  The Northern Rail Trail goes through the towns of Danbury, Wilmot, Andover, Franklin, and Boscawen in Merrimack County			Please click here to find out how to help download our membership form or make a donation now! $ By donating to FNRT you also become a member!
		Upcoming FNRT meetings and events See calendar below for meeting and activity dates.  Normally the meetings are held at the Andover Fire House on Rte. 11 (Main St.) in the center of Andover. FNRT Calendar Please click on the Calendar for a full size version FNRT to extend rail trail to center of Boscawen and Grafton line NH Trails Bureau has recently informed FNRT Merrimack that it has been awarded a grant of $30,000 to extend the resurfacing of the Northern Rail Trail south from Gerrish Depot towards Concord and Boscawen. This decision is subject to normal administrative reviews. Final approval is expected in time for the work to be done by late summer. This grant is conditioned on FNRT’s raising matching funds of $7,500. With this grant FNRT has launched a campaign to raise the final $60,000 needed to complete the Trail. Combined with existing funds in hand, the new grant from Trails Bureau will allow FNRT to build to Depot Street in the center of Boscawen. The additional $60,000 will be used to build the final section of trail from Depot Street to the Hannah-Dustan Park & Ride at exit 17 from I-93, near the Boscawen-Concord town line. FNRT’s sister organization, FNRT Grafton, has been informed that it has been granted $15,000 to finish laying stone dust on the last mile of trail in Merrimack County between the Danbury Town Garage and the Grafton County line. Work on this is also planned for this summer. FNRT Merrimack has undertaken to raise the necessary matching funds of $3,750 Get ready for the Governor’s 90-Mile Challenge! The Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County would like to spread the word about Governor Hassan’s 90 Mile Challenge! The 90-Mile Challenge is designed to get you moving a mile a day! You can do more–and are encouraged to do so! But Governor Hassan’s Council on Physical Activity and Health is looking for participants to get a minimum of one mile or 20 minutes of physical activity each day from June 1st – August 31st. And what better place to get your mile a day of activity than along the beautiful Northern Rail Trail! When you register to participate for Governor Hassan’s 90 Mile Challenge at www.nhmoves.org/90milechallenge, you’ll receive an email with a 90 Mile Challenge Passport and Tracking Calendar. How about doing the first mile of the Challenge with the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail? On June 1st, we’ll be celebrating National Trails Day by getting together for a Fun Ride/Fun Walk starting at Gerrish Depot on Rte 3 in Boscawen at 10 a.m. There is considerable parking available onsite. Come out and enjoy your rail trail by riding or walking about 3 miles on the very newest section converted from old rail bed to 4 season recreational trail. For more information on our June 1st Fun Ride/Fun Walk, call Lindy at 526-6376. So what are you waiting for? Visit www.nhmoves.org/90milechallenge for more information and to register for Governor Hassan’s 90 Mile Challenge! New Hampshire’s Northern Rail Trail Named a Top Trail in U.S. Concord, NH, 2012 – The 52-mile Northern Rail Trail in New Hampshire has been named to the list of “100 Top Trails in the U.S.” by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington, D.C. The trail is one of the longest in New England and the longest in New Hampshire. The trail crosses the State of New Hampshire from Lebanon in the Connecticut River Valley to Boscawen, on the Merrimack just north of Concord. A westward extension of the trail toward Vermont from downtown Lebanon as part of the Mascoma River Greenway is in development and would put its final length at 59 miles. Chris Gamache, Bureau Chief for the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails, said “New Hampshire should be proud of the designation. The Northern Rail Trail is a year-round recreational treasure thanks to the cooperative efforts of the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails, local snowmobile clubs and the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail groups in Merrimack and Grafton Counties.” New Rail Trail Maps Northern Franklin Trail Map Map of the Northern Rail Trail Northern_Rail_Trail_-_Potter_Place_to_Webster_Lake.pdf Northern-Danbury_to_Potter_Place.pdf or Visit the Maps page to see them full scale online Or find them on Facebook (you don't need to be logged in) RAIL TRAIL maps! We have a facebook page! Please check it out and become a fan! See the News page for the latest information about the trail expansion activities. In memory of Peter Oren Crowell Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County P.O. Box 154 Andover, NH  03216 Email:  Info@FNRT.org 603-735-5061 News: See why people are talking about the Northern Rail Trail! Ethney McMahon produced a short video that shows the trail, how people are using it, and scenic views. Don't forget to turn on your speakers, it has audio! Please be patient, the video takes a few seconds to load even with High Speed access. Top Photos courtesty of Peter Southworth and Charles Martin The Northern Rail Trail passes through some beautiful and remote areas.  FNRT-MC recommends that trail users exercise the same caution in traversing these areas as they would in passing through any other remote area. Please click here to return to the top