New Hampshire

The section of the East Coast Greenway that runs through New Hampshire is also known as the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway. Travelers enter New Hampshire from the north along a road-separated walkway over the Memorial Bridge. From there, the interim 20-mile route stays on the road, hugging closely to the coast and offering continuous views of the Atlantic Ocean.

When complete, the New Hampshire spine route will total 17 miles, virtually all of it using the corridor of the Boston and Maine Railroad from Seabrook to Portsmouth. The railroad right-of-way crosses into Massachusetts, where advocates are working to turn it into a greenway. The southernmost portion of this right-of-way (4.5 miles) was acquired by New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation. The State of New Hampshire also recently purchased the northern section (10 miles) from Guilford Industries/Pan Am Railways, for conversion to trail. This project is currently in planning and design. 

Traveling by train? 

Quick tips when using Amtrak with your bike: Do your research in advance; each train line features different bike rack equipment and loading procedures. Check Amtrak for the latest and when in doubt: call the station if you have questions. Click for more: https://www.amtrak.com/bike

Greenway Guidance

While the East Coast Greenway Alliance is constantly improving the safety of the Greenway route through its advocacy efforts, many of the current on-road connections, including those on the Greenway’s interim routes, have little or no special provisions for bicyclists or pedestrians. Long-distance travel via on-road sections of the Greenway is recommended for experienced cyclists only. Many lengthy traffic-free segments of the Greenway are suitable for families and cyclists, walkers and runners of all ages and abilities. 

The current on-road routing is housed on low-traffic roads whenever possible. We aim to be as clear as we are able about the conditions riders can expect by including alerts for known stressful sections on our online mapping tool at map.greenway.org. Directional signage may or may not be present along the route. Users are advised to review state traffic laws, research current road conditions and discuss plans with people familiar with area roadways.

This website provides information for the public about trails and roads for traveling the interim route of the East Coast Greenway and their general suitability for long-distance cycling and walking. The East Coast Greenway Alliance and those involved with the development and publication of this website do not assume any liability for injuries, damage or loss to persons using this information or the routes suggested. People using this information are responsible for their own safety and should take appropriate precautions.