Rockingham Recreational Trail

Often rail trails gradually get more scenic as you wander away from the more densely populated trailheads. Not the Rockingham Recreational Trail.
Right from the start, it follows the shores of Massabesic Lake, just outside Manchester, New Hampshire. It's not unusual to see sailboats tagging along with trail users like floating angels guarding your journey toward the ocean.
But before you begin that journey, you must take care of some logistics.
1. To find the trail, jump on Hwy. 101 heading NE out of Manchester. Then, not far out of town, you'll find Hwy. 28. Take that road going south. Shortly after passing through a roundabout, you'll come to the Massabesic Lake boat launch. The best parking lot is actually at the recreation fields across Hwy 28 from the lake. However, most of the parking around here is from dusk to dawn, so make sure you don't arrive too early and don't get off the trail too late.
If you park in the recreation/softball fields parking lot, the trail starts right across the street and hugs the northern shore of the lake for awhile. Most of the trail, including this first part, is very shady. The good news is that, in addition to providing shade, the dense tree cover protects trail-users from light rain showers. The bad news is that even for quite awhile after a rainstorm, water continues to drip off the trees, and the drops tend to be large and cold, so come prepared w/ some type of head cover such as a hood or a shower cap to put over your helmet.

You are now intersecting the "road of many names." It is called, Manchester Road, Candia Road, and Hwy. 121. Whatever you call it, the developers of the Rockingham Recreational Trail have been kind enough to provide underpasses at most of the major road/trail intersections so that your journey is safe and relaxing.

Not only is this a beautiful spot on the trail, but it is also a potential base for your trail adventure. There is a family resort here called (oddly enough) Onway Lake Family Resort. It includes log cabin and treehouse rentals.
If you happen upon this place in early October, you may never want to leave.

The trail passes near numerous eating establishments such as Teddy's Lounge and Donna's Long Branch Restaurant; it also runs right by the Raymond Historical Society which is located in the old railroad depot. This serves as a museum, a trail information center, and a meeting place for locals.
It's hours are limited and vary by day and season so check out their website before your trip, if you're interested in visiting.
By the way, if you make it to the area during one of the Historical Society pancake breakfasts, you're in for a real treat.

Although eateries aren't as close to the trail in Epping, the Holy Grail Restaurant is just slightly north on Main Street.

If you here loud rumbling on this part of the trail, it's probably not your stomach or thunderheads. More than likely it's some heavy-duty muscle cars on either the Star Speedway or the New England Dragway. Both of these auto racing venues are located just off the trail.

When you are at this point on the trail, you are closest to the town of Newfields. This area can be especially buggy in late spring, early summer, and early fall so a little bug repellant goes a long ways. This is also a good place to spot deer and fox.

From here, you are not far from where the river meets the sea at Great Bay. If you want to stay at this end of the trail, the Great Bay Camping area is not far from the trailhead.
Since you are between the towns of Newmarket and Newfields, there are not many establishments for restocking your food and drinks near the trail, so you may want to plan on doing that in Raymond or Epping.

As with most of the New Hampshire rail trails, you'll cross many ponds, bogs, and other waterways. Although they are pretty and plentiful, they can also harbor nature's little flying critters, so come prepared with insect repellent.
The trail itself has a dirt and sand base, so it can become a bit slippery and sticky after rainstorms, but the water crossings are nicely elevated, so these crossings are not problems except possibly in the spring and after major rainstorms.

So the trail starts out beautifully at the lake and just keeps providing stunning views. Since trail users are often in the beautiful but somewhat stifling forest, some of the finer scenic spots are at bridge crossings. Not only do they allow you to see out onto lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, but the bridges themselves are often quite breathtaking.