Biking in Southern New Hampshire is an excellent opportunity to explore dedicated bike trails, quiet country roads, covered bridges, and postcard-perfect small towns.
I’ve ridden my bike many miles in Southern New Hampshire and share my favorite cycling areas in this post. These rides are designed for casual riders seeking the natural beauty of the region.
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Best Biking Trails in Southern New Hampshire
The Common Pathway in Peterborough
The Common Pathway is a 6.5 multi-use trail running through Peterborough along the Contoocook River. The old railbed trail starts at Noone Falls in south Peterborough and traces the Contoocook River north until it meets the Old Railroad Trail. From here, you can continue another 2.7 miles into Hancock.
The highlight of the ride is the beauty of the river corridor. The bike trail to Noone Falls, the southern terminus of the Common Pathway, is paved but bumpy from tree roots protruding from the pavement. There is parking at Noone Falls to start the bike trail. After passing through the Peterborough Shopping Plaza, an underpass takes you to the other side of busy Route 101. The trip into the town of Peterborough is a bit confusing. However, if you ride the sidewalks into town and toward Summer Street, you will pick up the signed bike route again.
Peterborough is a charming New England town with many cute shops and restaurants with yummy food. We love Twelve Pine for hearty sandwiches after a bike ride. The Toad Stool bookstore is perfect for browsing for your next read from a well-stocked local book seller.
The Common Pathway is best as a casual or family bike ride. Start at one end and make a stop in the middle to visit picturesque Peterborough. The fall foliage is striking along the route.
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Cheshire Rail Trail in Keene
The Cheshire Rail Trail runs 42 miles through the towns of Fitzwilliam, Troy, Keene, Westmoreland, and North Walpole. There is a trailhead parking lot in downtown Keene off Main Street near Railroad Square. There is also parking at the big lot off Old Turnpike Rd in Fitzwilliam.
The trail is made of three surfaces: packed earth, crushed gravel, and a little pavement through Keene. All surfaces give a smooth ride.
Heading west from Keene, you will pass the green fields of the Keene golf course. Soon, the rail trail dips into a quiet wooded area for a feeling of isolation and remote beauty. Old stone fence lines the trail. Spacious woodlands beside the trail are occasionally bisected by a steep gorge.
Unlike other rail trails, this one has some gentle ups and downs and curves. There are a few places where you can glide down and feel the wind in your hair.
While the paved trail only goes 7 miles, the gravel-packed trail extends from almost the Connecticut River to the NH/MA state line. This extension of the rail trail is used as a snowmobile trail in the winter; therefore, it is well-maintained. So if you want to lengthen the ride, there’s plenty of trail for you.
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Bike trails off the Cheshire Rail Trail
To return to Keene, several short trails loop around back into Keene. The paved Appel Way starts in Wheelock Park and continues to Court Street. It’s short, only about a mile, but it leads to the gorgeous Jonathan Daniels Trail. This biking path on crushed gravel runs along the Ashuelot River for a scenic ride.
The trail is named for a young man from Keene who marched for civil rights in the south and was killed to protect another civil rights worker. It’s an inspiring story told on a plaque in the park.
The Jonathan Daniels Trail ends at the Ashuelot River Park with its lovely arboretum and places to picnic.
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Bike the Bridges Tour
A wonderful bike route to see picture-postcard New Hampshire is the Bike the Bridges tour. This 12-15 mile loop starts at the Cresson Bridge near Swanzy Station. There is parking here and a sign showing the route. You can also bike a short way here from Keene to start the route.
You will end up seeing 4 different covered bridges, cute small towns, and spectacular countryside. The route travels part of the time on the rail trail with the rest on very quiet country roads. Halfway along you will discover Swanzy Lake. Bring some lunch fixings to picnic on the shore of Swanzy Lake. There are plenty of farm stands on the route in the summer to buy goodies. Restaurants are scarcer.
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Ashuelot Rail Trail
The Ashuelot Rail Trail runs 21 miles from Keene to Hinsdale, for biking the bucolic landscapes of Southern New Hampshire. There is trailhead parking in Keene on Emerald Street, in Swanzy Crossing at the Cresson Bridge, or in Hinsdale on Northfield Road.
While the trail can be a little rough in places, it is a gorgeous ride steeped in the history of railroad depots and abandoned factories. There are constant views of the river as it winds through forests and fields. The Ashuelot is a quintessential New England river with sections of white water cascading down. I’ve paddled this river in the spring and can vouch for its beauty. Covered bridges add to the charm.
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Accommodations for Biking in Southern New Hampshire
If you are looking to spoil yourself with elegance near the Asheulot Rail Trail, choose the cozy Chestfield Inn. You can enjoy a delicious dinner in the on-site restaurant and a spa after a day of biking.
The Inn at Valley Farms is a historic 1774 bed-and-breakfast and farm near the north section of the Cheshire Rail Trail. A signature feature is the daily farm breakfast, prepared with ingredients grown on-site or sourced from nearby producers.
Finally, the Carriage Barn Inn is my favorite place to stay in Keene. It’s close to the bike trail to hop back on after breakfast. This charming bed-and-breakfast inn is located on shade-tree-lined Main Street, across from Keene State College. It’s a pleasant walk to town to enjoy the diverse restaurants and brewpubs of Keene. The history of the inn is reflected in its hewn-wood beams and whimsical folk-art wall painting.
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Wrap Up of Biking in Southern New Hampshire
The 70+ miles of interconnected rail trails in the Keene and Petersham region make for a wonderful weekend trip for casual bikers and families. With the mix of paved, gravel, and quiet road riding, it’s easy to create multi-day itineraries without heavy traffic. Mount Sunapee has bike rentals during the summer months.
Biking from inn to inn through bucolic surroundings is a wonderful way to see the quaint villages, woodlands, and endless farm fields of Southern New Hampshire. It’s a particularly stunning trip in the fall when the colors are ablaze. Make sure to reserve your accommodations early, as many people have the same idea.
So whether a day trip or a multi-day tour, Southern New Hampshire has the perfect cycling routes for a stellar bike ride.
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5 Comments
Tina · April 8, 2026 at 5:54 pm
So many stunning trails to choose from! The nature looks wonderful in NH 🙂
Jolayne · April 9, 2026 at 11:41 am
I could handle trails that are fairly flat. My husband still holds hope that I will try mountain biking. Ummm, no.
Anna · April 9, 2026 at 3:07 pm
This is such an inspiration for me to do more biking – I almost always stick to hiking. I’d especially love to try the Cheshire Rail Trail in Keene.
Umiko · April 9, 2026 at 4:05 pm
The Bridges Tour and Cheshire Rail Trail are surely catching my attention. I would like to do these and stay at the Carriage Barn. Sounds like a beautiful plan.
caroline · April 9, 2026 at 10:16 pm
This looks very quaint! i’ve got a knee injury, how would you say these trails fair difficulty wise? They seem relatively flat so feels like it shouldn’t be too much of an issue… thanks!