NHSG FAQ

YES! We are happy to report that the northern portion of the trail is open!!
This section starts at Barberry Lane in Portsmouth runs 8 miles south to the North Hampton/Hampton town line.

This is Phase 1b of the project, and will be completed in June 2026 from the North Hampton town line to Drakeside Road.

Two sections remain to be built, and both will start engineering in 2027. Phase 2 will run 2.4 miles through Seabrook to the Massachusetts state line; and Phase 3 will fill the gap, running 2.3 miles from Drakeside Road through Hampton and Hampton Falls to the Seabrook town line. Phase 2 in Seabrook is scheduled for construction in 2030, and Phase 3 in Hampton Falls is scheduled for 2032.his is a part of NH Department of Transportation’s 10-year plan and construction is scheduled to begin in 2032.

The trail surface is a stone dust mix that, once compacted, is durable and good for almost all types of bicycling. The same mix has been used for many years on the carriage trails at Acadia National Park.

There are currently three trailhead access areas with  parking available. These include the Portsmouth Skate park off of Route 33. 305 Greenland Rd. Portsmouth, NH. This trail head has facilities.

The North Hampton trailhead is at the intersection of Post Road and Lafayette Road/US1.There is parking at this trailhead but no facilities currently.

There are also 6-8 informal parking spots at the intersection of the trail with Breakfast Hill Road in Greenland.

The NHSGA is working on plans to add trailheads: on Borthwick Avenue in Portsmouth, on Banfield Road in Portsmouth and further improvements at Breakfast Hill Road in Greenland. We are also working on getting bathroom facilities at all the trailheads and adding benches and picnic tables along the trail. Please help with a tax deductible donation so we can reach these goals sooner!

This is a part of NHDOT’s 10 Year Transportation Plan, with the Seabrook section scheduled for construction in 2030, and the Hampton Falls section scheduled for construction in 2032. Rockingham Planning Commission and NHDOT secured a $1.45 million RAISE grant to accelerate the engineering to rehabilitate the abandoned rail causeway through Hampton-Hampton Falls Marsh to carry the trail. This grant has been delayed by USDOT but we remain hopeful it will ultimately be released. Once this section is completed, we will be able to ride from Portsmouth to Newburyport and beyond!

a. Walking
b. Horse riding
c. XC skiing

d. Bicycles

E-Bikes – Class 1 and class 2: defined as Class 1: E-Bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Class 2: E-Bikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.

1. Motorized vehicles including ATV’s, Motorcycles

2. Class 3 E-bikes – Bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.

3. Other power-drive motorized devices with internal combustion engines or electric motors exceeding 750 watts.

You may well periodically see maintenance vehicles on the trail from corridor communities or Piscataqua Landscaping which participated in trail maintenance.

With the introduction of E bikes, the NHSGA will confer with the Towns on the trail and with their local police and fire departments to determine the safest speed limit. We will update this info as soon as possible.

Dogs will be welcome, but owners should keep all pets under control using a leash. And as usual – please pick up after your dog. There will be no doggie poop bags provided – so please bring your own. During our recent volunteer clean up, we found lots of poop bags. We hope to keep owners and their dogs on the trail but cannot rely on the few poop fairies out there. Owners are required to pick up after their dogs. We thank you for your consideration.

This is a carry in, carry out park. There are no trash receptacles and no cleanup crew. Please be a good trail steward and carry out your own trash.

As of spring 2026 there is completed trail in five municipalities: the City of Portsmouth, and the Towns of Rye, Greenland and North Hampton. The next 1.6 miles of trail will open in Hampton in June 2026. Remaining trail sections in Seabrook and Hampton Falls are scheduled for construction in 2030 and 2032 respectively. Eventually there will be signs and connections to restaurants, hotels, historic sites etc. on and near the trail.

It starts with you! Please help keep your trail clean. The trail is being built largely by NHDOT with Federal grant funding. As the trail is constructed it is turned over to the host municipalities to manage. The City and Towns in turn rely on the nonprofit NH Seacoast Greenway Alliance to handle most of the maintenance work. The Alliance handles this through a combination of volunteer work and contracted services. Funds for maintenance are generated through our Adopt a Trail mileage marker sponsorship program 

Please email us if you are interested in volunteering!

info@NHseacoastgreenway.org

A section of the trail goes by the Coakley landfill which is next to a small marsh on the trail (South of Breakfast Hill Rd in Greenland). Please do not drink this water or let your children or pets swim.

Currently funds for this project come from many sources including federal grants, state toll credit match, and municipal and private contributions.

The NHSG Alliance is excited to launch our Adopt a Trail mileage marker sponsorship program, where individuals can make an annual contributions and be recognized on a plaque on one of the mileage marker posts spaced every 1/10 mile along the trail. 

We also welcome general donations of any size donations either through the online donation link on this site or with mailed checks.

Donations support trail maintenance, trailhead facilities, amenities such as benches and kiosks, and eventually new spur trails connecting to community facilities along the Greenway!

If you’re able to donate, THANK YOU! Please use the DONATE button on the top right of this page or send a check to: 

NHSG Alliance

345 Heritage Ave #1020

Portsmouth, NH 03801