The grass has been cut all along the Cheshire Rail Trail in Walpole! It’s a great time for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians to explore the 7+ miles of State-owned Rail Trail within the town’s borders.

Again this year, the Conservation Commission has funded brush hogging of the Rail Trail under a State-issued permit. For 2023, the plan is to have the Rail Trail brush hogged a second time later in the summer, so that the grass and weeds can’t grow too high.

Trail users in Walpole can enjoy views of forests, farmlands, historic railroad features, the Connecticut River and Vermont. The trail surface is mostly grass/weeds and dirt, with some wet and muddy spots.

In Walpole, the usable trail extends from behind the CITGO/JiffyMart in the north to the Westmoreland border in the south. The Cheshire Rail Trail then continues southward to Keene and beyond.

The Rail Trail is accessible from Blackjack Crossing Rd., Halls Crossing Rd., River Rd., the Walpole Gateway, Route 123, and the Boat Launch WMA. There is limited parking at many of these locations.

Please be respectful of the private landowners who abut the trail. Please follow trail signs, especially through Homestead Farm. Please practice “leave no trace” principles. Do not litter. No motorized vehicles are allowed (except for snowmobiles.)

Maps of the Rail Trail are available on the Conservation Commission website ( http://www.walpoleoutdoors.org/trail-maps and in Town Hall. 

Many thanks to the Walpole Trail Committee, the Walpole Conservation Commission and the Walpole Selectboard for supporting this project.

Enjoy the Rail Trail!

Wendy and Will Grossman

Walpole Trail Committee