Upper Valley Loop Trail coming soon
2009 March 27
Watch for new markings along area roads and pathways that will help guide you on your morning commute or recreational excursions.
The Upper Valley Trails Alliance is working with area communities to improve the recreational and transportation offerings provided by trails. In just a few weeks we’ll have a proposed route posted on our website at uvtrails.org and we’ll be asking you for your feedback. The route signs still need to be designed and approvals will be required to post them but with your help we’ll have a great community trail hub.
What trail in the Upper Valley do you use to get to work or school?
This is great! Really exciting stuff. My bike route to work takes me off-road at the Montshire museum, through the woods on the Hazen Trail, to Route 5 in Wilder. Wild and crazy but I dare say a whole lot safer than Route 5!
It must be you never read my posters as my property has banned bikes for atleast the last thirty years. This includes all of my property not just the Hazen Trail. I would really appreciate it if you and all other bikers would adhere to my wishes for my property.
While exploring area trails it’s important that individuals respect landowners’ wishes. Many trails cross private lands where generous landowners have provided public trail opportunities. Not all trails are designed alike. Some soils are very durable and can handle heavy traffic and others can not. Some trails are designed for a quaint natural experience, and others are designed to have a hardened surface of gravel or rock that resists erosion and accomodates heavier use. Some trails are for specific uses, with slopes, widths and surfaces designed to accomodate them. More and more, the Trails Alliance hears that people are trying to find ways to get out of their cars and use paths to travel around the valley. Maybe that’s a sign of the economy or increased interest in healthy active lifestyle or just a desire to be outside but there appears to be an increased demand for off the road options. When trail users abide by the rules we’re hopeful that landowners will continue to show their generosity to the community.
Thank you Henry and David for providing public trail opportunities on your lands – hikers and walkers certainly appreciate the Hazen Trail.
As we work to try to meet growing interest for a connected trail network, we’ll work to better inform people on approved uses while seeking options for safe off-road walking, hiking and biking.
It’s great to hear that Mr. Aspinwall is devoted to biking to work. I need to encourage a different route however. Montshire works hard to design and maintain its trail system to accommodate foot traffic by individuals interested in appreciating and learning about the natural systems we all enjoy here in the Upper Valley. Our trails are not designed for bicycles and we do not allow bikes on our trails, including the segment of the Hazen Trail hosted on Montshire’s nature trails. I hope Upper Valley off-road cyclists will respect Montshire’s effort to provide a different kind of trail experience for the community and use the many alternative locations for cycling. Many thanks.
I wish to express my sincere apologies to both Mr. Hazen and the Montshire Museum for my past misuse of the Hazen Trail. While I was not aware of the restriction at the time, I certainly am now and fully respect the wishes of the property owners. While it’s no excuse for past behavior, this is a clear indication that I need to be more diligent regarding signage, and I encourage all cyclists to show similar regard.