Rail Trail from Epping to Fomba?

[danodrum]

Hey,
Does anyone have any knowledge of the rail trail? I have been told that it goes from Epping to Candia/Fomba trails. Is this true? I have taken the trail as far as East Candia and there is a saw mill off the trail with posted trail signs to get to Depot Rd. Isn't that where the trail head is for FOMBA? Or do I continue on the rail trail all the way into Candia? Any information would be greatly appreciated, including mileage if you have it.

Thanks,
Dan

[easilyspooked]

i have no info to help you, but this thread is in a similar vein to one i was about to start, my sister lives up that way and just got a bike, wants to know where the trails in that same Epping/Candia area are, so let's start with... What's FOMBA?

the website for the NEMBA chapter for that area seems to be down.

I'd also love it if anyone knows of good shops in the area that do group rides I can point her to so she can start meeting the MTB community in SE NH.

Thanks!

[peterdbikes]

The rail trail is called The Rockingham Recreational Trail and runs from Newfields to Manchester. The FOMBA (Friends of Massabesic Bicycling Association) trails start from Depot Rd in Auburn, west of Candia. The Depot rd you saw was probably in another town.

[danodrum]

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the Rockingham Recreation Trail dumps out into Auburn/FOMBA trails?

[Husqvarna]

Theres also a Depot road in Epping/Freemont. That was probably what the signs were for.

[peterdbikes]

It runs directly behind the parking area on Depot Rd. When you are on a small bridge with water on both sides you should look left (south) and see the parking lot. The trails start from the field across the street.

Depot rd. is probably 3 miles from when you go through a tunnel that goes under an off ramp of route 101 exit 3. It is 1/2 mile before another tunnel that goes under Hooksett rd. in auburn.

[roost]

Keep in mind that the rail trail that runs from derry to fremont is an ohrv trail and also known as the rockingham trail. I believe this trail continues east from fremont (no ohrv) and intersects with said rail trail that if ridden west will eventually get you to manchester. Get on the wrong rockingham trail and you are going to be dodging quads and dirtbikes and not be anywhere near fomba!!

[catbbq]

I haven't ridden it all the way, but if you go to google maps, start at epping and following the train tracks west (not south into fremont), it eventually passes fomba. Here is a good starting point.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44+Main+St,+Epping,+NH+03042&sll=43.035207,-71.073325&sspn=0.011716,0.027895&ie=UTF8&ll=43.033404,-71.073368&spn=0.011716,0.027895&z=16&iwloc=A

I have ridden it as far as Raymond. Even though google shows it as train tracks, it is an old rail trail, sans rails. And this portion is not open to motor vehicles, so only the random local law breaking quad to worry about. If you go south from epping into fremont, starting south of fremont (actually from the fremont parking area for the trail) it is open to motorized traffic.

I am out of pocket the next 2 weekends, but I am open for a nice long ride from epping up to fomba later in May.

[Enigma]

John Galt is acknowledged to be holding up the world.

[chomp]

I've ridden this trail from Epping to the Depot Rd parking lot before. It kinda sucks, but you can do it. The railbed is a mixture of terrain - dirt, stone, sand, etc... One of the FOMBA trails, Fox Tail, is accessed directly from this rail trail. You'll pass the sign on your right before you get to the Depot Rd parking lot.