Common Pathway--Summer St. to Rt. 202, Peterborough

Common Pathway--Summer St. to Rt. 202, Peterborough

Peterborough, New Hampshire 03458

Official Website
Common Pathway map

Birds of Interest

A variety of waterfowl including Mallards, American Black Ducks, and Wood Ducks as well as Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Swamp Sparrow, and Belted Kingfisher are often observable. Ring-necked Ducks and Northern Pintail have also been seen in water bodies adjacent to the trail.

There is a good variety of forest birds and during migration songbird fallouts (especially warblers) can be impressive.

About this Location

The common Pathway from Summer Street to US-202 is 3.5 miles.

The Common Pathway in Peterborough runs all the way from Noone Falls off US-202 south of town to US-202 north of town, but this hotspot includes only the part from Summer Street in the heart of downtown north to US-202 at Scott Mitchell Road.

The pin is one-third of the way up this north-south route, at a commodious parking area next to Summer Street. From this parking area, it is 0.9 miles to the southern end of Summer Street at Main Street, and the path follows sidewalks all of the way down, except for a brief off-road trail from the parking area itself. Walking north from this parking area it is 2.6 miles to the northern terminus, where there is another ample parking area. 

Across the main road from here is the parking area and trail start for another rail trail, Peterborough’s Old Railroad Trail, a separate hotspot. A footpath under the road, often flooded in spring, provides a pedestrian connection between the two.

The trail passes through wooded sections and follows stretches of the Contoocook River and related wetlands for much of its length. A particularly scenic and productive section is the rail trail between Tarbell Road and Southfield Lane, which includes a large wetland, a variety of woods, and a shrubby area.

There is a small parking area on Tarbell just before the trail runs north into the woods to this area.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Nora Hanke

Last updated January 21, 2024