The Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club has a solution for its closed-trail dilemma in Haverhill — at least for now.
The Haverhill Selectboard last month unanimously approved ATV use on several town roads between the villages of North Haverhill and Woodsville, a temporary substitute for the popular Blackmount Rail Trail banned from ATV use last year.
A five-mile-long former railway corridor, Blackmount was one of a handful of oft-used ATV trails in New Hampshire that became prohibited in 2016 when the Federal Highway Administration began enforcing rules precluding motorized use on land acquired through its Transportation Enhancement program. The program awarded the town of Haverhill $170,000 to purchase the Blackmount Rail Trail in the mid 1990s.
A two-mile trail in Claremont and additional paths in Farmington, N.H., and Littleton, N.H., were affected by the crackdown, with the FHA stating that Transportation Enhancement funding is intended to improve land for pedestrian and bicycle use, among other purposes.
The Haverhill Selectboard’s approved town road network includes a mix of paved and dirt roads east of N.H. Route 10, including Clark Pond Road, Woodward Road, Mace Hill Road, Swiftwater Road and Briar Hill Road.
Clark Pond Road’s western terminus is across Route 10 from the entrance to the Blackmount Rail Trail. It leads to the other roads in the approved network, connecting eventually to the junction of Routes 10 and 302 in Woodsville. A short distance from that intersection, ATV riders can connect with the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail extending northward to Littleton.
ATV use along that short stretch of Routes 10 and 302 must still be approved by New Hampshire officials, according to Haverhill Town Manager Jo Lacaillade. The use of the town road network is valid for one year, beginning with the start of riding season in May, as groups such as the Bath, N.H.-based Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club endeavor toward a resolution to re-open the Blackmount Rail Trail for their vehicles.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s the best we can do for now,” said Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club member Ron DeRosia, of North Haverhill. “The only other option right now would be to try to build another trail, and that’s just too much work for our members. (Alternate routes to the Blackmount Rail Trail) would be across a lot of private property and involve the cooperation of a lot of landowners. Then we’d have to actually build the trail, and that’s just something we don’t have the time and resources to commit to.”
The town and club have received help on the matter from New Hampshire Bureau of Trails chief Chris Gamache as well as Benoit Lamontagne, a representative from New Hampshire’s Division of Economic Development. They’ve helped organize a meeting for March 29 at the Department of Resources and Economic Development’s Concord office. Members from all four communities affected by the trail restrictions are expected to attend and brainstorm potential methods for re-opening the trails.
It won’t be easy — the FHA last summer denied a waiver request for the use of Claremont’s trail — but any progress must start with collaboration.
“It’s not a state issue, it’s a federal issue, and there are steps we can take to approach the federal DOT and see if we can get around these rules,” Lamontagne said.
Lamontagne is concerned with the potential economic impact in towns where the trails exist. The Blackmount Rail Trail’s southern terminus is near a general store and campground, for example.
“A lot of tourism surrounds ATV use, and it helps B&Bs, motels, restaurants and gas stations,” he said. “All of these businesses are greatly affected when there are trail closures and folks can no longer use them.”
Haverhill recreation director Sherri Sargent said in an interview last fall that while she does notice frequent bicycle and pedestrian use of Blackmount Rail Trail, she hasn’t learned of conflicts with ATV users.
“I feel like it should be open to everyone,” she said at the time. “ATV riders have been sharing it with other users for more than 20 years without incident, as far as I know.”
SRK Greenway, CRT Annual Meetings Upcoming: The annual meeting for the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition will feature a birds of prey exhibition, while the Cross Rivendell Trail meeting will include live and silent auctions.
The all-volunteer SRK Greenway meeting is Sunday in the lower level of Lady Fatima Church in New London, beginning at 5 p.m. with a potluck supper.
Following a short business meeting, Colby-Sawyer College Natural Sciences department chairman Nick Baer will present a slide show highlighting the diversity of raptors in New England.
The Cross Rivendell Trail annual meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on April 2 at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee. Auctions will be held for vacation rentals, gift certificates and a variety of other goods and services to benefit the nonprofit CRT, which maintains a 36-mile trail spanning the Rivendell Interstate School District’s four towns, from Mount Cube in Orford to Flag Pole Hill in Vershire.
For more information on the CRT meeting, all 802-333-4340 or email crossrivendelltrail@yahoo.com.
The SRG Greenway is a 75-mile loop of trails through 10 central New Hampshire towns. The coalition asks those wishing to contribute to the potluck to notify Jean LaChance by calling 603-927-4345. Those coming only for the presentation should plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m.
Appalachian Trail Stories in Orford: On Saturday at 7 p.m., Lyme Elementary School student Dylan Wilcox and her dad, Russell, will give a presentation called “Turning 11 on the Appalachian Trail” about their 2015 through hike of the AT.
The free presentation will be held at the United Congregational Church on Main Street in Orford as Dylan Wilcox, now 12, recounts her adventures on the Appalachian Trail with her dad as well as a subsequent journey with schoolmates on Vermont’s Long Trail.
A soup supper will be held from 5:30-6:45 p.m. by donation prior to the presentation.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.