News & Newsletters · October 2026

A Community Builds the Trail

Friends of the Conway Branch Rail Trail

Phase 1 construction is finished—a milestone built on the work of the NH Trails Bureau, local organizations, and volunteers. This month, we look back at the bridge project and the teamwork that helped bring the trail to this point.

The trail is not officially open. The NH Trails Bureau will determine when it is safe and ready for use and make the official opening announcement.

Three Days on the Bridge

While Mike Weeks and the NH Trails Bureau crew graded and compacted the hard-packed stone dust surface south of the bridge, volunteers took on the bridge decking.

CVRTC prepared the way by installing and securing 41 new bridge ties and putting the rails back in place. Volunteers from the Scrub Oak Scramblers and Ossipee Valley Snowmobile Clubs, the Ossipee Economic Development Council, and Friends of the Conway Branch Rail Trail then joined forces for a three-day effort to redeck the bridge.

The Project by the Numbers

• 309 board cuts
• 640 linear feet of 4 × 8 timbers cut and lagged into the ties
• 1,854 deck screws installed
• Four large pizzas and about a dozen donuts and muffins to keep the crew going

With the decking in place, railing installation and final cleanup, seeding, and mulching were among the remaining tasks described in the original project update.

Thank You to the People Behind the Progress

Thank you to Mike Weeks and the NH Trails Bureau crew, CVRTC, our local snowmobile clubs, the Ossipee Economic Development Council, and every volunteer who contributed time and energy. Their work is helping connect our communities through outdoor recreation.

If you see a crew member or volunteer around town, please take a moment to thank them.

Help Care for the Trail

Become a member and support our work to build and maintain the Conway Branch recreational trail from Ossipee to Conway. Join our community of supporters.

Adapted from our October bridge project update on Facebook. Construction status reflects the latest update on this website.