Quannippi Trail has been giving some people a bit of trouble. While it’s one of the easiest “hikes” in the Alton Trail Chaser challenge, there is a significant lack of easily accessed information about it. I actually started second guessing whether I should take it off the list. However, the point is to include ALL of the official foot trails in town. Each one has a purpose or intention. So it shall remain for now.
In the past weeks, I have been digging up all the data I can about Quannippi Trail. I certainly had to dig deep! Most of what I finally uncovered came from published town meeting minutes. Alton Parks & Rec was kind enough to send me their brochure and map (see below) for the trail, which further confirms that it IS an official, active town trail. Although the town does not proactively maintain the footpath, they provide trail information and will replace signage as needed.
Description:While a large percentage of Quannippi is road walk, at least it’s mostly quiet side roads. On the south end, Letter S Rd. winds between Mill Pond and Wentworth Pond (pools of the Merrymeeting River). The surroundings are quite lovely as the road takes you to the town dam. I may have some bias, as I grew up walking here with my grandmother, but for a road walk it’s rather pleasant.
Before or after walking the trail, you might enjoy Liberty Tree Park behind the fire station and Alton Water Works. There is a playground, skate park, courts for tennis, pickleball, basketball, and volleyball, a picnic area, and water access for launching kayaks or canoes. Perhaps we’ll try paddleboarding from here someday!
In the middle of Quannippi, there is an actual wooded trail that continues along the river to the ballpark. You’ll pass an old structure that was part of the historic power dam facility. The bars on it make it look rather like a big jail cell, and I seem to vaguely recall local lore told to scare kids. Or maybe it was just my older sister messing with me. That’s always a possibility. Unfortunately the historical building is now covered in graffiti, like so many other relics. I will never understand the appeal in defacing property. But I digress.
There is a neat old railroad trestle bridge that you cross over the river, which connects to Jones Field. Here you find another small playground next to sports fields. Quannippi Trail skirts around the perimeter. There is also a “loop trail” that climbs a small hill, and a snowmobile trail that could be explored to add more distance, if hikers so desired.
On the north end, Quannippi returns to road walk, some being dirt access road and the rest a quiet residential area that connects to the Bay. The trail technically ends in Alton Bay by the community center (historic railroad station). Of course there are also ice cream shoppes and restaurants, a few little stores, a mini golf course & arcade, and obviously Lake Winnipesaukee itself, complete with Alton’s famous water bandstand (along with a couple nice land gazebos and other iconic sights).
Total walking distance is approximately 1.7 miles one way with minimal elevation gain.
History:
Quannippi Trail’s name was taken from a Native American word for either the Bay area or specific Abenaki encampments. The document Historic Indian Trails of New Hampshire by Chester B. Price seems to refer to Alton Bay as being called “Quannippi.” Meanwhile, the 2022 Town of Alton Master Plan refers to Quannippi as both a place and a trail. Likely the trail, which originally ran between the Bay and Wolfeboro, was so named because it led to the Bay camp. An article by Roche Realty likewise claims that Alton Bay was historically named Quannippi. Various Alton town meeting minutes note that research showed the meaning of Quannippi is “long water” — an appropriate description of Alton Bay.
The local Downing family was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Quannippi Trail in 2016. Implementing plans to make the trail official was a long process, however. In spring of 2017, they were still in the proposal phase. Alton Parks & Recreation Department and Alton Conservation Commission discussed trail creation, kiosks, and the desire for year-round activities and improved connection to downtown.
The trail remained incomplete by October 2017, and tensions mounted around progress. In August 2018, the “Quannippi” name was revisited and confirmed. Most were in agreement about honoring Native American history in our region. Finally in September 2019, there was more discussion about completing the trail, providing signage and brochures, a request for trail work volunteers, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. There was talk of making the grand opening of Quannippi Trail part of the 2020 Winter Carnival, although there was no mention of the trail in the carnival program.
In October 2019, progress continued as a call out for volunteers to help clear the new “loop trail” was published in The Baysider. A description of the trail calls it “scenic” with “astounding flora and fauna” along the Merrymeeting River. The loop trail circling Jones Field was to be part of the pedestrian Quannippi Trail.
According to Parks & Rec, Quannippi Trail was designed as a “walking route” between Alton Bay and Alton Village. However, in the Master Plan, it is referred to as part of the local network of “hiking trails for all abilities.” Certainly there are a variety of trail types and difficulty levels across the network.
In 2020, early in the pandemic shutdown, the Alton Parks & Rec facebook page recommended exploring Quannippi Trail on foot or bike. This suggests that the trail was finally complete, or at least functional, by that point. They mention the kiosks with maps, posted arrow signs for trail navigation, and wildlife spotting opportunities as the trail follows the Merrymeeting River.
Directions:
You can start on either end — Alton Bay or Route 140 — as an out & back for double miles, get dropped off or do a car spot, or even loop around through town (tag B&M Rail Trail or Levy Park while you’re at it!) To make either direction easier, you can follow my AllTrails track.
The Bay of course has the most parking and amenities, although in my opinion Quannippi can be a little trickier to follow starting from this direction. You could inadvertently end up road walking the entire stretch and miss the nice trail sections. There is a kiosk by the community center, but it no longer has maps of Quannippi Trail posted (as of Sept. 2025).
Route 140 has a few parking spaces next to Alton Water Works or in a large pull off across from the fire station. I feel that the trail is slightly more obvious traveling in this direction. There is a kiosk in Liberty Tree Park with a map of the section of Quannippi Trail from this point to Jones Field. It’s not exceedingly helpful for your entire hike, but it effectively marks one end of the trail.
Starting from 140, Follow Letter S Road, which is right across from the fire station and unmissable. Just past the ponds, you will come to the town dam on your left. Enjoy the pretty view over the water, and then turn to face the opposite side of the small parking lot. There is an unmarked path leading into the woods. Beware of poison ivy around the entrance! Keep your kids & pets close until you get in on the trail.
Follow this well traveled trail along the river, past the historical building, until you come out at the small Jones Field parking lot. (You could park here as well and go back & forth on the trail.) There is a kiosk with more useful maps here. There are also port-o-potties, but I can’t tell you how good or bad they are. There are decent public restrooms at the Bay!
From this parking lot, cross over the old bridge into Jones Field. Walk around either side of the field. On the other end, you will find a gravel access road that you may continue on, but there is also another wooded trail just left of the road that eventually meets up with a snowmobile corridor. It’s a nice bonus “nature break” on a hike that’s more road walk than trail. Turn right when you come to the snomo junction and you will quickly find another kiosk with more Quannippi maps.
Continue left up the access road until you reach a residential area. Turn right on Jones Circle for a very short distance, and then left onto Riverlake W St. There are small “trail markers” posted in a couple spots if you keep a sharp eye out. Follow Riverlake W St. to “Busy Corner” in Alton Bay (Junction of Rt. 11 and Rand Hill Rd, next to Foster’s Tavern).
Technically, Quannippi Trail continues through Alton Bay to Railroad Square Park and the M/S Mount Washington dock by the community center. End your hike and enjoy the lake!
trail map (click for full size image)
trail markers
brochure by Alton Parks & Rec (pdf)
sources (pdf)
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