Rail Trail - West Alton, Minge Cove

Dad207 · 11-08-2022, 08:39 PM

About 2 weeks ago, folks were on the rail trail near Minge Cove trimming trees, clearing roots, etc., making the trail easier to use and more accessible. Well done, and thanks. I have assumed that this was a snowmobile group, but not sure. Are the felled trees free to any one willing to carry them away?

John Mercier · 11-08-2022, 09:04 PM

Depends on whom owns that particular way...
Is it an ROW easement? Or an actual owned property?

Dad207 · 11-09-2022, 09:21 PM

Not sure, it appears to be public land along the old West Alton railway right of way. Almost certainly not private. Clearly marled hiking and snowmobile ROW.

John Mercier · 11-09-2022, 11:00 PM

If it is public, it should be marked with a red sign with several uses.
That would be contacting DOT to determine easement/ownership and availability of what is down.

If it is just signed for snowmobiles and hiking, more likely private land.
Snowmobile club or BoT should have the landowner and contact information on file.

VitaBene · 11-10-2022, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad207

About 2 weeks ago, folks were on the rail trail near Minge Cove trimming trees, clearing roots, etc., making the trail easier to use and more accessible. Well done, and thanks. I have assumed that this was a snowmobile group, but not sure. Are the felled trees free to any one willing to carry them away?

I am sure it was the snowmobile club! Many trails only exist due to their efforts

Slickcraft · 11-10-2022, 07:05 PM

It is town owned with signage posted by the Alton Conservation commission. In the winter the gates are open for snowmobile use. The Mt Major club does do trail maintenance as well as operating their grooming machine in the winter. Open for public use year round.

As noted in several other threads, the Town of Alton purchased the fee interest in the discontinued RR bed long ago. Some sections were sold back to abutting land owners. However the town still retains fee ownership of many section such as the subject section and the main Alton Bay parking area.

Alan

11-08-2022, 08:39 PM	#1
Dad207 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Now residing in Echo Shores, Alton NH, originally from Baltimore MD. Posts: 119 Thanks: 204 Thanked 66 Times in 32 Posts	Rail Trail - West Alton, Minge Cove About 2 weeks ago, folks were on the rail trail near Minge Cove trimming trees, clearing roots, etc., making the trail easier to use and more accessible. Well done, and thanks. I have assumed that this was a snowmobile group, but not sure. Are the felled trees free to any one willing to carry them away?

11-09-2022, 09:21 PM	#3
Dad207 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Now residing in Echo Shores, Alton NH, originally from Baltimore MD. Posts: 119 Thanks: 204 Thanked 66 Times in 32 Posts	Rail Trail Not sure, it appears to be public land along the old West Alton railway right of way. Almost certainly not private. Clearly marled hiking and snowmobile ROW.

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11-08-2022, 09:04 PM	#2
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,578 Thanks: 3 Thanked 637 Times in 524 Posts	Depends on whom owns that particular way... Is it an ROW easement? Or an actual owned property?

11-09-2022, 11:00 PM	#4
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,578 Thanks: 3 Thanked 637 Times in 524 Posts	If it is public, it should be marked with a red sign with several uses. That would be contacting DOT to determine easement/ownership and availability of what is down. If it is just signed for snowmobiles and hiking, more likely private land. Snowmobile club or BoT should have the landowner and contact information on file.

The Following User Says Thank You to John Mercier For This Useful Post:
Dad207 (11-13-2022)

11-10-2022, 07:05 PM	#6
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,349 Thanks: 1,251 Thanked 2,121 Times in 970 Posts	It is town owned with signage posted by the Alton Conservation commission. In the winter the gates are open for snowmobile use. The Mt Major club does do trail maintenance as well as operating their grooming machine in the winter. Open for public use year round. As noted in several other threads, the Town of Alton purchased the fee interest in the discontinued RR bed long ago. Some sections were sold back to abutting land owners. However the town still retains fee ownership of many section such as the subject section and the main Alton Bay parking area. Alan

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Dad207 (11-13-2022), upthesaukee (11-10-2022)