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Portsmouth Forest Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 6 Google reviews · Running trail in Portsmouth, New Hampshire · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Portsmouth Forest Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Portsmouth Forest Trail — running trail in Portsmouth, NH, photo 1
Portsmouth Forest Trail — running trail in Portsmouth, NH, photo 2
Portsmouth Forest Trail — running trail in Portsmouth, NH, photo 3
Portsmouth Forest Trail — running trail in Portsmouth, NH, photo 4
Portsmouth Forest Trail — running trail in Portsmouth, NH, photo 5
Open 24hDog-friendlyTrailhead parking

What runners say about Portsmouth Forest Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (6 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Other reviewer is really dumb-- there are 3 paths on the trail and even at the do not enter building, you just keep going straight to get on another trail. Easily an hour of walking AND a bike pit full of ramps.

★★★★★ — Jamey , Jan 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 6 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

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Plan your run at Portsmouth Forest Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Portsmouth Forest Trail

45 Harvard St, Portsmouth, NH 03801

Get directions

Running trails near Portsmouth

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

NH Seacoast Greenway

5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

Natural surface

under a mile away

NH Seacoast Greenway

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

Natural surface

under a mile away

Urban Forestry Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 340 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Wooded park dotted with picnic tables and featuring walking trails.

1.4 miles away

NH Seacoast Greenway

4.8 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

Natural surface

1.4 miles away

Sagamore Creek Headlands

4.5 ★★★★★ 51 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

ScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park providing trails for walking and jogging.

1.6 miles away

Prescott Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,342 reviews

Portsmouth, NH

Scenic

Waterfront municipal park with flower gardens, fountains, walkways & summer performances.

2.4 miles away

All running trails in Portsmouth, NH →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.