Branch River Valley Trail
Branch River Valley Trail is a State Scenic Byway in New Hampshire. Within New Hampshire it covers roughly 15 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Branch River Valley Trail with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Branch River Valley Trail is a 14-mile scenic byway in eastern New Hampshire, connecting the rural towns of Milton and Wakefield along the Branch River. The route follows a mix of state highways, including Routes 16, 125, and 153, and local roads, with a signed side trip on Applebee Road out to the small village of Milton Mills. Along the main drive, open pastures and second-growth woodland frame views of the Belknap Range to the south, while the byway's mix of old mill buildings and farmland reflects the area's layered agricultural, industrial, and early tourism history. The highlight is Wakefield Corner, a village green ringed by 26 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, largely unchanged since the 19th century. Because it runs through some of New Hampshire's least-developed corners, the byway sees light traffic and rewards a slow pace, especially in fall when foliage colors the river valley and surrounding hills.
- Milton to Wakefield
- 14 miles (NH 16, 125, 153)
- Branch River
- Belknap Range views
- Wakefield Corner (26 National Register buildings)
- Milton Mills side trip
Plan a drive on Branch River Valley Trail →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Branch River Valley Trail
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Branch River Valley Trail.
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