The theme of Isinglass Trails is to connect properties and cover ground geographically. In contrast to typical nordic centers, where a single large lot has as many loop trails as is practical, Isinglass Trails prioritizes using each property simply as a means to reach the neighboring properties. Terrain features or multiple existing trails that are worth using otherwise will be addressed on an individual basis. Trails can be positioned strategically to maintain privacy and/or gain direct landowner access. The practicality of including any given property in this trail network depends entirely on the willingness of the neighboring properties to participate as well. Please acknowledge that participation in the Isinglass Trails network will always be each individual landowner’s prerogative.

Trust-based stewardship

• Participation in Isinglass Trails does NOT transfer property rights or change your deed in any way. As a landowner, you retain the right to revoke the privilege of the use of your land by Isinglass Trails at any time, effective immediately. Isinglass Trails kindly requests you communicate concerns and allow for problems to be remedied to your satisfaction before removing your land from the trail system. As a network that connects many properties, Isinglass Trails will likely be willing to make substantial efforts to satisfy your concerns so the trails do not need to be broken up or rerouted. It is in the best interest of Isinglass Trails to be a diligent and responsible steward.

• The public only gets permission to use the designated trail(s) as agreed. Participation in Isinglass Trails does NOT open your entire property to the public. Yes, your property can remain posted and still allow Isinglass Trails to cross it.

• Winter trails typically do not have their open use extended beyond the snow season as they rely on snowpack and frozen ground to prevent erosion and to allow squishy surfaces to be used. The only trail use without snow cover will be maintenance, mostly in the fall. Any potential for warm season public hiking use will be addressed separately; otherwise the default is winter-only.

Liability concerns

• Isinglass Trails llc is unaffiliated with the Town of Grafton and its local government. Isinglass Trails carries an industry-specific $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate commercial liability insurance policy through a collaborative effort by the Cross Country Ski Areas Association in Woodstock, VT and the Nicholas Hill Group in Colorado Springs, CO.

• There is no charge for the public to use the trail system, and correspondingly there are no fees paid to participating landowners. In addition to allowing any users regardless of disposable income, the lack of fees ensures the state laws which guarantee landowner liability protection retain their full strength. The essential meaning of RSA 508:14 Landowner Liability Limited and RSA 212:34 Duty of Care is that a landowner cannot be held responsible for personal injury or property damage sustained by recreational users provided the landowner is not charging money for recreational use of their property and the landowner is not intentionally setting traps for those users. 

NH Fish and Game Landowner Liability Explained

RSA 508:14 Landowner Liability Limited

RSA 212:34 Duty of Care

• The modern path of least resistance often appears to be “someone might sue somebody for something somewhere, so the best course of action is to cower on our couch”. We know we can do better than that.

Narrow trails

• Pre-existing trails and unplowed roads are convenient, and often the best option, but sometimes new trails offer a drier, smoother, and/or more direct option. Any new trail construction by Isinglass Trails will be narrower and more primitive than typical snowmobile trails and nordic centers. Any new trails will be narrow enough to not diminish future timber value. Rarely do standing trees larger than arm thickness require removal. Most of the time the only living trees that need to be cut are saplings that are being outcompeted anyhow. If the forest canopy is kept unbroken, excessive regrowth and blackberry tangle can be avoided. Nordic ski trails have a limit to how steep they can be, and erosion is also minimized when root systems are left intact. Narrow trails can be easily abandoned and will promptly return to the forest. 4wd trucks don't fit on narrow trails. Narrow trails are not attractive to large groups, teams or performance-oriented skiers and will help modulate use.

• Grooming nordic ski trails is absolutely critical to the likelihood that they will receive safe and enthusiastic use, if any use at all. A slow and relatively quiet utility snowmobile pulling a drag making a 3-6 ft wide groomed path is what to expect after a snowstorm or freeze/thaw event. Snowmobile traffic besides the authorized groomer or legitimate emergency rescue will absolutely not be tolerated. Junctions with snowmobile trails and roads will be strategically and clearly signed and roped off as necessary. Participation in this trail system does NOT open your property to snowmobiles, dogsleds, jeeps, trucks, ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes, horses, etc.

Landowner exemptions to user regulations

• Public winter users are required to have skis or snowshoes with them to use while enjoying this trail network. Trail users of course may remove their skis if they are not comfortable going up or down a hill or if the trail is glare ice. However, snow conditions can change fast. Deep postholes and shallow footprints alike wreck the trail surface at least until the next storm, possibly for the remainder of the season, and render the trail choppy and dangerous for other users. Isinglass Trails REQUESTS that landowners try to honor this snow flotation requirement when it makes sense for them to do so if they are following the groomed surface of the trail on their own property.

• Dogs belonging to public users are NOT allowed on Isinglass Trails. Dogs ruin the groomed surface, and it is largely impractical to ski with a dog on a leash. It is not reasonable to expect dogs to behave well on unfamiliar properties, potentially with livestock and other hazards that are not immediately obvious.  Dogs ARE allowed to roam the trail on their own property regarding dog-owning landowners who participate in Isinglass Trails. 

• Isinglass Trails does not want to interfere with what landowners would like to do with their land. Isinglass Trails will absolutely work around logging, sugaring, or other forest uses. Communication about such activity, especially anticipated substantial logging operations, will be very helpful for trail planning and yearly expectations. Isinglass Trails is willing to time trail maintenance to avoid any conflict with hunting season regarding landowners who hunt their property.