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Mountain Biking
The White Mountains National Forest,
covering 780,000 acres in New Hampshire and Maine is characterized by forests, gorges, rushing rivers, pristine lakes and ponds, boulder strewn ravines, waterfalls, U-shaped mountain passes called "notches" and dramatic alpine mountain peaks over 6,000 feet including Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, rising to 6,288 feet.
The Trails
The National Forest is traversed by several major roads that provide easy access to it's system of trails including the 34-mile long Kancamagus Scenic Byway and Route 302. Both routes offer spectacular views of the Presidential Mountain Range.
The Franconia Notch State Park Recreational Trail (Franconia Notch Bike Path) is one of the most popular road biking tours in the White Mountains. The bike route parallels the Franconia Notch State Parkway. The scenic 20 mile round trip brings riders within easy reach of park attractions which include the Flume Gorge, the Old Man of the Mountain Profile, Profile Lake, Boise Rock, the Basin, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway and Echo Lake.
Although mountain biking is prohibited in the Wilderness Areas and on the Appalachian Trail, it is presently unrestricted in the White Mountain National Forest. Biking is permitted on almost all National Forest woods roads, old railroad grades, and most hiking and ski trails. It depends on your cooperation and consideration to remain that way.
The extensive network of unpaved woods roads and trails are excellent for mountain biking and vary in length, locale and degree of difficulty. The time it takes to complete a route varies on the steepness and technicality of the trail as well as your physical condition. Know your limits. We focus mostly on the easy to moderate and less technical rides. and have included some advanced side trails where they branch off or extend from our featured routes.
Note: If you park at one of the White Mountain National Forests trailheads you will need to have one of the following: a year long parking sticker, a one week parking pass, or a ticket from the self-serve parking fee stations at some trailheads. Check the National Forest Parking Pass program for details. It's always a good idea not to leave valuables in the car and lock it before your ride.
Our Favorite Mountain Biking Trail in Littleton
- Moore Reservoir Shoreline Trail (3.5 miles; Intermediate/Advanced)
Top Rated Mountain Biking Trails in the White Mountains
- Cherry Mountain Loop (5.4 miles; Intermediate)
- East Rumney / Campton Bog Road (~45 miles; Intermediate/Advanced)
- Sandwich Notch Road (16 miles; Intermediate)
- Ammonoosuc Rail Trail (19 miles; Easy)
- Livermore Road (4.7 miles each way; Easy/Moderate)
Moore Reservoir Shoreline Trail
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced; but something for everyone
Its a 3.5 mile route out and back, that follows the Moore Reservoir shoreline. Beautiful scenery and many chances for a break and a swim if you can't wait to get back to the launch. This is quite an interesting ride with something for all levels - lots of functional log bridges and expect some mud if it's rained recently. Beginners will find this trail challenging but intermediate and above will definitely find something to love - this is a crowd pleaser ride. Mainly singletrack but a few spots to grab a tree and take a break - and quite a few technical moves. Its very flat, but some short steep ups and downs.
Directions: From Interstate 93, take EXIT 43 (Rte 135/Rte 118) two miles north of downtown Littleton. From the exit ramp, turn east (toward Dalton) or opposite the direction of the Hospital. Turn Left onto Old Waterford Road almost immediately - pay attention. Go to the end of this road. The boat launch is in the furthest parking lot near the water. Park at the upper lot before the water and the trailhead will be on your right. There's usually a port-a-potty here.
Click Here for a Map of the area
Cherry Mountain Loop
Difficulty: Upper Intermediate Level
Location: Rte 302, Twin Mountain
Cherry Mountain Loop has two peaks with trails, Mount Martha, the highest peak, with good views, and Owl's Head, a lower peak with a ledge that has spectacular views. Both are commonly reached by taking the Cherry Mountain Trail from the NH 115 end to Mt. Martha, then taking Martha's Mile to the Owl's Head, returning the same way.
The round trip is 5.4 miles with 2,450 feet of elevation gain, AMC book time is 3:55. It is possible to just do Owl's Head by the Owl's Head trail, this is 5.0 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain and a book time of 3:30 hours.
The Cherry Mountain Loop is a 25 miles long traverse of a number of wooded roads, offering intermediate level challenges over a variety of terrain. Three waterfalls, a number of spectacular views, and the highest elevation state highway in New Hampshire are the main attractions.
The trailhead is located three miles east of Twin Mountain, NH on route 302 in the parking area 200 yards beyond the entrance to Zealand Campground.
Departure point: Lower Falls Hiking Trail to Cherry Mountain Road (1 mile). Part of this unpaved road follows the Deception Brook Esker, a sand and gravel deposit left by the retreating glaciers. At the height of land (2188 ft.), the Cherry Mountain Hiking Trail diverges left. A 3.5 mile side trail to the 3544 ft. summit of Mt. Martha is suitable for mountain bikes and the views are worth the trip. The main loop trail continues on the Cherry Mountain Road past several private cabins, turning right on the gravel Mill Brook Road which is marked FR93.
Follow this road for 1 mile to the gated Mt. Mitten Road on the left. The gate is closed to prohibit motor vehicles, but foot travel and mountain bikes are allowed. The Mt. Mitten Road continues through remote country for several miles ending at the Jefferson Notch Road. Turn right (uphill) and be aware that this is a popular backroad for scenic road afficiandos. Jefferson Notch is 3007 ft. in elevation making this road the highest state highway in New Hampshire.
The Caps Ridge hiking trail starts at the trailhead located in Jefferson Notch, but is unsuitable for mountain bikes. The road follows Jefferson Brook and passes by Bretton Woods Cascades before meeting the Base Station Road (paved). Take a right (west) on the Base Station Road for approximately 5 miles to Route 302. At the junction of Route 302 and the Base Station Road, turn right. Travel west along Route 302 to the starting point.
East Rumney - Campton Bog Road
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced
Distances
- Smith Bridge to E. Rumney Road: 2.3 mi
- E. Rumney Road-Bog Road to Route 3: 11.3 mi
- To Fairgrounds Road: 14.5 mi
- To Smith Bridge: 17.8 mi
Park near the Smith Covered Bridge, located off NH Route 25 in West Plymouth. It is accessible from Exit 26, 1-93. Cross the covered bridge and travel west on Quincy Road (paved) to E. Rumney Road. Turn right. This route is a dirt road with several hills. Follow the road -east until it intersects with Route 3. You will go under 1-93 and turn right onto Route 3 south, back to Fairgrounds Road. Turn right onto Fairgrounds Road following it back to the Smith Bridge.
Sandwich Notch Road
Difficulty Intermediate
Narrow, steep, and mostly unpaved, the road runs from NH Rte. 113 in Center Sandwich to NH Rte 49 near Waterville Valley. Half of this historic route lies within the White Mountain National Forest.
Several great hiking trails start from trailheads along the road. Near the western end, the 2.1-mile Wentworth Trail to the summit of 2,630-foot Mount Israel provides great views. On the eastern end, you'll find the more difficult 4.5-mile Algonquin Trail, with dramatic ledgy overlooks of Waterville Valley on the way to the top of 3,993-foot Sandwich Mountain. For Mountain Bikers, the rugged 16-mile trip to Flat Mountain Pond is well worth the trip. Take the Guinea Pond trailhead, 5.7 miles west of Center Sandwich. Hikers who go this route should plan on an overnight, and even the bikers may want to do so.
Ammonoosuc Rail Trail
Difficulty: Easy, Level
Distance: ~19 miles
Location: From Downtown Littleton to Woodsville, NH
We love this trail - we can get there in 5 minutes. You can either park in downtown Littleton and jump onto the trail from a few points (ask at the Littleton Bike Shop). Or, alternatively, park behind the Littleton Bike Shop, ask for directions, grab a free area mountain biking map and they'll point you toward South Street. From South Street you can ride a few blocks and then jump onto the trail system at Industrial Park Drive.
But, the shortest route to the trail is to drive down Main Street in Littleton (heading west from our house in Bethlehem; or heading east from Interstate 93 / Route 302) and turn onto Industrial Park Drive. The turn off is across from McDonalds and Brooks Pharmacy on Rte 302 - you can only go in one direction since Industrial Park Drive starts at Route 302. The dirt parking lot is about 300 yards on your left. The Rail Trail starts directly across the street.
The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail is very easy and almost entirely flat - winding along the Ammonoosuc River and Route 302 for the entire trip. There are many great stopping places for a picnic. And, you'll find yourself waving to folks in no time as the trail passes the backyards of a few houses along the way. There are also many intersecting forest and rural roads, and even side trail excursions for the more adventurous. The trail from Littleton ends at Highland Street and Route 302 in Woodsville, NH.
Recommendation: stop in Bath NH at The Brick Store - don't miss it. This is a genuine old-fashioned general store - built in 1790 - there's nothing like it. The Brick Store is Americas's oldest continuously operated general store. Grab some ice cream and check it out! You can cross over to the Brick Store at the Bath Covered Bridge, near the dam.
On the return trip, you may want to reward yourself by checking out Bishop's Ice Cream Parlor which is in a beautiful Victorian house setting a few buildings up the street from Littleton Bike Shop. Bishop's is definitely an area favorite during the summer season. Woodsville Bank and ATM is next to Bishop's as well in case you need some cash along the way.
Livermore Road
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Level
Location: I-93 to Rte 49, Waterville Valley
The Livermore Trail and a portion of the Greeley Ponds Trail follow old logging roads. During the summer they used by hikers, mountain bikers and families as they are popular access routes to the many trails and forest roads that branch off them at various points.
4.7 miles one way to Flume Brook (moderate/advanced). The route climbs moderately about 1,400 feet to Livermore Pass, then descends 900 feet to Route 112. For the first three miles the route travels on a maintained gravel road which offers some nice mountain views. It then becomes a narrower 4WD with loose gravelly sections and a few obstacles.
From the parking the route follows an old logging road (Livermore Road) and shortly emerges into the Depot Camp clearing, a busy logging site in the early 1900s. Beyond the Depot Camp clearing, the Greeley Ponds Trail turns left. Keep right on the Livermore Road and cross a bridge over the Mad River. The route climbs gradually, following Avalanche Brook. Pass Boulder Trail (right) (.5 miles) and then Kettle Trail (left). At the junction with Norway Rapids Trail (right), opt to take a short 0.1 mile descent to the Norway Rapids. It's fun and an eyeful.
At the junction with the Snow's Mt. Road, the road narrows to a 4WD jeep road and the terrain becomes rougher. (You need a trail pass to head straight over the bridge as Snow's Mt. Road is part of the Waterville Valley Fee System)
Continue climbing on Livermore Road, past the site of Avalanche Camp (old logging camp clearing). The road makes a hairpin turn (left) where the Mt. Tripyramid Trail intersects. Here the Livermore Trail becomes steeper, overgrown and technical until it flattens and crosses Flume Brook. It is not recommended, unless during very dry seasons, to continue to the Livermore Pass and down to the Kancamagus Highway, since it crosses very wet areas. It is seldom traveled in any season. Turn around here for the descent back down.
Directions:Take exit 28 off I-93. Turn east on Rt.49 and travel around 11 miles to Waterville Valley. Turn left onto Tripoli Rd. After 1.2 miles bear right at the intersection with the ski area entrance leaving the main road to the Ski Area. For the parking area, follow signs to Camp Depot and Livermore Rd. and cross the bridge. The parking area is just beyond the bridge on the left. Ride can also be done from the other direction by taking exit 31 off I-93. Turn east onto Tripoli Rd.
Too Many Things To Do ...