Highlights of the:  Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail 

Towns involved:  Woodsville, Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Whitefield, Jefferson, Randolph, Gorham, Shelburne; Gilead, ME, Bethel, ME

Miles:  83

Trail Surface:

  • Pavement (new, good, old, bad)
  • Hard packed stone dust (to be installed in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, September 2020 for 4 miles)
  • Hard packed stone dust (Littleton Riverwalk)
  • Crushed gravel
  • Coarse gravel
  • Ballast rock
  • Packed dirt
  • Cinder
  • Sand
  • Grass

Difficulty:

  • Easy, smooth
  • Easy-moderate
  • Moderate
  • More Difficult
  • Some rough areas requiring caution or walking the bike

Trail activities allowed:

  • See the information described for the Presidential Rail Trail and the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail for their allowed usage listing
  • Other than these 2 rail trails and 2 short recreation paths (in Littleton and Bethel), the remainder of the route is on paved or dirt roads

Maps: https://www.xnhat.org/map-links-and-cue-sheets.html

Overnight Parking in Woodsville, Bath and Bethel: https://www.xnhat.org/parking-and-shuttles.html

Day Parking:

  • Parking areas listed above for the overnighters in Woodsville, Bath and Bethel
  • Littleton: River Glen Park at the end of River Glen Road
  • Littleton: ATV parking area next to the rail trail crossing on Industrial Park Road
  • Whitefield: Town Center (not the 2-hour limit spots) and behind the gas station/convenience store
  • Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, western end: Airport Road, Whitefield
  • Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, eastern end: Meadow Road, Route 115A
  • Randolph: Bowman, Castle Trail hikers trailhead
  • Randolph: Appalachia hikers trailhead
  • Randolph: Pinkham B Road, 2 lots, hikers lot and lot at the rail trail crossing
  • Gorham: Large parking lot on Route 2, used also by ATVs
  • Town of Shelburne, Chester Hayes Memorial Park
  • Bethel: eastern end of the route at Davis Park

Amenities:

  • Kisok at at Pondicherry, western end
  • Porta-potty at Pondicherry, western end
  • Israel River campground about 2 miles off trail on Israel River Road: small camp store with cold beverages, ice cream bars, snacks
  • Coffee shop, deli, ice cream, restaurants can be accessed within a mile off the trail in Gorham
  • Water and some snacks are available at the Moose Brook State Park, Jimtown Road in Gorham

Website:  www.crossnewhampshire.org

Social media: www.facebook.com/crossnewhampshire/

Comments:

  • Riverside biking on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail with interesting little towns along the way
  • The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail is rough, gravelly and shared with ATVs, a road bike with skinny tires is NOT appropriate.
  • At present, there is an 11 mile road ride between Littleton and Whitefield with a good shoulder and lines of sight, but can have traffic. Wear bright clothing and use a taillight. There are hills to climb. Soon the rail trail will be extended, reducing the on-road mileage.
  • Spectacular panoramic views of the Presidential Mountain Range from the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge and the quiet back roads of Jefferson
  • Mountains, ponds, wetlands, rocky streams and rivers, wildflowers, birds, bear, moose, beaver ponds, dark forest canopy. Railroad history, quaint towns, covered bridges, good restaurants, cafes and lodgings along the way
  • Conditions vary along the route, a road bike with skinny tires is unsuitable for the whole route, ride the wider tires of a Hybrid, All Road, or Gravel Bike
  • No access to food and water on the trail between Whitefield and Gorham, be prepared, pack your own.