Gravel Greg's Spring Recap

We've had a fantastic Spring out on the dirt roads and trails, which made up for a lackluster end to the ski season here in the Whites. The grading crews are out and we have not hit peak summer traffic yet, so the backroads are in excellent shape! I've spent most of my "weekends" out and about exploring in the valley any beyond, so figured I would share some of the stoke and knowledge of the past few weeks. Here are a few of my favorite rides from this Spring so far:

Jefferson Notch & Cherry Mountain Road Loop

~27 mi / 2800' vert (Strava Route)

This loop can be done either clockwise or counter clockwise, I chose the latter for a more gradual (but still tough!) climb up to Jefferson Notch. Starting from the Bretton Woods area, head up Base Station Road then turn left onto Jefferson Notch Road where the dirt begins. This is where the grade ramps up and the legs begin to feel it. The climb is a bit easier in this direction, which makes for an interesting descent on the upper reaches of Jefferson Notch Road heading back down towards Route 2. Keep your fingers on the brakes and watch those corners.

At the end of Jefferson Notch Road, follow Valley Road back to Cherry Mountain Road, soaking in the views along the way. A downside of the counter clockwise loop is that the Presidential Range is behind you on this stretch of the loop, you're neck is bound to get sore looking back at their beauty!

Cherry Mountain may be a bit smaller, but it's still a leg burner. Once you've made it up and over Cherry, enjoy a nice descent back down to Route 302. Don't forget to stop for a quick glance at Cherry Pond (photo below). Keep cruising back to the car along 302 and you're in the clear. The time spent on 302 is minimal with a wide shoulder here.

Enjoying the refreshing mountain air just shy of Jefferson Notch summit

A gloomy morning view at Cherry Pond

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail - Littleton to VT Border

Length Varies (out & back), easy climbing involved (Strava Route)

Part of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail, the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail is a solid option when you want to log some miles without a heavy elevation gain. The trail stretches from Littleton, through Lisbon, and eventually reaches Woodsville and the Connecticut River. For a nice little extension, head across the Haverhill-Bath covered bridge to where the Ammonoosuc River meets the Connecticut River.

The trail is quite scenic as it parallels the river of the same name, passing farmlands, covered bridges, and historic train stations along the way. Some sections are smooth and fast greystone, while others maintain a slightly chunkier surface. The XNHAT site recommends tires 35mm or wider for this trail. E-bikes are also allowed here, making it accessible to those that otherwise may not be able to ride the entire trail in a single push.

Overall its a solid ride, with plenty of options for post ride refreshments in town at the end of it all. Pit stop at Super Secret is a must on the way back to the Valley! (IYKYK)

Lisbon Train Depot, a good turnaround spot at 10 miles one way from Littleton

Historic Bath Covered Bridge - the second longest covered bridge in NH!

Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge - standing strong since 1829!

Tamworth Classics

Endless routes available - reach out with a goal in mind and I'd be happy to curate one!

Despite all these fun new places to ride, Tamworth remains my tried and true spot to hit the dirt and crush some vert. I wrote a blog outlining the area last year which can be found here. Expect roughly 1000' of climbing per 10 miles ridden, which certainly adds up over time. The best spots to launch from are the Chocorua Lake parking lot or the center of town. Don't skip the Farmer's Market if you're out on a Saturday! (9-12)

This spring I mapped out a ride which tends to skip most of the punchier climbs in town, while still passing though some beautiful scenery. It's been a go to when the legs are feeling heavy or when I still want a good ride but don't feel like pushing it.

This 42 mile route takes you through Sandwich and around the northern shoes of Squam Lake, the highlight of the route IMO. It was a favorite so far this spring so is worth a go if you're up for a longer ride. 

Keep your eyes peeled and calendars open for a possible enduro gravel race down here this fall -  shoutout to Pagodatron for all the hard work!

Looking out toward Intervale Pond along the road of the same name

Chocorua Lake with the mountain showing off some Fall color 

Field Trip! Danville/Peacham VT:

30 mi / 3000' vert (Strava Route)

In an effort to mix things up a bit, I threw by bike in the car and drove across the border into Vermont, the gravel capital of New England. I began and ended my ride in Danville, which was about a 90 minute drive from North Conway. The 30 mile loop took me from Danville center, south into Peacham, up through Cabot and back into Danville via the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. 

This ride had a healthy mix of everything: rolling farmlands, punchy climbs, green tunnels, and a bit of class 4 mixed in (nothing too crazy though). There were plenty of good viewpoints back into the Whites and over into the Greens to the West. The route passes through Peacham center, which seemed like the perfect place to stop for a quick refreshment. I regrettably did not stop as it was a bit early at 8 miles into the loop, next time!

The network of gravel in this area is extensive, so you can ride for much longer if desired. You can also just head out on the LVRT either direction and turn around for a low key out and back with some nice scenery along the way.

I ended the ride with a sandwich and ice cream at Three Ponds Sandwich Kitchen in Danville, which hit the spot after a hot day in the saddle. Another great spot to start and end the ride would be West Danville a little further down Route 2. Here you'll find a great swimming spot in Joe's Pond and a food truck that is open during the summer months. 

Overall it was a great day riding somewhere new, I'll be back over there soon enough! If you're up for a field trip give it a try!

Looking out towards Joe's Pond on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

Start of the Class IV section - this and another chunky stretch scratched my offroad itch

AM Foster Covered Bridge with the Green Mountain Spine in the background

Last But Certainly Not Least: Thursday Night Gravel

We kicked off our weekly group rides up Town Hall Road at the end of May and its been a blast riding along some good friends and enjoying a nice cold one from Ledge Brewing afterwards. For those that are unfamiliar, we meet at 5:30 on Thursday evenings in the summertime and ride up and down Town Hall Road before heading to Ledge for drinks, tacos, and the best fries in the valley.

The route begins with 2.5 miles of tarmac before ramping up and hitting the dirt. The way out is almost all uphill, which makes for a smooth and fast ride back down the parking lot. Folks tend to spread out a bit as the road turns to dirt so find a buddy and enjoy the ride!

The ride is very informal with no set route or restrictions. You can go all the way to the end or just find a good spot to turn around midway up. Some folks go left at the fork up East Branch Road, some continue straight up Slippery Brook, and some go both ways. A great thing about this ride is that you can make it your own and can do all or none of the above - no two rides are the same!

Taking a breather along the river midway up Town Hall

Enjoying the foliage along East Branch Road last fall 

Please reach out (greg@whitemountainski.co) if you're looking for some fun gravel roads and I'd be happy to give my two cents and/or put a route together for you. That's it for now, get out there and ride!