Popular Rides in Jackson, North Conway, and Beyond
photo by Brett Protasiewicz
We have complied a list of rides we recommend in the Mount Washington Valley. Whether you are on a pedal assisted e-cruiser bike, e-mountain bike, gravel bike, or mountain bike these routes will show you some of the finest riding we have to offer.
Dont forget about our gravel and emtb group rides
Hungry for singletrack? Check out this list of routes for flowy trails and blistering descents. Perfect for both your classic mtb and e-mtb.
North Conway is the hub of our area's mountain bike community. With several zones to choose from and trails to satisfy riders of any ability. Our bike shop is located right in the heart of it all.
Whitehorse to Cathedral Ledge Loop
An incredibly scenic route with two very fun descents for riders of intermediate skill and above. The pedal up Stony Ridge is very engaging and challenging at times, rewarding you with the beautiful slabby summit of Whitehorse. The descent from here is techy, tight at times, and provides some fun quirky corners. After traversing the fire road to Cathedral Ledge road, you can enjoy what may be the most scenic view in town, Cathedral Ledge. After soaking it in for a moment, drop into Half Day for a flowy loamer that's sure to put a smile on your face.
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/route/61976/
https://www.strava.com/routes/3382748290089159056
10 Mile Redstone XC Loop
A 10 Mile loop in the classic Redstone network. You can park at the rec path entrance near Cranmore or at the parking lot near Walmart. It can also be pedaled to without much effort right from the shop if you're renting a bike! This route offers about 1000 feet of climbing and descent and a mix of green, blue, and one blacks that are manageable at any skill level. It's sure to be a fun workout and great ride! You can add more trails or take some out depending on how you're feeling... but this route is a great start!
Top Tamworth Gravel Rides:
Nestled only minutes South of the shop lies the town of Tamworth, a recluse's paradise and home to some of the best gravel riding in the state. There's a seemingly endless list of routes to ride and hills to climb, not to mention the excellent views to soak in along the way. It can be tricky to navigate at first, hopefully this guide helps break it down and gets you out riding!
Starting Points:
Begin from either Chocorua Lake or the center of town. The Chocorua Lake lot is smaller so may fill up on a nicer weekend day but there is plenty of parking in the center of town behind the town hall building. Starting from Chocorua Lake allows you to ride on dirt from the parking lot but requires a bit of a climb about .7 miles in while the town center allows you to branch off in any direction and places you closer to Sandwich resulting in easier access some of the more remote roads in that area.
A Few of our Favorite Routes:
As previously stated, the opportunities for a fun and scenic ride down here are endless. Our gravel correspondent, Greg McMillan, put together a few favorites. Most routes are 65-75% gravel, with only short stretches of pavement mixed in and minimal time on "busy" roads. Expect around 1k ft of elevation gain per every 10 miles.
The pre-work special - This route is great if you're short on time or if you are looking for a less demanding effort. Starting from the Chocorua Lake parking lot you will climb up and down Fowler's Mill and reconnect to the lot with some short pavement stretches in between. The view of Chocorua at the top of Fowler's is magnificent in the early morning light!
Distance: 11.50 miles / Elevation: ~1100'
Up & Around to Wonalancet - Also starting from the lake, this route is 75% gravel and offers a speedy paved descent of Route 113 while passing through the picturesque corner of the state known as Wonalancet. An optional detour would be to head out to the Ferncroft Trailhead, enjoying the babbling brook and some cozy little cabins along the way.
Distance: ~19 miles / Elevation: 1550'
Out to Sandwich & Back - A challenging ride that passes through beautiful country starts at the lake, goes through Tamworth, up & over Wing Road and through Sandwich before looping back and around. Wing Road is one of the punchier climbs in the area however at the top lies Young Maple Ridge Sugarhouse & Papa Bean's Ice Cream. This self serve station is the perfect stop for a mid ride cooldown after a significant effort getting up the hill. Once you're over Wing, head into Sandwich towards another highlight of the route, Wentworth Hill & Top of the World Road. Both offer excellent views into the Sandwich Range Wilderness and the surrounding valleys, coupled with some nice farmhouses along the way. Pass through Tamworth center in route back to the Lake and you're in the clear.
Distance: 45 miles / Elevation: 4400'
A shorter version of this ride that still includes Wing and Top of the World can be found here - 31 miles / 3000'
Climbing Route from Center - This route is half the distance of the last yet offers some short but punchy climbs throughout. Heading out from the center on Cleveland Hill, you'll ride up Pine Hill & Brown Hill before a bit of a reprieve, followed by a couple more hills before cruising down Gardner Hill and back into town.
Distance: 23 Miles / Elevation 2100'
Mega Ride through Sandwich Notch - If you're a glutton for punishment I have the perfect ride for you. This route takes you from Chocorua Lake through all of Tamworth, up Sandwich Notch into Campton, up and over the Notch again, then back through Sandwich and Tamworth. Not for the faint of heart! Post ride dip in the lake will be mandatory after this one.
Distance: 77 Miles / Elevation 8050'
Pit Stops:
No ride is truly complete with out a mid or post ride snack. Luckily there are a handful of places to refuel during your ride. My favorite place in the area for a drink or light snack is the Tamworth Bakery. Conveniently right in the center of town, this is a great place to stop before heading home or to refill mid-ride. The bakery is open Tuesday to Saturday 8-2. If you're tackling the Wing Road climb, stop at the top and enjoy a maple treat or some ice cream at the Young Maple Ridge Sugarhouse. This spot is self serve but accepts Venmo as well as cash/check. Along the backside of Wing Road lies Booty Family Farm. I have not stopped at this one personally, but it always looks enticing! This is also a self serve farmstand.
If you are riding on a Saturday be sure to check out the Tamworth Farmer's Market. The market runs Saturdays from 9-12 and is located downtown in the church parking lot. It is open year round, moving inside the church in the winter months. I believe this is the best farmers market in the area, and others must too as it can be quite busy. If you are planning to ride from downtown on a Saturday it would be best to arrive before the market begins or plan on making it a pit stop along your ride.
If you're the speedy type and don't care for mid ride indulgences, our wide array of nutrition offerings is sure to keep you from bonking!
Looking to ride electric bikes or gravel bikes in Jackson, NH? Check out our favorite routes.
Jackson offers many lightly traveled roads. Most of these roads are very residential and also dead-ends, with creates a safe riding environment than most roads in the White Mountains. Below is a few different routes that are easy to access right from the front door of Ski The Whites! Depending on how long you want to ride for, terrain and views pick accordingly. All of these routes are on manageable terrain, however, we ask that people still wear helmets and ride cautiously.
E-bikes travel faster and accelerate quicker than acoustic bicycles. This makes riding electric bikes different and more dangerous than a normal bike that you are used to riding.
Jackson Falls loop
30 minutes-1 hour
For those looking to ride for under an hour (note: this is moving time), there are some beautiful routes around Jackson. Jackson Falls is right down the road is nice to ride by. If it’s hot out, maybe take a swim! After checking out the falls, head up to Moody Farm road. Take this road until you reach the Black Mountain Ski Resort. When you reach Black Mountain Road, take a right back towards town. You will head uphill for a short time before heading down the hill back into town. When you reach Main Street, take a right and head back to the shop. Maybe stop at J-town for a cold beverage or food.
This ride can be lengthened by continuing up Dundee road when you reach the ski resort. This will make the ride MUCH longer (probably at least an additional hour), so if you are feeling up for more riding, this is a great addition. Dundee turns into a scenic dirt road for a bit and eventually descends into Intervale, NH. When you reach the bottom, take right onto 16B for about two hundred yards before taking another right onto Thorn Hill Road. This will bring you back onto Main Street in Jackson. These roads are nice and quiet which makes for comfortable riding.
Carter Notch Road/Prospect Farm
This is a beautiful ride that allows riders to turn around whenever they feel they’ve reached a personal halfway point. The route is extremely simple. Ride from the shop and turn up Carter Notch Road. This is right after the Wentworth Inn and right before the stone bridge in downtown Jackson. This road ascends towards Carter Notch. If the weather is good, you will have an amazing view of Carter Notch. This road is a dead end so the traffic is limited to the people who live there or are heading to a trail. Near the end of the road, the pitch becomes much steeper and eventually turns to dirt. After about two hundred yards of dirt roads, you will reach a parking lot with a Nation Forrest gate. Feel free to continue onto these roads. If you are looking for a bit more of a “trail” experience, this is the spot. The trekking e-bikes we rent are great for dirt roads, however, we ask you to refrain from riding single-track.
Town Hall Road (out-and-back)
Time: 2-3 hours
This route is one of the most popular. Those who choose to ride this can turn around when they reach their personal halfway point. The route stays off main roads and is very scenic. Ride through downtown Jackson, take a left on Thorn Hill Road. This is a steep road, on an acoustic bike, it’s tough, but this is where e-bikes excel. After descending the southern side, keep your eyes peeled for Town Hall Road (which will be on your left). Take this road as far as you want, when you feel you’re about halfway done with your ride just turn around and head back the way you came. Townhall Road will eventually turn to dirt while simultaneously coming back into Jackson. About a mile after that you will be in The White Mountain National Forest. The road ascends slowly until you reach the last gate (which is closed). About two-thirds up the road is a left-hand turn. This is an additional dead-end dirt road that can be incorporated into the ride.
