Here are some excellent rides that use a small part of the xNHAT, or are close by. Add them to your itinerary to spend a few more days enjoying great cycling in the North Country of New Hampshire, North Eastern Vermont and Western Maine.
Mostly Dirt Rides:
Northern White Mountains Bikepacking Loop
On this loop, when not on the rail trail, you will be climbing, but it will be well worth it! Check out this excellent overnighter route posted by Danielle Blanca on Bikepacking.com:
bikepacking.com/routes/northern-white-mountains-loop/
A short fun singletrack along North Road: add this to your North Road ride, IF you have a gravel bike or wider tires than what's on a skinny road bike.
https://gravelmap.com/route/103975-the-esker-loop-trail-gilead#15.86/44.4084/-70.8922
In Vermont: The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. A 34 mile ride out/back from St. Johnsbury, Vermont west to Dan's Pond. This is a beautiful, hard packed stonedust 17 mile rail trail that will be extended across Vermont in the coming years. Fun day trip. Stop at the beach at Joe's Pond for a swim and enjoy lunch from the general store or the food truck.
Pavement Rides (or mostly) on or near the xNHAT
Bretton Woods to the Lupines in Randolph and Jefferson. A great 42 mile mostly pavement but with some dirt roads and rail trail ride with panoramic views of the Presidentials. Excellent in mid to late June for the lupine bloom or in October of the fall foliage, or anytime for the mountain views. Start at the parking lot for Bretton Woods Ski Area. Shorten the ride by starting at the large dirt parking area on the north side of Route 302 near Zealand Campground. Shorten it even more, and reduce the amount of pavement ny starting at the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge.
The Lost Nation Loop, A 50 mile loop ALL ON PAVEMENT. Although this ride only includes 1.8 miles on the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail, it is a fantastic ride, a local favorite, had to list it here for you. Park in the center of Whitefield near the town green and gazebo.
The Andover Ride. 49 miles, ALL ON PAVEMENT, mostly out-and-back with one small loop. This excellent ride starts in Bethel, Maine at the endpoint of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. Begin in the parking area at Davis Park. The ride is 50 miles round trip on quiet paved roads that travel northward alongside the Androscoggin River and the Ellis River into the village of Andover. This town is an excellent place for a lunch stop at the Andover General Store and a pleasant shady park with gazebo. This ride could be considered a northward extension of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail further into Maine!
The Vermont Side of the Connecticut River. ALL ON PAVEMENT. This can be as long or short as you like. This link shows a 49 mile out/back version form Lancaster, NH to Bloomfield, VT, but you can just keep going north until you hit the US/Canada border! It is a great out/back on quiet and scenic Route 102 that continues north from Bloomfield to the border with Quebec. Go to the border and back for a century.
Mostly Dirt Rides:
Northern White Mountains Bikepacking Loop
On this loop, when not on the rail trail, you will be climbing, but it will be well worth it! Check out this excellent overnighter route posted by Danielle Blanca on Bikepacking.com:
bikepacking.com/routes/northern-white-mountains-loop/
A short fun singletrack along North Road: add this to your North Road ride, IF you have a gravel bike or wider tires than what's on a skinny road bike.
https://gravelmap.com/route/103975-the-esker-loop-trail-gilead#15.86/44.4084/-70.8922
In Vermont: The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. A 34 mile ride out/back from St. Johnsbury, Vermont west to Dan's Pond. This is a beautiful, hard packed stonedust 17 mile rail trail that will be extended across Vermont in the coming years. Fun day trip. Stop at the beach at Joe's Pond for a swim and enjoy lunch from the general store or the food truck.
Pavement Rides (or mostly) on or near the xNHAT
Bretton Woods to the Lupines in Randolph and Jefferson. A great 42 mile mostly pavement but with some dirt roads and rail trail ride with panoramic views of the Presidentials. Excellent in mid to late June for the lupine bloom or in October of the fall foliage, or anytime for the mountain views. Start at the parking lot for Bretton Woods Ski Area. Shorten the ride by starting at the large dirt parking area on the north side of Route 302 near Zealand Campground. Shorten it even more, and reduce the amount of pavement ny starting at the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge.
The Lost Nation Loop, A 50 mile loop ALL ON PAVEMENT. Although this ride only includes 1.8 miles on the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail, it is a fantastic ride, a local favorite, had to list it here for you. Park in the center of Whitefield near the town green and gazebo.
The Andover Ride. 49 miles, ALL ON PAVEMENT, mostly out-and-back with one small loop. This excellent ride starts in Bethel, Maine at the endpoint of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. Begin in the parking area at Davis Park. The ride is 50 miles round trip on quiet paved roads that travel northward alongside the Androscoggin River and the Ellis River into the village of Andover. This town is an excellent place for a lunch stop at the Andover General Store and a pleasant shady park with gazebo. This ride could be considered a northward extension of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail further into Maine!
The Vermont Side of the Connecticut River. ALL ON PAVEMENT. This can be as long or short as you like. This link shows a 49 mile out/back version form Lancaster, NH to Bloomfield, VT, but you can just keep going north until you hit the US/Canada border! It is a great out/back on quiet and scenic Route 102 that continues north from Bloomfield to the border with Quebec. Go to the border and back for a century.