Trail Conditions
What to expect, and current updates
What is the Surface Like?
In general, the rule on surface conditions is:
It Will Change.
If it is bad, it will change,
If it is good, it will change.
Paved roads can be way worse than dirt roads,
Washboard happens. It will change.
Freshly graded roads are worse than the washboard.
Frost Heave Season happens, it will change into Mud Season.
A pothole filled with water is deeper than you think.
Riding a smooth dirt road in the woods is buttercream. Enjoy it while you have it,
It will change.
New asphalt pavement is sweet black velvet. Enjoy it while you have it, It will change.
Remember...Skinny tire road bikes are NOT going to be fun at all on this route!
Tire advice: 35 mm or wider tires handle the roughest spots for experienced gravel cyclists; less-experienced riders will prefer wider tires.
The Adventures on the Western End of the Route:
Between Lisbon and Woodsville the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail ranges from smooth to rough. We’re improving the worst stretches with smooth solid ADA-compliant ledgepack surfacing, in partnership with the Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club. More work is planned for September 2026. The rail trail is much smoother now after our 4 years of collaboration with the ATV Club and NH Bureau of Trails to improve the trail surface conditions. More grant funding over the next couple of years is needed to finish the goal, but there is a huge improvement already! Thank the ATV riders for their successful efforts obtaining the grants! The xNHAT helps with match funding and trail maintenance.
Alternatives: If you want an alternate route that is scenic and hilly on dirt and paved backroads, use the roads on the west side of the river from Woodsville to Lisbon — it’s hilly but rewarding. Or, ride the rail trail to Bath, cross the covered bridge, and take the pleasant paved backroads on the east side (West Bath Road to Pettyboro and Dodge Roads). Follow the map and cue sheets of these alternate routes in the Maps section of this website.
The Adventures on the Eastern End of the Route:
Gorham: About 1.2 miles after the Route 2 parking lot to the Hogan Road access entrance allows ATVs only on that stretch. Surface is rough but passable. We share this part to use the large railroad bridge over the Androscoggin River and Route 16. After crossing the small wood-decked bridge over the power canal, IMMEDIATELY look for the single-track right turn up to Hogan Road. The turn is at the gate and marked “Cross NH Trail” with a bike symbol and hiking signs. Turn right here to the short signal track that will bring you up to Hogan Road. DOnt forget north on the rail trail to Berlin..you want to go east on Hogan Road!
Hogan Road (Gorham to Shelburne): A one-mile section was heavily damaged by the October 31, 2017 storm; more storms have caused some other issues along the way. Some spots have exposed river rock and may require walking. Repairs are rare, so expect walk-biking in places. The ride is scenic and worth a bit of walk-bike! Do not use Route 2—no shoulder, fast traffic, and big trucks. Enjoy Hogan Road and the river views. Some have said that Hogan Road is their most favorite part of the entire route, others say just the opposite! We have provided something for everyone on this route!
The Adventure on the Middle Part of the Route:
Our goal is to make rail trail all the way from Littleton to Whitefield. It will be an absolutely beautiful ride along the river, beaver wetlands, stone walls and Burns Pond. However we must work with the NH Rail and Transit and the railroad that wants to use a part of this corridor for freight operations. Rail-With-Trail is in the plan.
Over the past few years we have extended the rail trail 4.7 miles from Industrial Park Road in Littleton to Oxbow Drive in Bethlehem. GOOD NEWS: In November of 2026 we will extend the rail trail 2.3 miles further. White we continue our push eastward with the rail trail you must bike on Route 116. Those of you who are road riders will have no issues biking on the wide shoulder and dealing with the “hill” along the way. There is good pavement and good line of sight along this roadway, but being on the road with cars/trucks is NOT the in the spirit of the xNHAT. Just know that we are working very hard to continue to make MORE rail trail and less biking on Rt 116 into Whitefield. Once you get to the center of Whitefield you are greeted by the Triangle Dairy Bar for a celebratory ice cream or lunch.
Current Conditions
Trail Conditions Report: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Here are the general conditions on the trail. Remember that a skinny tire road bike will NOT be any fun, get wider tires and have LOTS of FUN on this route!
A section of the Presidential Rail Trail is now undergoing restoration: ditching, grading, crowning, rolling and bridge deck and railing replacement. The work is being done on the section of the rail trail that is NOT a part of the xNHAT route, so it should not matter to you because you will be on Meadow, Israel River and Valley Roads enjoying the panoramic views instead of this section of rail trail being restored. The trail is not closed, you can use it, but it will be soft where the work is being done. Follow the directions of the equipment operators, they will let you pass by when safe to do so.
You will enjoy the Presidential and Ammonoosuc Rail Trails, both are fun to ride! A section of the Ammo between Bath and Lisbon has potholes and rough spots, but you will get through it, a sense of humor helps. This section will be surfaced with ledgepack this summer!
BE CAUTIONS at the gates, they can have accumulated gravel, so be ready to dab a foot down or hop off the bike to be sure of successful passage. In a section between Lisbon and Littleton, the ATV Club has replaced 11 gates with new swing gates. Some have been painted (by the xNHAT!) bright orange, the others are still grey, waiting for the paint project, and they are not very visible, so be careful. The new gates do not have “adventures” of the old gates (…pile of big rocks in the narrow opening). Only 11 of the about 30 gates have been replaced, so be careful at the old ones.. Walk or scooch your bike through them! More gates will be replaced as the ATV Club hopefully gets another gate grant next year.
Sections had new smooth ledgepack applied in 2025…enjoy! We accomplished 4.7 miles of ledgepack last fall in Littleton-Bethlehem, plus 2.7 miles in Bath! The ATV Club has been obtaining grant funding for the surfacing projects over the past 3.5 years in Lisbon and Bath, the xNHAT (including your donations) has been assisting with match funding. The new surface is fantastic, even with ATVs, dirt bikes, horses, and bikes… it remains solid and smooth, no grading has been needed! There will be another 2.5 more miles of ledgepack applied this summer, finishing the section between Lisbon and Bath!
Hogan Road!!! Hogan Road is ALWAYS an adventure, so be ready to walk your bike through some rough spots. Those with mountain biking skills will not have any problems! The wider your tires, the more bike handling skills… the less you will walk on beautiful but adventure-filled Hogan Road. Look for the boat and the boat trailer stuck in the trees , still left in there from the last flood (this indicates how high the river came up over Hogan Road a few years ago. I do not recommend using Route 2 as an alternative. Hogan Road is a safer ride than saying Route 2 with fast cars, tucks, logging trucks, RVs with bad or no shoulder.
You can always email the xNHAT team to get an up-to-date report on the trail conditions: info@xnhat.org
Remember...Skinny tire road bikes are not going to be fun at all on this route!
Ammonoosuc Rail Trail: A surfacing project in Littleton and Bethlehem (4.7 miles from just west of Industrial Park Road to Oxbow Drive) was completed the end of October! HOORAY!
Wow, we are so happy this project is accomplished! This section of rail trail is smooth and solid, great for residents, visitors and thru-cyclists and walkers on the xNHAT. Don't worry, there are still plenty of "Adventures" on the Cross New Hampshire "Adventure" Trail!
The xNHAT trails are getting better every year with grant and donations funding our efforts ….but remember this is an adventure, so expect some challenges or it would not be fun. Hogan Road is good for Hogan Road.. (some may question this....).
There are sections of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail between Woodsville and Industrial Park Road in Littleton that have sections of rough riding with cinder, ballast and gravel. You will notice them more than before, because we have covered a lot of that with many miles of solid smooth ledgepack. The difference is very noticeable! Just travel with care through the rougher spots and know that there will be some smooth surface ahead. Enjoy what we have accomplished so far! We collaborate with the Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club on the surfacing projects. They get the grants, we help with match funding.
Be careful at the GATES, WALK or scooch your bike through the gravel piles.
We share the trail really well with the ATVs. You and the ATVs will slow down and move over to the right side of the trail. Smile, wave and all will enjoy the trail! The ATV Club obtained the grants for the smooth surface. They love this rail trail too! The xNHAT helped with the match funding for their grants.
Hogan Road is always an adventure, just enjoy the views and the quiet, and keep a sense of humor when traveling it! Just walk your bike through any gnarly spots. It is OK to walk, no points or honor lost! Just enjoy the beautiful backwoods trail/road. Some say Hogan Road is their favorite part of the entire route, others, well, not their favorite at all. We strive to make everyone happy the majority of the time on the xNHAT! A bit of adventure for everyone!