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.
Scroll down for the recent trail conditions report
Remember...Skinny tire road bikes are NOT going to be fun at all on this route!
The most challenging sections on the western part of the trail:
Some areas of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail between Lisbon and Woodsville can be tedious, other sections are smooth and excellent! We have been working on improving the worst sections of the trail, mile by mile, by applying a smooth and solid ledgepack ADA compliant surface. This project is in collaboration with the Ammonoosuc Valley ATV Club. More surfacing will happen in 2026.
Generally, if you have AT LEAST 32 mm tires, you will do OK in the gnarlier spots. The less experience you have in biking, the wider the tire you will enjoy.
If you are tired of the conditions on the rail trail or just want a change as you travel from Woodsville to Lisbon, use the alternate, road routes located on the west side of the river between Woodsville and Lisbon. They require climbing some hills with the reward of great downhills and pleasant views. Start off in Woodsville on on the alternate dirt and paved road route, it is hilly but rewarding. Or ride the rail trail to Bath, exit at the covered bridge and travel pleasant paved (hilly) backroads (West Bath Road to Pettyboro and Dodge Roads) on the eastern side of the river. Follow the map and cue sheets available on Ride With GPS, see the Maps section of this website.
As for the most challenging section on the Eastern portion of the trail:
1. In Gorham, the approximately 1.2 mile section after the Route 2 parking lot until you reach the entrance to Hogan Road, allows ATV's. Just this section! It’s not a nice surface, but you will get through it. We share this section of the trail to use the big railroad bridge over the Androscoggin River and Route 16. After you go over the small wood-decked bridge over the power canal, LOOK CAREFULLY, immediately, for the right turn for the single track to get up to Hogan Road. The right turns has a sign for the “Cross NH Trail” with a bike on it, plus signs for the hiking trails over there, too. The turn is IMMEDIATELY after the power canal bridge at the gate! Don’t travel any more than needed on the rail trail!
2. In the Halloween Storm of October 31, 2017, a one mile section of Hogan Road (Gorham to Shelburne) was overrun by the river. There are a few short sections that might need to be walked (by some of us!) because river rocks were exposed when the river washed out the roadway. The road washouts are occasionally repaired, but certainly expect some adventure and walk-bike in a few places. It is a beautiful ride in the woods, worth some walk-bike. Don't do Route 2! No shoulder and fast moving traffic, BIG trucks and...a bad shoulder! Take you tie and enjoy Hogan Road and its river views.
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!