This photo was taken October 18 by Bob Holdsworth. He was doing double duty of enjoying his first snowy bike ride of the season and checking out conditions on the Presidential Rail Trail from Gorham to Whitefield. The photo tells it all... snowy conditions at and around the height-of-land at Bowman, and the appearance of a backhoe signaling the eminent Israel River Bridge restoration project. He removed the limbs and branches that fell on the rail trail from Gorham to just west of Appalachia.
Monday, October 19th, 8:50 am
Three issues to note:
1. The October 17th rainstorm was a snowstorm in the Whitefield, Jefferson and Randolph area. The height of land of the Presidential Rail Trail and the xNHAT occurs at the Bowman parking lot in Randolph. The heavy wet snow there was at least 5 inches deep and the trees sagged and cracked from the weight, and power was out for these communities for quite awhile. The trail from Appalachia to Jefferson Notch Road was difficult or impossible to travel by bike due to the snow. The snow will melt quickly, so this warning will likely change more to a concern of ice and mud. Use care in this area. Updates will be posted and info comes in.
2. At any time now, likely this week, the Israel River Bridge (located between Bowman and Jefferson Notch Road) will undergo a big restoration project. The original hand cut granite blocks, crafted by Italian stone masons hired by the railroad back in the late 1800's, have been moving over the past years due to the beaver-caused re-route of the Israel River just upstream from the bridge. The river originally flowed perpendicular to the bridge, but now flows alongside it and slams into the western abutment, causing the loosening. To prevent further damage and/or collapse, the bridge will be lifted off of the abutments by a huge crane, the blocks will be reset and bridge replaced. There will be a detour set up in this area, so check the website and/or Facebook for the updates.
The proposed detour described below will utilize Valley Road, about a 0.1 mile section of Route 2 and a dirt access road to the rail trail that passes through Town of Randolph conservation land, the "Farrar Property".
Below is a PREVIEW of the detour. It will be official once the trail is closed due to the construction. The construction crew might alter this detour plan, I hope not, but stay connected to this and Facebook for updates. As of this time (8:45 am on Oct 19, no official word on the project start, yet, but it should start this week).
Heading EAST towards Bowman and Gorham, as you ride east on beautiful Valley Road....
When you get to the intersection with Jefferson Notch Road (at the Yeti silhouette) STAY STRAIGHT ON VALLEY ROAD, do not enter the rail trail here, the rail trail will be closed here due to to the bridge removal. Ride all the way to the end of Valley Road. It will turn to pavement and head up a steep little hill where it ends at Route 2. TAKE A RIGHT on Route 2, careful of the traffic. There is a shoulder. Go about 0.1 mile and take a right onto a dirt road that heads downhill steeply (WALK YOUR BIKE and enjoy the panoramic view). The dirt road has been gravelled recently, and it is very loose. Follow the road downhill and it will then turn into a dirt and mud farm road that leads to the rail trail. Take a left onto the rail trail and enjoy your ride eastward on the xNHAT.
Heading WEST towards Jefferson and Whitefield, after you pass the Bowman parking lot...
Proceed westward down the rail trail and look for a right turn onto a little dirt and mud farm road that crosses the rail trail to access a field. It is the only dirt road crossing the trail in this area. This road has two ruts from the farm equipment and is typically wet and soggy. Head up the road and then steeply up the graveled parking area. WALK YOUR BIKE, it is loose gravel. Look behind you for panoramic mountain views. The gravel road will intersect Route 2. Take a LEFT onto Route 2, be careful of the traffic! Go about 0.1 mile on Route 2 and take a LEFT onto VALLEY ROAD. Enjoy the downhill and the view. The pavement will turn to dirt and you will rejoin the xNHAT route by just staying straight on Valley Road all the way.
3. The "Tweener" season between Leaf Peeping and Ski is now upon us. This means that it is typically quieter up here, so many lodgings and campgrounds may be closed for the season. Because of the virus issues, some may close sooner than later. The Littleton Motel is already closed. Travel with lodging reservations!
Three issues to note:
1. The October 17th rainstorm was a snowstorm in the Whitefield, Jefferson and Randolph area. The height of land of the Presidential Rail Trail and the xNHAT occurs at the Bowman parking lot in Randolph. The heavy wet snow there was at least 5 inches deep and the trees sagged and cracked from the weight, and power was out for these communities for quite awhile. The trail from Appalachia to Jefferson Notch Road was difficult or impossible to travel by bike due to the snow. The snow will melt quickly, so this warning will likely change more to a concern of ice and mud. Use care in this area. Updates will be posted and info comes in.
2. At any time now, likely this week, the Israel River Bridge (located between Bowman and Jefferson Notch Road) will undergo a big restoration project. The original hand cut granite blocks, crafted by Italian stone masons hired by the railroad back in the late 1800's, have been moving over the past years due to the beaver-caused re-route of the Israel River just upstream from the bridge. The river originally flowed perpendicular to the bridge, but now flows alongside it and slams into the western abutment, causing the loosening. To prevent further damage and/or collapse, the bridge will be lifted off of the abutments by a huge crane, the blocks will be reset and bridge replaced. There will be a detour set up in this area, so check the website and/or Facebook for the updates.
The proposed detour described below will utilize Valley Road, about a 0.1 mile section of Route 2 and a dirt access road to the rail trail that passes through Town of Randolph conservation land, the "Farrar Property".
Below is a PREVIEW of the detour. It will be official once the trail is closed due to the construction. The construction crew might alter this detour plan, I hope not, but stay connected to this and Facebook for updates. As of this time (8:45 am on Oct 19, no official word on the project start, yet, but it should start this week).
Heading EAST towards Bowman and Gorham, as you ride east on beautiful Valley Road....
When you get to the intersection with Jefferson Notch Road (at the Yeti silhouette) STAY STRAIGHT ON VALLEY ROAD, do not enter the rail trail here, the rail trail will be closed here due to to the bridge removal. Ride all the way to the end of Valley Road. It will turn to pavement and head up a steep little hill where it ends at Route 2. TAKE A RIGHT on Route 2, careful of the traffic. There is a shoulder. Go about 0.1 mile and take a right onto a dirt road that heads downhill steeply (WALK YOUR BIKE and enjoy the panoramic view). The dirt road has been gravelled recently, and it is very loose. Follow the road downhill and it will then turn into a dirt and mud farm road that leads to the rail trail. Take a left onto the rail trail and enjoy your ride eastward on the xNHAT.
Heading WEST towards Jefferson and Whitefield, after you pass the Bowman parking lot...
Proceed westward down the rail trail and look for a right turn onto a little dirt and mud farm road that crosses the rail trail to access a field. It is the only dirt road crossing the trail in this area. This road has two ruts from the farm equipment and is typically wet and soggy. Head up the road and then steeply up the graveled parking area. WALK YOUR BIKE, it is loose gravel. Look behind you for panoramic mountain views. The gravel road will intersect Route 2. Take a LEFT onto Route 2, be careful of the traffic! Go about 0.1 mile on Route 2 and take a LEFT onto VALLEY ROAD. Enjoy the downhill and the view. The pavement will turn to dirt and you will rejoin the xNHAT route by just staying straight on Valley Road all the way.
3. The "Tweener" season between Leaf Peeping and Ski is now upon us. This means that it is typically quieter up here, so many lodgings and campgrounds may be closed for the season. Because of the virus issues, some may close sooner than later. The Littleton Motel is already closed. Travel with lodging reservations!
Finding Hogan Road and the Presidential Rail Trail:
To find Hogan Road from the rail trail, heading east: The short little access trail is IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the short bridge over the power canal. It really, truly is immediately after the bridge and gate, look hard to your right. The access entrance has small signs on birch trees for the xNHAT and a hiking trail. Use your cue sheet and watch your odometer. If you miss this entrance, you can access Hogan Road from an open parking/work/staging area on the right about 0.1 mile from the small bridge over the power canal.
To find the Presidential Rail Trail from Hogan Road, going WEST... Once you pass the old brick power building/dam, you will go slightly uphill and back into the woods. When you emerge to an open area, there will be many big tall power poles on your right carrying power lines. Up ahead on the left will be a narrow single track that leads steeply downhill. There is a sign on a tree, but it is at the edge of the woods and likely covered with leafy branches. I cannot put signs on the power poles, which would have made this easier! When the power pole and guy wires are right near the dirt roadway, look to the left for the single track. If you miss this, a short distance ahead is a rough dirt road access to a staging area for the power company. It also goes steeply down to the left. The rail trail will be visible, take a left and deal with the ATVs, dust and bad surface conditions for about 1.2 miles. You will be pleased at that point to be on the non-motorized section of the Presidential Rail Trail, a highlight of the route!
The Most Tedious Area of the Route, Currently:
As of July 21st, IMHO, the most tedious place on the entire route is the first 4.7 miles of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Bath (see photo, below). This is because this is the year for a needed maintenance project on the trail. The trail was re-graded, drainage ditches were re-established, potholes and washboard were removed. HOWEVER, the not-as-good news is that medium sized gravel was added to the surface in areas where there has been significant trail damage in the past. Ballast that had been nicely packed into the trail over the past years is now resurrected and out there to bounce over. Although the surface is firm (I thought it would be much softer than it is) the gravel chunks make for a bouncy ride. In a few places the edges of the trail are soft. Once the surface is packed down by the ATVs, the gravel chunks should be pushed into the hardback, making the surface less bumpy. I found that I could find a reasonable line to follow if I stayed in an ATV track on one side of the trail, then switch to the other. The ATVs will do their job to pack it, and a rainstorm or two will also help. For now, it is ridable, but it is slower and more annoying than it should be, likely even more tedious if you have skinnier tires.
The section from Bath to Lisbon has also been re-graded, re-ditched and gravel added to help stabilize the surface. This particular section is not quite as bad, I think, compared to the section from Woodsville to Bath, but still not what it should be after some packing and use. The back road alternate route is a good possibility here. When trying to decide between the rail trail issues and the paved back road, my friends and I decided to ride the rail trail because the day was hot and the shade of the rail trail, even with the rougher surface, was more appealing than the alternate on-back-road route up hill in the hot sunshine. We all survived the rail trail.
The alternate back road route from Bath to Lisbon is a nice ride, it is a good alternate if you had enough of the newly "Maintained" trail. You can use the back roads on the western side of the river from Bath, into Lisbon and rejoin the xNHAT route in Lisbon where it heads towards Bishop Road. This alternate route has a hill, but it is not terrible, and it is scenic, and worth it, It has a nice downhill and a pleasant ride along the river into Lisbon.
This is JUST the on-road route section from Bath to Lisbon: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28541115
The other direction, from Lisbon to Bath: ridewithgps.com/routes/30254175
Here is a link to the alternate route, from Woodsville to Littleton. It uses the rail trail to Bath and the alternate route from Bath to Lisbon, the rest of it is the "original" xNHAT: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32926550
The rail trail is shared with ATVs and some dirt bikes. The sharing has been working well... so far. You will see more ATVs on the weekends than weekdays. The local users tend to be friendly and courteous to cyclists and pedestrians, please be friendly and courteous to them, too! Share the trail.
The xNHAT is beginning a collaboration with the NH Bureau of Trails by financially contributing to some small care and maintenance projects on the rail trail. One of these is the reconstruction of the trail as it passes though a tunnel under Route 302 just south of Lisbon. This tunnel was always a mess: a swamp, a mud bath or a sand box. The approaches leading down to the tunnel were always rocky, sandy and washed out. This area was regraded and PAVED on July 16th.
SO, in conclusion, on the rail trail headed east, once you are past the town of Lisbon, you are all set, the worst is over. To get there, you can choose: ride either the entire rail trail from Woodville to Lisbon, or ride it from Woodsville to Bath, then use the on-road alternate to Lisbon.
Conditions from Lisbon to Littleton:
Bishop Road has some nice new pavement. River Road looks like it was re-graded, so there are more loose stones than usual, but it is fine to ride.
The northern section of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail accessed off of River Road all the way to Littleton, was in fine shape as of June 28th. It had not been re-graded or worked on at all at that potion. I will be there soon to take another look last is as of July 22 and will update this report. The only trail surface anomalies here are provided by the female turtles who are digging holes on the sides of the trail to lay their eggs. They cover up the hole with dirt, but leave an obvious little pile complete with their webbed footprints indicating their efforts to cover and hide their eggs.
Once in the Littleton area, check out the suspension bridge and the bike/ped covered bridge.
Conditions from Littleton to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield:
Route 116 is still the road ride needed to get between these towns. The rail trail will soon be extended part of this way, but the work, supposedly set to start last fall, has not been started. Maybe due to the virus issues? Paperwork issues?? An alternate back road/dirt road route is in development. It is not an easy one, more hilly than Route 116, so the on-road Route 116 will remain. Route 116 is in good shape, has a good shoulder, but there are cars and trucks, so be a good cyclist and share the road... be visible. Typically, in my experience this year, it is much quieter due to the virus's effect on the local economy and slowed tourist season.
Conditions on the Presidential Rail Trail, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
A long awaited restoration and improvement of the Presidential Rail Trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge began on June 1st, finished in Late September. The parking areas at each end, Hazen Road and Meadow Road (route 115A) were expanded, the trail has many new culverts installed, drainage ditches were restored and the surface was improved with hard pack stone dust. THERE ARE 2 PORTA POTTIES at the Airport Road end!
In June and July, 9 "Beaver Deceivers" were installed in ponds adjacent to the rail trail, 3 in Pondicherry, 5 to the east of Route 115. These devices will now maintain the water level in the ponds, as opposed to the industrious beavers who have been maintaining the pond levels to a height which floods the trail causing expensive washouts. The devices also preserve the life of the beavers since the beavers are not trapped and "removed" as nuisances, and the devices preserve the wetlands for all of the other wildlife that depend on them. So far all of the beavers have been deceived, none can figure out this system an all is well.
Conditions on Valley Road, the Dirt Section with the Presidential Range Views.
The regrading project appears to be all done. Some washboard is happening, but you can get around it.
Presidential Rail Trail Jefferson, Randolph to Gorham
In general the rail trail is in good shape. However, keep in mind that this is not a perfectly manicured rail trail, it has good areas and it has not as good areas...and this variety is its beauty. So just watch out for the rogue rocks, soft areas, mud, tall grass. Ticks have not been as big problem this year, likely because of the drought in June, but check for them anyway, partially if you head in to the tall grass. The 10 mile downhill from Bowman to Gorham is a great ride!!
The easternmost 1.5 miles of the Presidential Rail Trail (from the parking lot on Route 2 in Gorham to the section with Hogan Road) is shared with ATVs, and is very popular this season. This section includes a big bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River and Route 16, and a short bridge over the power canal. This shared section can be busy on weekends. It is getting churned up and soft due to the ATV use. The best part of this section is the view of Mt Madison from the bridge and the fact that it is only about 1,2 miles long before this shared section is over with. It is not too bad because it is short... grin and bear it, consider it another facet of the "Adventure" in the North Country. The ATVs have access to 1000 miles of trails from here, they can go to Quebec from here, so it is a favorite place for them to explore. Share the trail as best as possible in this section. The dust can be really bad here, get out your mask.
Conditions on Hogan Road
Hogan Road is in good shape. However, realize that "good shape" means an unmaintained dirt road with occasional rocks, puddles, loose stones, washouts, gravel though soon to repair the bad spots. There are nice smooth areas also, now being coated with a soft layer of pine needles as the trees are shedding. Expect everything. The osprey will likely be upset at you as you travel under its nest area. Look for bald eagles on the river. Stop to enjoy the river and mountain views. I saw a bear in the woods near the trail, make some noise so you both aren't surprised. Depending on your tires and your confidence and skill, you can either bike the entire length for a challenge, or just hop off and walk short sections to avoid the circumstances. There is another tiny little planked bridge that is starting to fall apart. Water, when there is rain, was flowing ON TOP of it. It is, obviously, at the bottom of a hill, so you will see it. WALK your bike over this, there are big holes developing that your tires will fit snugly into, watch for them.
Review of the Three Construction Projects for 2020 (that I have heard of..):
The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail will be extended eastward as a non-motorized recreation trail from Littleton towards Whitefield about 6 miles! Track and ties will be removed in the late fall, This will shorten the distance that one must bike on Route 116, which will be an advantage! The rail trail extension will go along the river for a pleasant scenic alternative to the road, and avoids a few hillclimbs. In the meantime, Route 116 is the only option. Be cautious, wear bright clothing, a blink trail light is helpful for visibility.
The Israel River Bridge located on the Presidential Rail Trail in Randolph, will be restored in mid October, due to the concerns about the original hand carved granite footings. The river has had plenty of rushing water and flooding events to assist its way into and around the granite blocks. The bridge will be raised off the pilings and the blocks will be reset. The bridge decking is showing sign of wear, so use caution. The trail will be closed in this area during the work, and a detour will be established and marked during construction.
Trail Signs
Some small trail signs posted in some areas (rail trails and dirt and back roads first). It takes awhile to interact with each town and the NH Bureau of Trails (keepers of the rail trails) to get the proper permission to post the signs. They will appear slowly, town by town. For now, use the downloadable cue sheets, the paper map and the RIdeWIthGPS maps. There are a few signs posted on Hogan Road in Gorham and in Shelburne, hopefully they are still there (a few have disappeared).
Reminders:
Your GPS WILL run out of power at some point along the way. Have a back up. Print out and carry a cue sheet. (see maps section). Request a FREE, 7-panel, accordion fold, waterproof, detailed map by emailing a request to crossnewhampshire@gmail.com
Between Woodsville and Whitefield there are typically plenty of possibilities to obtain food and water, however the coronavirus has closed some of them, so check before you go. Whitefield has a small grocery store, a Subway, Triangle Dairy Bar, Dunkin Donuts, a pizza place and a convenience store/gas station. After Whitefield, there is only a small camp store at the Israel River Campground that you can use as a place to get water, drinks and snacks, even ice cream bars. That's it until Gorham, where're you can go a short bit up Jimtown Road to the Mose Brook State Park Campground for water and some snacks. The good folks a t his North are avid cyclists and the crater of Coos Trails (mountain biking tail system) and can help you if you have a bicycle problem. You can get off of the trail to access the Main Street of Gorham for supplies via the bike route (it is marked on the map, access is across the street from the big parking lots at an orange gate.
Send me any trail condition updates, wildlife viewing and good food/lodging experiences! Photos, too!!
crossnewhampshire@gmail.com,
To find Hogan Road from the rail trail, heading east: The short little access trail is IMMEDIATELY on the right after crossing the short bridge over the power canal. It really, truly is immediately after the bridge and gate, look hard to your right. The access entrance has small signs on birch trees for the xNHAT and a hiking trail. Use your cue sheet and watch your odometer. If you miss this entrance, you can access Hogan Road from an open parking/work/staging area on the right about 0.1 mile from the small bridge over the power canal.
To find the Presidential Rail Trail from Hogan Road, going WEST... Once you pass the old brick power building/dam, you will go slightly uphill and back into the woods. When you emerge to an open area, there will be many big tall power poles on your right carrying power lines. Up ahead on the left will be a narrow single track that leads steeply downhill. There is a sign on a tree, but it is at the edge of the woods and likely covered with leafy branches. I cannot put signs on the power poles, which would have made this easier! When the power pole and guy wires are right near the dirt roadway, look to the left for the single track. If you miss this, a short distance ahead is a rough dirt road access to a staging area for the power company. It also goes steeply down to the left. The rail trail will be visible, take a left and deal with the ATVs, dust and bad surface conditions for about 1.2 miles. You will be pleased at that point to be on the non-motorized section of the Presidential Rail Trail, a highlight of the route!
The Most Tedious Area of the Route, Currently:
As of July 21st, IMHO, the most tedious place on the entire route is the first 4.7 miles of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Bath (see photo, below). This is because this is the year for a needed maintenance project on the trail. The trail was re-graded, drainage ditches were re-established, potholes and washboard were removed. HOWEVER, the not-as-good news is that medium sized gravel was added to the surface in areas where there has been significant trail damage in the past. Ballast that had been nicely packed into the trail over the past years is now resurrected and out there to bounce over. Although the surface is firm (I thought it would be much softer than it is) the gravel chunks make for a bouncy ride. In a few places the edges of the trail are soft. Once the surface is packed down by the ATVs, the gravel chunks should be pushed into the hardback, making the surface less bumpy. I found that I could find a reasonable line to follow if I stayed in an ATV track on one side of the trail, then switch to the other. The ATVs will do their job to pack it, and a rainstorm or two will also help. For now, it is ridable, but it is slower and more annoying than it should be, likely even more tedious if you have skinnier tires.
The section from Bath to Lisbon has also been re-graded, re-ditched and gravel added to help stabilize the surface. This particular section is not quite as bad, I think, compared to the section from Woodsville to Bath, but still not what it should be after some packing and use. The back road alternate route is a good possibility here. When trying to decide between the rail trail issues and the paved back road, my friends and I decided to ride the rail trail because the day was hot and the shade of the rail trail, even with the rougher surface, was more appealing than the alternate on-back-road route up hill in the hot sunshine. We all survived the rail trail.
The alternate back road route from Bath to Lisbon is a nice ride, it is a good alternate if you had enough of the newly "Maintained" trail. You can use the back roads on the western side of the river from Bath, into Lisbon and rejoin the xNHAT route in Lisbon where it heads towards Bishop Road. This alternate route has a hill, but it is not terrible, and it is scenic, and worth it, It has a nice downhill and a pleasant ride along the river into Lisbon.
This is JUST the on-road route section from Bath to Lisbon: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28541115
The other direction, from Lisbon to Bath: ridewithgps.com/routes/30254175
Here is a link to the alternate route, from Woodsville to Littleton. It uses the rail trail to Bath and the alternate route from Bath to Lisbon, the rest of it is the "original" xNHAT: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32926550
The rail trail is shared with ATVs and some dirt bikes. The sharing has been working well... so far. You will see more ATVs on the weekends than weekdays. The local users tend to be friendly and courteous to cyclists and pedestrians, please be friendly and courteous to them, too! Share the trail.
The xNHAT is beginning a collaboration with the NH Bureau of Trails by financially contributing to some small care and maintenance projects on the rail trail. One of these is the reconstruction of the trail as it passes though a tunnel under Route 302 just south of Lisbon. This tunnel was always a mess: a swamp, a mud bath or a sand box. The approaches leading down to the tunnel were always rocky, sandy and washed out. This area was regraded and PAVED on July 16th.
SO, in conclusion, on the rail trail headed east, once you are past the town of Lisbon, you are all set, the worst is over. To get there, you can choose: ride either the entire rail trail from Woodville to Lisbon, or ride it from Woodsville to Bath, then use the on-road alternate to Lisbon.
Conditions from Lisbon to Littleton:
Bishop Road has some nice new pavement. River Road looks like it was re-graded, so there are more loose stones than usual, but it is fine to ride.
The northern section of the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail accessed off of River Road all the way to Littleton, was in fine shape as of June 28th. It had not been re-graded or worked on at all at that potion. I will be there soon to take another look last is as of July 22 and will update this report. The only trail surface anomalies here are provided by the female turtles who are digging holes on the sides of the trail to lay their eggs. They cover up the hole with dirt, but leave an obvious little pile complete with their webbed footprints indicating their efforts to cover and hide their eggs.
Once in the Littleton area, check out the suspension bridge and the bike/ped covered bridge.
Conditions from Littleton to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield:
Route 116 is still the road ride needed to get between these towns. The rail trail will soon be extended part of this way, but the work, supposedly set to start last fall, has not been started. Maybe due to the virus issues? Paperwork issues?? An alternate back road/dirt road route is in development. It is not an easy one, more hilly than Route 116, so the on-road Route 116 will remain. Route 116 is in good shape, has a good shoulder, but there are cars and trucks, so be a good cyclist and share the road... be visible. Typically, in my experience this year, it is much quieter due to the virus's effect on the local economy and slowed tourist season.
Conditions on the Presidential Rail Trail, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge:
A long awaited restoration and improvement of the Presidential Rail Trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge began on June 1st, finished in Late September. The parking areas at each end, Hazen Road and Meadow Road (route 115A) were expanded, the trail has many new culverts installed, drainage ditches were restored and the surface was improved with hard pack stone dust. THERE ARE 2 PORTA POTTIES at the Airport Road end!
In June and July, 9 "Beaver Deceivers" were installed in ponds adjacent to the rail trail, 3 in Pondicherry, 5 to the east of Route 115. These devices will now maintain the water level in the ponds, as opposed to the industrious beavers who have been maintaining the pond levels to a height which floods the trail causing expensive washouts. The devices also preserve the life of the beavers since the beavers are not trapped and "removed" as nuisances, and the devices preserve the wetlands for all of the other wildlife that depend on them. So far all of the beavers have been deceived, none can figure out this system an all is well.
Conditions on Valley Road, the Dirt Section with the Presidential Range Views.
The regrading project appears to be all done. Some washboard is happening, but you can get around it.
Presidential Rail Trail Jefferson, Randolph to Gorham
In general the rail trail is in good shape. However, keep in mind that this is not a perfectly manicured rail trail, it has good areas and it has not as good areas...and this variety is its beauty. So just watch out for the rogue rocks, soft areas, mud, tall grass. Ticks have not been as big problem this year, likely because of the drought in June, but check for them anyway, partially if you head in to the tall grass. The 10 mile downhill from Bowman to Gorham is a great ride!!
The easternmost 1.5 miles of the Presidential Rail Trail (from the parking lot on Route 2 in Gorham to the section with Hogan Road) is shared with ATVs, and is very popular this season. This section includes a big bridge that spans the Ammonoosuc River and Route 16, and a short bridge over the power canal. This shared section can be busy on weekends. It is getting churned up and soft due to the ATV use. The best part of this section is the view of Mt Madison from the bridge and the fact that it is only about 1,2 miles long before this shared section is over with. It is not too bad because it is short... grin and bear it, consider it another facet of the "Adventure" in the North Country. The ATVs have access to 1000 miles of trails from here, they can go to Quebec from here, so it is a favorite place for them to explore. Share the trail as best as possible in this section. The dust can be really bad here, get out your mask.
Conditions on Hogan Road
Hogan Road is in good shape. However, realize that "good shape" means an unmaintained dirt road with occasional rocks, puddles, loose stones, washouts, gravel though soon to repair the bad spots. There are nice smooth areas also, now being coated with a soft layer of pine needles as the trees are shedding. Expect everything. The osprey will likely be upset at you as you travel under its nest area. Look for bald eagles on the river. Stop to enjoy the river and mountain views. I saw a bear in the woods near the trail, make some noise so you both aren't surprised. Depending on your tires and your confidence and skill, you can either bike the entire length for a challenge, or just hop off and walk short sections to avoid the circumstances. There is another tiny little planked bridge that is starting to fall apart. Water, when there is rain, was flowing ON TOP of it. It is, obviously, at the bottom of a hill, so you will see it. WALK your bike over this, there are big holes developing that your tires will fit snugly into, watch for them.
Review of the Three Construction Projects for 2020 (that I have heard of..):
The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail will be extended eastward as a non-motorized recreation trail from Littleton towards Whitefield about 6 miles! Track and ties will be removed in the late fall, This will shorten the distance that one must bike on Route 116, which will be an advantage! The rail trail extension will go along the river for a pleasant scenic alternative to the road, and avoids a few hillclimbs. In the meantime, Route 116 is the only option. Be cautious, wear bright clothing, a blink trail light is helpful for visibility.
The Israel River Bridge located on the Presidential Rail Trail in Randolph, will be restored in mid October, due to the concerns about the original hand carved granite footings. The river has had plenty of rushing water and flooding events to assist its way into and around the granite blocks. The bridge will be raised off the pilings and the blocks will be reset. The bridge decking is showing sign of wear, so use caution. The trail will be closed in this area during the work, and a detour will be established and marked during construction.
Trail Signs
Some small trail signs posted in some areas (rail trails and dirt and back roads first). It takes awhile to interact with each town and the NH Bureau of Trails (keepers of the rail trails) to get the proper permission to post the signs. They will appear slowly, town by town. For now, use the downloadable cue sheets, the paper map and the RIdeWIthGPS maps. There are a few signs posted on Hogan Road in Gorham and in Shelburne, hopefully they are still there (a few have disappeared).
Reminders:
Your GPS WILL run out of power at some point along the way. Have a back up. Print out and carry a cue sheet. (see maps section). Request a FREE, 7-panel, accordion fold, waterproof, detailed map by emailing a request to crossnewhampshire@gmail.com
Between Woodsville and Whitefield there are typically plenty of possibilities to obtain food and water, however the coronavirus has closed some of them, so check before you go. Whitefield has a small grocery store, a Subway, Triangle Dairy Bar, Dunkin Donuts, a pizza place and a convenience store/gas station. After Whitefield, there is only a small camp store at the Israel River Campground that you can use as a place to get water, drinks and snacks, even ice cream bars. That's it until Gorham, where're you can go a short bit up Jimtown Road to the Mose Brook State Park Campground for water and some snacks. The good folks a t his North are avid cyclists and the crater of Coos Trails (mountain biking tail system) and can help you if you have a bicycle problem. You can get off of the trail to access the Main Street of Gorham for supplies via the bike route (it is marked on the map, access is across the street from the big parking lots at an orange gate.
Send me any trail condition updates, wildlife viewing and good food/lodging experiences! Photos, too!!
crossnewhampshire@gmail.com,
Here is the newly graded surface on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, from Woodsville about 3 miles heading east to the first bridge over the Ammonoosuc River. The trail in this area is now flattened, washboard is gone, potholes are gone.. BUT it is lumpy from the resurrected gravel now, until packed down by the ATVs and some rain. Be patient, it is a bit slow and tedious, but it will improve!
This is the tallest beaver dam I have ever seen. The water is lapping at the trails edge. May 5, 2020, Presidential Rail Trail, Jefferson.
June 1st, What a difference a Beaver Deceiver can make! The height of the black outlet pipe is now controlling the water level. The new lowered pond level will not threaten the trail anymore but will still be good for the beavers and the surrounding wetlands. Win Win Win.
May 2, 2020 The Ammonoosuc Rail Trail has its issues with uneven surfaces and gravel at the gates. Caution!
Taking a lunch and ice cream break at the Israel River Campground.
May 2, 2020. The Ammonooosuc Rail Trail has its various issues or "Adventures", but it is a beautiful ride along the river, well worth the various surface conditions!
At the edge of the washout is a stack of timbers ready for the bridge replacement. This photos was taken on May 29, 2019. Looks the same as of June, 2020. NEW BRODGE INSTALLED on July 12th!
Here is Hogan Road, the eastern section, no problem with conditions here! This area is elevated from the riverside, so no damage from the flooding.
New railings on a bridge located near Gorham on the Presidential Rail Trail.
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Disclaimer: The Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail and the authors of the website, social media and maps strive to prepare accurate information about the route and the conditions. However, they make no warranty, representation, or guaranty as to the accuracy of any information presented. Conditions on the route can change without warning due to weather, flooding, wear and tear, construction, tree falls, vehicles on the route, etc. You should verify the accuracy of all information obtained from this web site, wear a helmet and abide by safe bicycling standards. By using or relying on any material contained on this site, the user knowingly waives any and all claims for damages against any and all of the entities comprising the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail that may arise from the contained information.