Winter Route
Cross-Country Ski the Adventure Trail
Winter on the xNHAT
It WAS possible to xc ski, snowshoe or winter hike all the way across New Hampshire from the Connecticut RIver to the Maine Border. The route traveled from Woodsville all the way to Gorham on rail trails, abandoned rail lines and rail lines not used by trains in winter.
The Problem: The railroad is planning to use the tracks between Bethlehem and Whitefield, and Whitefield to Pondicherry, so we are currently NOT allowed to use the rail corridors for xc skiing or snowmobiling. Argh.
It was a great route, almost every mile was groomed by the local snowmobile clubs and the NH Bureau of Trails. We are very sad to lose this gem. Maybe we will get sections of this back once the railroad settles on its plans and customers in the region.
What you CAN ski or snowshoe:
The entire Ammonoosuc Rail Trail from Woodsville to Bethlehem
The entire Presidential Rail Trail from Pondicherry to Gorham PLUS then continue onto Hogan Road
to North Road in Shelburne. Hogan Road is unplowed, not used by snowmobiles, not groomed, so it is a backcountry experience. It may have deep snow or an icy crust, so you will need to know the conditions before heading out.
There is a short walk on North Road to get to the AT trailhead on Route 2. From there you follow the AT for about 0.6 mile, then turn east on a snowmobile trail, which is NOT a rail trail, so it has hills, but is fun to ski when there are good conditions! Grooming by the snowmobile clubs occurs once or twice weekly, but in low snow or icy conditions, the trails may not be groomed and may be closed until adequate snow cover is obtained. Go all the way to Bethel on the snowmobile trail. Be sure to get a map of the snowmobile trails online: www.slednh.org
RideWithGPS Map of the Border to Border Winter Route:
Know the Snow Before You Go
There is never a guarantee that the snowmobile clubs will groom the route on any particular day. Any snowmobile using the trails will provide some "grooming", but realize that that skiing on a snowmobile trail is NOT the same as skiing on a pristine corduroy trail at a cross country ski area. There are no "Tracks" for classic skis. The conditions may be perfect for skating, but they also can be NOT good! So, if you head out there, be aware of the snow conditions and realize that it is an ADVENTURE!! If you have questions, email us at info@xnhat.org
ALSO: Share the trail with the snowmobiles! Their club fees and registrations are paying for the grooming and winter maintenance of the trails. If you use the trails frequently, how about a donation to the local snowmobile club to show appreciation for their effort? They are very happy to take the "Thank You"!