Mountain Biking In New Hampshire: A Great Family Activity

July 21st, 2010 Posted in Outdoors

New Hampshire is a fantastic place for four-season outdoor recreation. Snow skiing and ice skating in winter, swimming, hiking and biking in spring, summer and fall, New Hampshire is the perfect place to spend some time in the great outdoors.

Take The Cherry Mountain Loop Trail

The 25-mile long Cherry Mountain Loop trail takes mountain bikers through northern New Hampshire and around the Dartmouth Range. Ride your Schwinn mountain bike from the trail head on Route 302, along the Ammonoosuc River on Lower Falls trail. At about half a mile in, check out the first of three waterfalls you will be seeing along your ride. At Cherry Mountain Road the trail changes from paved to unpaved. The adventurous can take a 3.5 mile detour to the top of Mt. Martha and the not-so-adventurous can stay on the main loop. Continue down the trail to the Mt. Mitten Road. This road winds up at Jefferson Notch where you will most likely see traffic.

Take The Attitash Trails

Attitash Trails in Bartlett, New Hampshire has more than 20 miles of trails for riders of all ability levels. If you plan to take the downhill trails, be sure to wear your padded Pearl Izumi shorts for the totally insane ride. Families with children would do better on the cross country trails. Start at the Attitash base lodge following trail 16 until it meets trail nine. At that point, you can follow the trail along the Saco River until it meets up with trail 16 again. Go around Thorne Pond on trail 15 and then backtrack your route to complete your loop at the base lodge. Bikes are available for rental.

Keene’s Drummer Hill Trail

Keene, in southwestern New Hampshire, is home to the Drummer Hill Trail. These are another set of trails that will work for all ability levels. Experienced riders can take their Diamondback bikes on any number of trails that branch off of the main trail and enjoy super steep downhill, dirt jumps and dropoffs. People who are not up for downhill biking, can stay on the main trail, which is said to be fairly wide and easy riding.

Bike Trails For Everyone

New Hampshire mountain bike trails cater to a wide variety of ability levels. All of the trails go through beautiful New Hampshire woods, along rolling hills and rivers. Mountain biking in New Hampshire is a great activity to do with family and friends.