Bike:
Bike:
Local Mountain Bike Rides & Maps
The following mapping effort couldn't have been conceived without those who first paved the way for us with their (literal and metaphorical) rakes in hand and backs-a-achin. Thanks to all who continue to support mountain biking: The Lopper Wielders, Bike Advocates, Town-Meeting-Sitter-Throughers, Petition Signers (the good kind), Frame Builders, Wheel Truers, GPS Users, Trail Blazers, Google Earthers, Flat Earthers, Melvins, Woodchucks, Wannabes, Adult Male Supporters, Tokers, Uncle Todds, Harmonious Voices in the Maelstrom, and of course, the Riders (most likely you).
This page is dedicated to Rob Douglas, one of those voices.
The Trail List
Gile Mountain Firetower / Blue Ribbon Trail
Oak Hill
Boston Lot Area
French's Ledges
Cornish Town Forest
Gile Mountain Firetower / Blue Ribbon Trail
Norwich, VT
<-- Check out the mapPhyiscal Difficulty: Strenuous
Technical Difficulty: Intermediate
Distance from Hanover: 15 minutes
The Story: Some of the best local dirt we've got. Sweet singletrack. Off-camber roots that grab fistfuls of tire. Gratifying little technical problems pasted here and there, with a flow you could never achieve when designing courses in Excitebike circa '95. A mingling of sweat and blood. What more could we ask for?
Distances: 7.5 mi round trip from Beaver Meadow Lot
How To Get There: To get to the Beaver Meadow Rd Lot , cross the bridge into Vermont and head up the hill about one mile into Norwich. Turn left onto Beaver Meadow Road (just after Dan & Whit's General Store) and follow it for about 5 miles. Just before Tucker Hill Road, pull in to the big gravel parking area on your left. Do a U-turn at Tucker Hill Road if you go by it. The trail begins just across the road at a gate.
Trail Description: From the Beaver Meadow Lot, cross the road and finesse your ride around the green gate. Immediately take a right at the sign pointing to "The Blue Ribbon Trail", cross a tiny rock bridge and come face to face with the steepest pitch of the entire ride. Slash your way up the hillside like Lopsang Sherpa, confident that the climb will moderate shortly. Uphill does remain the theme until you reach the firetower on Gile Mountain, so settle in. You'll pass a few side trails on the way up (mostly old logging roads) but the main track is always obvious and clearly marked with--you guessed it--blue ribbons on the trees. The Blue Ribbon Trail is also almost 100% singletrack. At 3.7 miles, you'll arrive at a signed junction in front of a vernal pool. A left turn takes you immediately (0.1 mi) to the base of the firetower, which you should climb for the majestic view, and a right begins a fun descent down to the Turnpike Road Parking Lot . We usually turn-and-burn here, reversing the above directions and descending the same way we climbed up. It is fast and furious, with a few uphills thrown in for good measure. Pin it on that last rollercoaster drop at the end.
Other Variations: Climb the trail from the Turnpike Road Lot (1.2 miles to the tower via the Firetower Trail). Use the parking lot directions from the Copper Mines ride to get there. The Firetower Trail begins directly from the back of the Turnpike Road Lot . Or link this ride up with the trails described in the Copper Mines section for a truly epic day.
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Oak Hill Trails
Hanover, NH
<-- Check out the mapPhyiscal Difficulty: Moderate
Technical Difficulty: Low
Distance from Hanover: 5 minutes
The Story: In the winter, Oak Hill functions as Hanover's Nordic Ski Center. The trails have been widened, graded and maintained for skiing which makes for a great "workout" ride on a mountain bike without much technical riding. The wicked twist of a calf cramp and the inability to swallow enough oxygen to quench burning lungs are your most likely foes here. It's also an exercise in exploration to navigate the labyrinthine trail network, while at the same time being nearly impossible to get lost--almost every trail junction is signed and most have the Oak Hill map posted with a "You are here" arrow. This may not sound like righteous singletrack, but we celebrate the Oakster for its other charms.
Distances: 8.5 mi on the Silver Fox Loop (you can put together a loop of almost any conceivable length, though)
How To Get There: Take Route 10 North out of Hanover towards Lyme. The golf course will whiz by on your left, and about 1.5 miles, turn right before the Food Co-op gas station onto Reservoir Rd. Follow it about 0.5 miles more to a T-intersection. Turn left and head by the sign for the Oak Hill Nordic Center. Take your first right and park in the large lot.
Trail Description: You'll see the "hill" aspect of Oak Hill staring down at you in the parking lot with quiet disdain, so be prepared to sweat and breath heavily for the privilege of biking here. Start the climb and choose whatever route strikes your fancy; the fun is all in the exploration. Just about every trail junction is numbered, so at any given point in the ride you can find your position on the map and plot your course easily. Make sure to put some rubber to the Screamin' Downhill, one of the shop favorites.
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Boston Lot
Hanover & Lebanon, NH
<-- Check out the mapPhyiscal Difficulty: Strenuous
Technical Difficulty: Intermediate
Distance from Hanover: 5 minutes
The Story: Some of the terrain here is rockier than John Mellencamp as "The Cougar." Doubletrack that never bores (dappled with technical spots and even some slickrock-- seriously!) and nice singletrack make for a worthy adventure. The babyheads await!
Distances: 3.7 miles on the suggested loop
How To Get There: Though you can also access the western side of Boston Lot from Sachem Village or the Wilder Dam, this ride starts at the dead-end Indian Ridge Road. From Hanover, head south on Route 10, pass the athletic fields and hang a left on Indian Ridge Rd just before the downhill (1.5 miles from town)--the sign comes up fast so be ready to jack the wheel. The road quickly dead-ends; park at the gate and saddle up.
Trail Description: Passing the Gate, follow the old road along a big field until it T-junctions into the power line trail. Turn right, following the power line right-of-way until an obvious doubletrack (0.5 mi) veers left and climbs into the woods. Head left, roll out the granny-panties and prepare to spin. Notice the derelict car rusting silently on your right. Top out at a trail junction (0.6 mi) and turn left, following the doubletrack. You'll pass by two separate trails (hiking only) that both head up to Indian Ridge, then the Water Tower Trail (which you should mark, as you'll be climbing it on the way back). Hang a right (1.1 mi) at the sign for "Hemlock" which will quickly lead you to the beginning of the Burnt Mountain Trail loop. Cross a well-constructed bridge and turn left onto the Burnt Mountain Trail. The Hemlock Trail continues straight ahead and is designated for hiking only. At 1.6 miles, pass by the junction with the Hemlock Trail as it rejoins the main drag. After a hard left-hand turn and a steep climb, you're at the top (1.7 mi). Just as you begin to head downhill and negotiate a switchback to the left, notice the open rock ledge on your right. It makes a good rest spot and you can take in a pretty decent view as well. This is, as you may have guessed, Burnt Mountain. Now enjoy the downhill. At 2.3 mi, you'll remerge in familiar territory on the Eastside Trail. You should return to the Water Tower Trail if you want a short (0.3 mi length) technical climb. It T-Junctions with the gravel road that leads quickly to the water tower itself (2.6 mi). Take a rest, head back down to the Eastside Trail and then retrace your steps to your vehicle (3.7 mi total). Worthy tip: This place is a bastion for biting insects. They do not know mercy. DO NOT ride here during the wetness of spring if you value your blood and/or sanity.
Other Variations: Check out the Westside Trail that leads to the lake itself. We've seen bald eagles up there, and the water makes for a nice apres-ride swim.
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Cornish Town Forest
Cornish, NH
<-- Check out the mapPhyiscal Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Technical Difficulty: Advanced
Distance from Hanover: 40 minutes
The Story: The Cornish Town Forest is laced with 8 miles of superbly-designed singletrack. Almost all the riding here has a very robust technical flavor that is best appreciated with your pinky out. Solid balance and good bike handling skills will help. The network has been carefully laid out with Vedder- approved Evenflow and each of the trails is blazed consistently with its designated color. If you enjoy slow, technical riding with lots of natural rock obstacles, this is your rock Garden of Eden.
Distances: (See map)
How To Get There: To get to the Paddy Hollow Road entrance , take I-91 South from Hanover about 24 miles to exit 8 (for Ascutney / Windsor). Turn left onto 131, follow it east across Route 5 (it becomes 12/103), cross the Connecticut River into New Hampshire and take a left onto 12A (12A is about 0.5 miles from the River). Follow 12A North for 1.2 miles and turn right onto Windy Hill Road (known on older maps as Punkshire Road--a kick-ass road name). Take Windy Hill 1 mile until it T-intersections with Paddy Hollow Road. Turn left on Paddy Hollow. The parking area indicated on the map is 1 mile up the road. Note that Paddy Hollow turns into a Class IV road in 0.6 miles; we usually opt to park at one of the obvious pull-offs on the left-hand side of the maintained road and bike the rest of the way to the original parking lot. Also, the Class IV roads in the Cornish Town Forest are closed during mud season (April, May and June) to motorized vehicles. The parking lot off of Tandy Brook Road that accesses the opposite end of the Red Trail is best avoided. The beginning of the Red Trail here is a wicked and rocky climb (you'll be shouldering your bike until the junction with the Blue Trail) and is notorious for causing injuries. We feel that it's not a great way to start a bike ride. We feel that it sucks.
Trail Description: All of the trails--save for one--can be ridden in either direction. The few uni-directional rock obstacles you'll encounter have bypass routes that guarantee passage if you're coming the opposite way. The only exception to this is the steep and gnarly white trail pitch (the western half). It is most enjoyable as a downhill ride. Beginning at the Paddy Hollow Road parking lot, you can link together loops of any conceivable length. You may want to start by heading east on the red trail, then working your way back through the blue and yellow loops, descending one of the white trails and finishing with a ride around the orange trail. Mix and match. This place is a keeper.
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French's Ledges
Meriden, NH
<-- Check out the mapPhyiscal Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Technical Difficulty: Low to Intermediate
Distance from Hanover: 30 minutes
The Story: French's Ledges is the balding peak (topping out at about 1300 feet) after which this trail network is named. It offers a fantastic panoramic view of Mount Ascutney and the surrounding area. The French's Ledges Singletrack, completed in 2007 provides a nice, fairly non- technical climb that engages the legs and lungs for the duration. Though it doesn't have the direct number for the Manager of your Skillz Department, some of the technical features on the Blue- and Red-blazed trails may have him losing his shizzle and screaming into the phone. Dig it.
Distances: 2.9 miles on the French's Ledges Singletrack (there and back) + lots of other exploring opportunities
How To Get There: From Hanover, take Route 120 South 5 miles through downtown Lebanon, then continue another 8 miles to the junction of Route 120 and Main Street in Meriden, NH. Stay on 120, and in 0.5 miles take a right onto Bonner Rd (at the sign for the Plainfield Elementary School). Take a quick left into the school parking lot, unload and gear up.
Trail Description: The French's Ledges Trail (marked in Barney I Love You Purple on the map) begins at the back of the elementary school parking lot, heading through the field before entering the woods. Cross the big, brand new (as of '07) wooden bridge (0.3 mi) and continue along the trail. You'll encounter several loop trails (Smokehouse, Blood Brook, Townsend), but stay on the French's Ledges Trail (it is consistently signed as "Ledges" at every junction). Don't despair; soon it begins to climb and narrow into an actual single track. Though the trail tread is typical New England rocks and roots, almost all obstacles can be navigated with the aforementioned leg & lung power; it is not demanding of technical bike handling skills. Arrive at the junction with the Red Trail (1.4 mi), lean your bike against a tree and climb the remaining short but very steep distance to French's Ledges. Hiking on bare granite in bike shoes is interesting. When you return, there are numerous other exploration opportunities (see the map) to take advantage of. The French's Ledges Trail makes for a great descent, so plan on making that your last run. The Blue Trail has a much more technical feel (though it is short, 0.4 miles) and is a nice detour. The Red Trail is worth a sample as well. Check out the old ski lodge (now just a chimney) and lift towers of the Kimball Union Academy ski hill (defunct) off of the Yellow Trail as well.
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