New Hampshire Snowmobile Trails
New Hampshire Snowmobile Trails
The Best New Hampshire Snowmobile Trails
Though the fifth smallest state by area, New Hampshire outshines many much larger states when it comes to snowmobiling, with 6,930 miles of snowmobile trails. NH snowmobile trails are characterized by a wide variety of terrain ranging from rolling plains to thicketed valleys to majestic mountains, including snowmobiling trails that roam into neighboring states and provinces like Vermont, Maine and Quebec. Though you can ride snowmobile on a number of trails on state owned or managed land, 70% of snowmobile trails are on private land. New Hampshire snowmobile trails can be found throughout the state, either in one of the seven regions, or on one of the two railroad lines, or on one of the 13 recreational rail trails. Where are the best spots for snowmobiling New Hampshire? Which are the best snowmobile trails near me when I’m in New Hampshire? How can I find the New Hampshire snowmobile trails that are “must visit?” Below is a list of just a few of the best places to go snowmobiling in New Hampshire, calling out a few of the regions and recreational rail trails in particular, compiled by the experts at Treadworld, with location information. It’s always a good idea to check out New Hampshire snowmobile trail conditions before you head out for your snowmobile adventures.
Great North Woods Region
Located at the northern tip of New Hampshire
Part of the larger North Woods and also known as The North Country, this area trumpets itself as the “snowmobiling capital of New England,” a claim that’s hard to dispute when you consider the more than 700 miles of snowmobiling trails that crisscross the area over rolling hills, through towering forests, past big lakes and by roaring rivers.
White Mountain Region
Located in northern New Hampshire
This area is named for the White Mountains, which cover most of the region. When you’re in the eastern White Mountains area, the Lead Mine Trail in Gorham offers a spectacular close-up view of Mt. Washington along with the beauty of the Gorham Valley. Plus, you can also see the peak from the Mt. Forest Trail. Bartlett and the Bear Notch region, home to 50 miles of wide, groomed trails, is a popular destination for snowmobilers in central part of the region, and in the western areas you’ll find the Franconia Notch State Park Recreational Trail, a 20-mile paved trail that parallels the Parkway in Franconia Notch State Park, along with the popular Ammonoosuc Rail Trail
Lakes Region
Located in the east-central part of New Hampshire
As you may have guessed, this area is named for the many lakes in the area, including Lake Winnepesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Squam Lake and Newfound Lake (say each of those 4 times fast!) Here you’ll find an extensive network of trails that provide tons of opportunity to enjoy wide vistas across the ice as part of the more than 100 miles of snowmobile trails in the area. You can ride to the historic Castle in the Clouds in this region (a mountaintop estate opened seasonally to the public by the Castle Preservation Society), or visit Waterville Valley, or stop and enjoy the village of Meredith. When running at higher speeds on Lake Winnipesaukee, keep an eye open for ice riffs or you may find yourself airborne. The Lakes Region Tourism Association reports there are 400 members specifically gear up to welcome and invite snowmobile enthusiasts to the region each year.
Monadnock Region
Located in southwestern New Hampshire, south of the White Mountains
One of the best ways to snowmobile New Hampshire is by heading to this region where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of snow-capped mountains while riding through forests and passing around or over scenic ponds and lakes. Among the 96 miles of trails in the region is the 42-mile Cheshire Rail Trail running from Winchester, MA, north to Keene, MA, known for some tricky turns and sudden steep inclines. It’s one of the two longest recreational rail trails in the state. Additionally, the Monadnock Rail Trail runs seven miles beginning at the Massachusetts border and heading north to downtown Peterborough, MA.
Other regions in New Hampshire that are suitable for your snowmobiling adventures are the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region, the Merrimack Valley Region and the Seacoast Region. Other than the Cheshire and Monadnock Rail Trails mentioned above, some of the best snowmobile trails in the state can be found among New Hampshire’s 13 Recreational Rail Trails.
Ammonoosuc Recreational Rail Trail
Location: Grafton County, NH. Trail end points: Littleton, NH and Woodsville, NH
Following the scenic Ammonoosuc River, this 19.2 mile trail offers snowmobilers a variety of landscapes including forest, wetlands, fields, and farmland, some of which can provide some challenging snowmobiling. This trail will take you past the 345-foot 1832 Thompson Covered Bridge in Bath. It’s also part of the larger 83-mile Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail between Woodsville, New Hampshire, and Bethel, Maine.
Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail
Location: Cheshire County, NH. Trail end points: Keene, NH and Hinsdale, NH
Tracing the corridor of the Ashuelot Railroad ,which served the area from 1851 to 1983, this 21.5-mile trail passes scenic and historical landmarks like covered bridges, abandoned mills, and postcard-perfect towns. Next to the trail you can see the Ashuelot Covered Bridge, built in 1864 to bring wood across the Ashuelot River to fuel the burners of the railroad’s steam engines. It was considered one of New England’s most sophisticated covered bridges in its day, with a span 169 feet long, decorated with intricate latticework.
Cotton Valley Recreational Rail Trail
Location: Carroll County, NH. Trail end points: Wakefield, NH and Wolfeboro, NH
Here you’ve got a 12-mile trail connecting Wakefield, near the Maine border, and the New England vacation town of Wolfeboro. It’s a trail that is proud of its railroad heritage and the fact that it’s one of only three rail trails under DNCR management with intact rails. The trail delightfully twists back and forth along both sides of the rails, while providing opportunities to ride through the canopied northeastern woods. The eastern section includes some small hills that can prove challenging to inexperienced snowmobilers.
Northern Recreational Rail Trail
Location: Grafton and Merrimack Counties, NH. Trail end points: Lebanon, NH and Boscawn, NH
The longest rail trail conversion where you can ride snowmobile, this ride spans nearly 58 miles of both uphill and downhill trails with river-crossings, including the Mascoma River several times, that takes you over nine bridges and through some heavily wooded areas. You can link up with the Winnipesaukee River Trail, and plans call for linking up with the Granite State Rail Trail.
That’s Only A Few…
Perhaps snowmobiling in New Hampshire isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about the best places to snowmobile in the nation, but nobody could blame you if you did. With nearly 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails, the state dwarfs the efforts of other states. We’ve only highlighted a few of the wonderful New Hampshire snowmobile trails, regions and recreational rail trails here, but you won’t have to look very hard to find others.
We’re Treadworld, Home of the Best Specialty Tires Anywhere
Whether you’re in New Hampshire or somewhere else, when you do decide to snowmobile outside your own backyard, one of the safest ways to transport your sleds is with a snowmobile trailer. And you can count on us to provide you with the high performance tires for snowmobile trailer that will get you safely where you’re going. Even the best snowmobile trailer is worthless if it’s not equipped with dependable tires. Here at Treadworld, we have the right trailer tires for every occasion. You can count on Rubbermaster brand trailer tires to provide the best in top quality, long-lasting, never-let-you-down reliability, manufactured with strict tolerances from top rubber compounds, triple-tested for quality before being X-rayed to be sure they’re perfect, then covered by our Ultimate Advantage Lifetime Warranty. Don’t hesitate to contact our tire experts via live chat or email with any questions you may have.
