Lakes Region Mountain Biking

[thinkxingu]

Any updates to mountain biking in the Moultonborough area? Since my son is a bit older now, we'll probably end up driving to a couple of the above suggestions (Franklin Falls, etc.), but I'm still interested in ±30 minutes from Moultonborough Neck if anyone's get new beta.

Thanks!

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[fatlazyless]

In Meredith ...... just off Rt 25 ..... 567-acre Page Pond town forest ..... a wetland tributary close to Lake Winnipesaukee ..... free to walk on foot with walking shoes....... NO bicycles, NO atv's, NO snowmobiles .... easy parking off Barnard Ridge Rd in the parking lot with room for about 16-cars

https://www.tpl.org/our-work/page-pond-and-forest

Too bad about the NO bicycles but that's the way it goes, and walking especially in the snowy, icy winter is not half bad and pretty danged good in the spring, summer, & fall ...... suggest you give it a walk!

Is there anyone here who is able to pedal and ride a bicycle but is unable to walk? Possibly, this can be the case with a hip or knee problem when your strong hip/knee powers down on the pedal and your weak hip/knee coasts along for the ride.

[bobkatfly]

Although I haven't personally ridden this system, it isn't too far from you. A friend used to bike this and liked it. Cross country in winter and MB in summer.
https://www.trailforks.com/region/se...&lon=-71.22768
I believe you have to purchase a pass and you can get it at Nordic skier downtown Wolfeboro.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by bobkatfly

Although I haven't personally ridden this system, it isn't too far from you. A friend used to bike this and liked it. Cross country in winter and MB in summer.

https://www.trailforks.com/region/se...&lon=-71.22768

I believe you have to purchase a pass and you can get it at Nordic skier downtown Wolfeboro.

I literally just came across that and a couple other options in that area that I hadn't known about—thanks!

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[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by bobkatfly

Although I haven't personally ridden this system, it isn't too far from you. A friend used to bike this and liked it. Cross country in winter and MB in summer.
https://www.trailforks.com/region/se...&lon=-71.22768
I believe you have to purchase a pass and you can get it at Nordic skier downtown Wolfeboro.

I was curious about this place---Sewall Woods in Wolfeboro---so I went to check it out today. I didn't find it very interesting. It's designed for cross-country skiers. The trails are mostly flat and short---most of them took just 5 or 10 minutes to hike. There's no variation in the terrain or the landscape. The area is quite small despite the large number of trails. There's no remote feeling. It's essentially an urban park.

For a once-a-year outing, have you been to Great Glen? I rode my hybrid bike there and really enjoyed it. Excellent views and varied terrain.

[granitebox]

This website/app has proven handy as we have been traveling to find some trails - probably not much new but good to check nonetheless

mtbproject.com

[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Is there anyone here who is able to pedal and ride a bicycle but is unable to walk? Possibly, this can be the case with a hip or knee problem?

Prior to getting my hip replaced I was a much better cyclist than walker.

Re FLL's suggestion, Route 49 to Waterville Valley is quite nice and leads to interesting places. It doesn't look steep at all to the eye but the slight uphill continues for 10 miles from the junction with 175 to Waterville Valley at just enough pitch to make you think, "Huh, I didn't realize I was this out of shape." The ride back is fun!

The biking around Tamworth is pleasant---Foss Flats Road, for example. 113 near there goes to the Thompson Sanctuary, where you can ride out on a boardwalk to a beautiful observation deck.

Of course, the OP asked about mountain biking, not road. I found lots of good tips for hiking trails in this thread, since many (most?) of these places allow hiking on the MB trails. In some cases snowmobile trails might be in good enough shape for biking.

Be aware that the Franklin Falls trails are poorly marked in my opinion. There are maps at the kiosk, but there are dozens of unmarked cross trails not shown on the map, such that you can lose the main trail. I would take a compass as the trails wind so much that after a while you totally lose your sense of direction. Maybe not a risk for bikers, but definitely a risk for hikers who find themselves lost far from their starting point . . . after sunset . . . with no provisions.

How old is your son, Thinkxingu? There are some easier flattish trails at Franklin Falls, and you can always ride out over the dam, which has a nice view. I see kids around 11 or 12 biking there, not many younger than that. Once you go from route 127 down to the Pemigewasset River valley, it's going to be hard to ride back up.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by SailinAway

Prior to getting my hip replaced I was a much better cyclist than walker.

Re FLL's suggestion, Route 49 to Waterville Valley is quite nice and leads to interesting places. It doesn't look steep at all to the eye but the slight uphill continues for 10 miles from the junction with 175 to Waterville Valley at just enough pitch to make you think, "Huh, I didn't realize I was this out of shape." The ride back is fun!

The biking around Tamworth is pleasant---Foss Flats Road, for example. 113 near there goes to the Thompson Sanctuary, where you can ride out on a boardwalk to a beautiful observation deck.

Of course, the OP asked about mountain biking, not road. I found lots of good tips for hiking trails in this thread, since many (most?) of these places allow hiking on the MB trails. In some cases snowmobile trails might be in good enough shape for biking.

Be aware that the Franklin Falls trails are poorly marked in my opinion. There are maps at the kiosk, but there are dozens of unmarked cross trails not shown on the map, such that you can lose the main trail. I would take a compass as the trails wind so much that after a while you totally lose your sense of direction. Maybe not a risk for bikers, but definitely a risk for hikers who find themselves lost far from their starting point . . . after sunset . . . with no provisions.

How old is your son, Thinkxingu? There are some easier flattish trails at Franklin Falls, and you can always ride out over the dam, which has a nice view. I see kids around 11 or 12 biking there, not many younger than that. Once you go from route 127 down to the Pemigewasset River valley, it's going to be hard to ride back up.

I gave up the road last year when I sold my unicorn Lemond—I just simply didn't feel comfortable on the roads anymore. Were I still pedaling with a group, I might feel differently.

L'il Buddy is just about 12, and he's a great rider. Franklin Falls would be fine, but it's almost an hour from Moultonborough Neck. It appears there's some good riding in Plymouth at ~30 minutes and some new(ish) stuff in Wolfeboro, which is just over 30. I'll be checking out both this summer!

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[Riviera]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Any updates to mountain biking in the Moultonborough area? Since my son is a bit older now, we'll probably end up driving to a couple of the above suggestions (Franklin Falls, etc.), but I'm still interested in ±30 minutes from Moultonborough Neck

We ride e-mountain bikes all over the place. Here are a few ideas:

1. Google “gravel maps”, and look at that website. We often ride back/dirt roads in the Sandwich/Moultonboro area. Lots of good ones in the Canterbury area as well.

2. The Wolfeboro to Wakefield Cotton Valley Rail Trail is nice. In fact, most rail trails are great if you don’t want to beat yourself up with hills. The Winni rail trail from Tilton to Boscawen, or the Franklin to Lebanon trails are great.

3. Green Woodlands in Dorchester NH is spectacular. You’re going to need an e-bike to keep up with a teenager though!

4. Franklin Falls is great, as is Bear Brook State park.

Download the app “Ride with GPS”. Its great for route planning. Some of the map formats highlight trails by difficulty. Stick to green, until you know what you might be able to handle. If you PM me your e-mail, I can send you some of the trips we’ve made, that you can upload into the app.

[Grant]

Not sure what the situation is today, but I used to really enjoy the mountain bike trails at Gunstock. Back in the day, you'd pay a nominal access fee and could ride miles of trails up there. And they used to have racing nights in the summer months.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Riviera

We ride e-mountain bikes all over the place. Here are a few ideas:

1. Google “gravel maps”, and look at that website. We often ride back/dirt roads in the Sandwich/Moultonboro area. Lots of good ones in the Canterbury area as well.

2. The Wolfeboro to Wakefield Cotton Valley Rail Trail is nice. In fact, most rail trails are great if you don’t want to beat yourself up with hills. The Winni rail trail from Tilton to Boscawen, or the Franklin to Lebanon trails are great.

3. Green Woodlands in Dorchester NH is spectacular. You’re going to need an e-bike to keep up with a teenager though!

4. Franklin Falls is great, as is Bear Brook State park.

Download the app “Ride with GPS”. Its great for route planning. Some of the map formats highlight trails by difficulty. Stick to green, until you know what you might be able to handle. If you PM me your e-mail, I can send you some of the trips we’ve made, that you can upload into the app.

Green Woodlands looks amazing and it's much closer than I'd thought.

It sounds like you're talking about a couple different types of riding here, mountain and road/dirt road. Though I'm sometimes interested in road/rail trail, what I'm (ideally) looking for is fast and smooth singletrack with views. If only Yudicky (Creepee Teepee/Windigo/Wormhole/Barbed Wire) were in the Red Hill area!

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[BroadHopper]

Gunstock allows mountain biking. Ramblin' Vewe Farm on Morrill Street as well. Ahern State Park on Winnisquam in Laconia is another gem.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Gunstock allows mountain biking. Ramblin' Vewe Farm on Morrill Street as well. Ahern State Park on Winnisquam in Laconia is another gem.

Gunstock is all lift-served downhill, though, right? I'm not much of a downhiller with this "compact" (my student's recent description) body!

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[Riviera]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Gunstock allows mountain biking. Ramblin' Vewe Farm on Morrill Street as well. Ahern State Park on Winnisquam in Laconia is another gem.

Agree that all of those are good, albeit fairly hilly if you are not in pretty good shape, or not riding an e-bike.

Gunstocks best mountain biking trails are the cross country ski trails.