The 14 best places to snowmobile in New Hampshire are as follows:
- Ashuelot Reactional Rail Trail
- Bear Notch Trail
- Cheshire Rail Trail
- Concord Snowmobile Trails
- Conway Branch
- Coos County Snowmobiling
- Cotton Valley Rail-Trail
- Grafton County Trails
- Moultonboro Snowmobile Trails
- Northern Rail Trail
- Pittsburg Snowmobile Trail System
- Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail
- Twin Mountain Snowmobiling
- Whitefield Snowmobile Trails
The state of New Hampshire has more than 7,000 miles on 31 trails for snowmobilers to explore and enjoy. It offers groomed trails that lead to many well-known spots and services. Take a few days out of your week to enjoy the sights New Hampshire has to offer, no matter if you’re a resident or an out-of-stater looking for a new spot for snowmobiling.
New Hampshire provides snowmobilers with an experience they will always remember.
Let’s take a look at the most popular snowmobile trails in New Hampshire!
14 Best Places to Snowmobile in New Hampshire
1. Ashuelot Reactional Rail Trail
There are nearly 22 miles of snowmobiling trail that runs along the Ashuelot Railroad, passing many historical landmarks, including abandoned mills, covered bridges, etc. The rail-trail starts off with asphalt in the town of Keene, and you follow it south along the Ashuelot River to the town of Hinsdale. All kinds of winter sports are enjoyed here, including snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dogsledding and snowshoeing.
2. Bear Notch Trail
Near the town of Bartlett is 45-miles of networked snowmobile trails, including the Bear Notch Trail. The White Mountain Trail Club maintains these network trails to ensure a family-safe environment. With the Bear Notch Trail, there are 50 miles of a closed-loop system where 11 other trails are linked, so getting lost is unlikely to occur. The trails will take you across Bear Notch Road, allowing you to take in the sights of Presidential Range and Mt. Washington.
3. Cheshire Rail Trail
The Cheshire Rail Trail brought together two distinct systems, one that runs north up to Walpole from Keene and south from Keene to Fitzwilliam. It’s nearly 33 miles of trail that includes Keene’s one-mile Industrial Heritage Trail. Snowmobilers who work to keep the trail groomed are permitted to ride.
4. Concord Snowmobile Trails
The Concord Snowmobile Trails is quite popular because of its speed limit. Here, snowmobilers can go as fast as 55 miles per hour without receiving a ticket. The best places to visit for snowmobiling along the trail are Andover, Henniker, Pawtuckaway State Park and Warner.
5. Conway Branch
This is a 21-mile trail that runs along an old rail strip between Conway and Ossipee – a popular branch with rail car and snowmobile clubs. In Madison, these are active tracks between Boulder Road and Silver Lake. The trail surface is not designed for non-motorized uses.
6. Coos County Snowmobiling
Coos County is regarded as having the best snowmobile trails in the state, with incredible scenery to take in while traveling. Travel the Corridor Trail 5 and see what the Nash Stream area has to offer riders.
7. Cotton Valley Rail-Trail
This trail connects Wakefield and Wolfeboro, both of which put together a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 12-mile trail. Along the way, you can see reminders of the railroad history, which makes it a must-visit spot for keen railcar fanatics. In Wakefield, the trail starts a small park around the Old Boston and Maine Railroad Turntable. The turntable had been refurbished in the 1990s to make it more advantageous to park visitors and riders.
8. Grafton County Trails
Grafton County has a large swath of well-groomed networked snowmobile trails, which the Bruhawachet Sno-Trackers Club cares for.
9. Moultonboro Snowmobile Trails
Check out the Castle in the Clouds in this area of New Hampshire. It’s an area of New Hampshire that experiences “sparkling snow.” There are roughly 100 miles of trails to take or drive off the beaten path to hike the Ossipee Mountain Range or Red Hill. Here, you can stop off and have some lunch as you take in the sights the area has to offer. Go to either Bartlett or Sunapee and do some skiing on the slopes.
10. Northern Rail Trail
This nearly 58-mile trail runs from Lebanon to Boscawen, making it the longest trail in the state. It runs in and out of both Merrimack and Grafton counties. The Northern Rail Trail is open for all kinds of activities, including snowmobiling, walking, biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, etc. This is one of five popular trails that the American Recreational Trails Program has helped to take care of.
11. Pittsburg Snowmobile Trail System
In the Great North Woods area, near Pittsburg, is an expansive network of more than 200 miles conditioned snowmobile trails. The trails also connect with those in Vermont, Maine and Canada, and the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Club members make sure to take good care of them. The best trail of this system runs toward the top of Diamond Ridge, which offers spectacular views of the horizon.
12. Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail
The 18.3-mile Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail spans across wooded areas and offers wetland sites, going from Epping to Windham. A dirt surface makes up the northern half of the trail but can be used for hiking, mountain bike riding and snowmobiling.
There are two aspects of the Portsmouth Branch of Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail:
- It’s the state’s longest rail-trail (over 28 miles)
- It starts in the state’s biggest city, Manchester
When traveling, no matter how you travel, you can take in the views of the forests and lakes, check out the former mill towns and historic buildings and relics left behind from the state’s railroad era.
13. Twin Mountain Snowmobiling
Twin Mountain, which the White Mountain National Forest envelops, is a four-season section of the state. It offers a large network of well-conditioned trails for biking, hiking, snowmobiling and skiing. The Twin Mountain Snowmobile Club members are often seen taking care of it for visitors.
14. Whitefield Snowmobile Trails
One of the most popular spots in New Hampshire is the Whitefield Snowmobile Trails, which is 19 miles long and begins in Woodsville and connects with the Blackmount Trail. A part of this trail is the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, but one should be careful snowmobiling here as it can be rough in spots. However, you get to take in a great many sights along the way, such as the quintessential covered bridge in Beth.
Finally…
There are more than 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails, making wintertime a great time to enjoy an outdoor excursion. The many groomed trails of New Hampshire link to various popular and scenic locations and services. If you want to go sightseeing, opt for the longer trails and take several days to cross the state. You can go ride along or go with the family.
No matter what activity you go for – and whether you go it alone or with family/friends – it’s going to be a time to remember.
Keep in mind that New Hampshire offers a snowmobile map in many of its convenience stores. Pick a spot and take some time away from your busy life to enjoy the nature of the state. So let’s go and visit one of the best places to ride a snowmobile in New Hampshire!
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