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Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
in the Mount Washington Valley of New
Hampshire
Bretton Woods Nordic (603-278-3322, www.brettonwoods.com) has 100 km of xc ski and snowshoe trails on the grounds of the Mount Washington Hotel. The grand hotel at the southern base of the mighty Mt. Washington with 1,700 acres of spectacular scenery is home to a new Nordic center housing ski school, rental equipment, warming and waxing rooms and a retail shop. This area averages 200 inches of snow every year. The Mountain Road trail, which is accessible from the top of a lift at the Bretton Woods alpine area (5 minutes from the Nordic Center) and winds around the ski area is a 7 km run, which may be the most fun to be had on xc skis in New England. For a full page of info on Bretton Woods Nordic, click here. Daily 8:30 AM-4:00 PM. CCSAA member
Great Glen Trails (603-466-2333, www.greatglentrails.com) has 40 km of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails at the base of Mt. Washington, which translates into jaw-dropping scenery all around you. Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center's new lodge is open with a climbing wall, new rental equipment, lessons, tubing, food service and a large xc skiing retail space. One loop and the learning area have snowmaking. Telemarkers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers can take a snowcoach partly up the Mt. Washington Auto Road (to 4,000 foot elevation), then ski down; sightseers also are welcome on the snowcoach. The resort also has a snowtubing park. For a full page about Great Glen click here. Daily 8:30 AM-4:00 PM. CCSAA member.
Jackson Ski Touring Foundation (603-383-9355 or 800-927-6697; www.jacksonxc.org), on Rte. 16A, is a Mecca for Nordic skiers. For a full page click Jackson Ski Touring. It has more than 154 km of trails (87 km. are groomed), suitable for all ability levels. Country inns are spaced throughout the region. The base lodge is located around the corner in Jackson Village, directly across from the Red Fox Pub. Jackson Ski Touring Center has the Cantina, which is only 3 km from the center on the easy Ellis River Trail with separate trails for xc skiing or snowshoeing to it. On weekends, take the kids to the Cantina and watch them ski around the Anklebiters Loop around a bonfire. Free midweek trail passes are available to visitors, who stay in most of Jackson's hotels, lodges, and inns. Daily 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Click for info on a variety of local accommodations including Eagle Mountain House. CCSAA member
For a variety of local accommodations in the area click Eagle Mountain House, Christmas Farm Inn, Lodge at Jackson Village, or in North Conway the Spruce Moose Lodge
The Bear Mountain Lodge (888-869-2189, www.bearmountainlodge.net) in Bethlehem is a newly completed log bed and breakfast with panormic views in the heart of the White Mountains. Rooms and ambiance provides solitude and comfort. In the vicinity of the resorts of the Mount Washington Valley. Full hearty breakfast and ski/snowshoe on property or take off to other resorts, shopping, and restaurants in the region.
Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Center (603-356-9920, www.crosscountryskinh.com) has more than 65 km of inn-to-inn trails, plus ski school and rentals. Trails connect the towns of Intervale, Kearsarge and North Conway offering views of the Saco River and Mt. Washington. Guided start-gazing tours and animal-tracking clinics are offered. Daily 8:00AM-Dusk.
Bear Notch Ski Touring Center (603-374-2277,
www.bearnotchski.com) is one of the valley’s best kept secrets
in Bartlett, NH has 70 km of groomed trails along the Saco River in
the Bear Mountain area with riverside views, pristine waterfalls, meadows
and challenging hills. Bear Notch has rental equipment and lessons available
and a guided naturalist tour on weekends with reservations. It is 15
minutes from North Conway. With a truly beautiful setting just north
of Bartlett Village (Rte. 302), Bear Notch trails offer uncrowded wooded
scenery and a 200 year-old farmhouse base lodge. CCSAA member
Purity Spring Resort (800-373-3754 or 367-8896, www.kingpine.com) or King Pine Ski Touring Center is in East Madison at the Purity Spring Resort. It has groomed trails, rentals, and lessons and as it is a combined alpine ski/xc ski area, there is no trail fee if you have an alpine lift ticket. Trails meander through resort grounds and the Hoyt Audubon Sanctuary with views of Bald Ledge, Purity Lake and a wild bird feeding station. The resort has an indoor pool, spa, restaurant and lodging. Alpine skiing, tubing, sledding and ice skating available. CCSAA member
The Appalachian Mountain Club (603-466-2721) maintains a network of touring trails radiating from the AMC Camp at Pinkham Notch. About 7 km are rated Easiest or More Difficult (requiring skills up to a strong snowplow and step-turn), but about 40 km are rated Most Difficult, with long challenging hills and narrow trails. AMC also has unusual dining; see that section for more details.
