Biking in the White Mountains

Whether you prefer on-road or off-road biking, you'll find mile after mile of roads and trails in the White Mountains. Cyclists can take back country roads or scenic byways - or can make a holiday of it, traveling from inn to inn, or campground to campground, all around the mountains.

Mountain bikers can choose from old logging roads, mountain trails and country paths and several of the region's downhill ski areas, including Attitash, Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley, offer lift-served mountain biking in the summer. Some of the state's snowmobile corridor system is available for off-road exploration, too.

New Hampshire State Parks offers some exceptional trail riding. For example, the Franconia Notch State Park Recreational Trail (also known as Franconia Notch Bike Path) is a paved trail that parallels Franconia Notch State Parkway and can be ridden to from the Nordic Inn. The 20- mile round trip brings riders within easy reach of park attractions including the Flume Gorge, the Old Man of the Mountain Profile, Profile Lake, Boise Rock, the Basin, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway and Echo Lake. There's no fee for the use of the bike path. However, fees are charged at some attractions.

Mountain Bikers should note that while much of the White Mountain National Forest is open to biking, the five wilderness areas -- Caribou-Speckled Mountain, Great Gulf, Pemigewasset, Presidential Range/Dry River and Sandwich Range -- are closed to bicycles. Please also remember to respect private property: ask permission from owners prior to riding on their land.

For some great biking trails visit www.MountainBike.com