Moosilauke-- a classic long ride, that most people at least know about.
The old school route
- Go north on River Road to the bitter end (i.e., keep going straight on river road even when you pass the thetford bridge). If you've never done this section of river road, don't fret about it turning to dirt, it turns back to pavement very quickly. Also, be sure to enjoy the house that has the collection of dugatis, as well as the covered bridge. Ask an elder where the plane crashed during summer 2006. There is a townline ~1 mile after the covered bridge, so pay attention.
- River Road will T into Rte 10, keep going north on 10 for a few miles.
- Turn Right onto 25A. The road is pretty sweet here.
- Left towards Warren on 25 north.
- Take a right a few miles north of warren onto 118. This road is awesome. After a long false flat section, the climb starts, with some pretty steep pitches. The dirt road turnoff for the Moosilauke Lodge is on your left, ~1 mi before the top of the climb. It's a pretty shitty dirt road, very rocky.
- After chilling/ stealing cookies+ coffee/spending the night/whatever at the lodge, trace your steps back to Warren. If you need food, get some at the gas station in warren. To avoid completely retracing your steps, Follow the signs for 25C (not 25A), and take 25C back. You will end up by the Connecticut River, at the level of Bradford, but on the NH side. I recommend crossing the river at this point, and taking rt 5 south back to Hanover.
Better route
- River Road to route 10, as usual.
- Soon after Orford (eg as soon as you pass the big green area), take a right onto Archertown Rd.
- Take a left onto Indian Pond road. this is a really nice road, that follows a ridge, passes a great pond for swimming, and then descends a very pot-holed road, to drop you back onto 25C
- Take 25C to Warren, then do the Moosilauke climb as usual.
- After descending back from Moosilauke, one can take 25A to 10 to get back home. Or....
Best route, as described from the Lodge
- As you head down 118 towards 25, keep heading south on 25/118 instead of turning onto 25A. When 25 and 118 split, follow 118. You're on this a long time.
- You'll eventually end up in Canaan. The simplest way home is to just keep going straight, which takes you along Lake Mascoma. A more enjoyable way is to take a right on the road by the gas station towards Canaan center, and eventually end up on Dorchester Road (passing the Dartmouth Skiway on the way). Going this way makes the whole route 65mi.
Pictures
Beautiful river rd in the summer
A really nice covered bridge on the northern section of river rd.
The view from the lodge-- beautiful
On Dorchester road, near the skiway
A bridge off of 118 that goes nowhere, but sure is pretty
