This is a fairly recent addition to the Dartmouth campus. It has excellent squash and racquetball courts, a dance studio, and an extensive Nautilus and free weight room with rather new exercise machines. All are free of charge, although you may need a reservation for the courts, stairmasters, and treadmills at peak hours. Call 646-2731 for more information.
This complex has squash courts (not as nice as Berry's, but an option), basketball courts, an indoor track (at 13 laps to a mile, it has gained the nickname the "rat track") and two pools. Reservations sometimes required. Call 646-2731 for more information.
The Field House has an 1/8 mile indoor track and indoor tennis courts. The courts require reservations and a small fee. Call 646-2849 for more information.
Skating and hockey. There are public hours. Thompson is great for lunch time skating and afternoon open-stick hockey. Call 646-2334 for more information.
These are open areas for football, soccer, softball, rugby and whatever else you can think of.
These are spread all over campus. Reservations required; hard courts are free, and clay courts can be reserved for a small fee. Call 646-2731 for more information. There is also the new Boss Tennis Center which is located behind Thompson Ice Arena on South Park Street. This new facility opens in September 2000.
A relatively new indoor climbing facility for those who are literally "climbing the walls" in the winter. Shoe rentals are available, get a season pass or pay each time you go.
An 18-hole golf course. There is a fee per round, or you can get a membership (by term) at bargain-basement prices. Across the street, there is a 4 hole short course, no fee required. Call 646-2000 for more information.
The Skiway is a great place for a half-day of skiing. There are snow making machines and rentals available, so in the rare event of little snow, you can still ski. Shuttle buses run from the campus. Call 795-2143 for more information. Dirt cheap season passes, and you can charge it to your ID. Check out the special on Mondays post quizzes: ski the afternoon for only $7!!
(In addition, there are a multitude of "big" mountains within easy driving distance for day or weekend ski trips. Okemo, Stowe, Mt. Sunapee, Whaleback (check out night skiing and tubing) and Killington (the biggest in the east, get yourself a student card for money off all your tickets) are favorites. These are more expensive than the skiway, but really worth it if you're planning to stay a day or more.)
Horseback riding. Lessons and/or horses are provided for a fee. Call 646-3508 for more information.
Sailing on Lake Mascoma. Call 643-3736 for more information.
Best for early fall, spring, and summer events. Ledyard Canoe Club will rent canoes and kayaks (very reasonable) . Call 643-6709. Dartmouth Rowing Club rents skulls for a nominal fee. Call 646-2450 for more information. Swimming is restricted to the dock downstream from the crew boat house (only open in the summer, and then it's still pretty cold. Be careful not to exercise your dive reflex too often). For those hardier souls, you can also walk upstream from Tom Dent's Cabin to one of several rope swings, or take the plunge from Ledyard Bridge....
The golf course is a favorite spot for quick trips, but the Storrs Pond area is for the more seriously inclined. Call 646-2440 for more information. Rentals are available through the Dartmouth Coop and the DOC house. Season rentals are a good deal.
The Upper Valley may not be on the top of the list when it comes to night spots. However, when it comes to jogging and biking few places can compare. There are many back roads and trails that are great for a quick escape from the books. Favorites include: Rip Road, the Occom pond/golf course, the Dartmouth College Highway to Lyme, and Grasse Road. As with all activities outside of school you do not have to be a world class competitor to do this. Fall is an especially beautiful time in Hanover, so don't miss either of the two weeks of brilliant foliage. It is a great break from studying and proves that the world still exists beyond the walls of Kellogg.
Minutes from DMS. Occom is the place for pick-up hockey (nets provided) and classic outdoor skating. During the day, rentals are available from the DOC house. Athletic activities at Occom should probably be restricted to the Winter. Don't try swimming here (ask Dr. Pfefferkorn about the coliform count).
If you don't take advantage of the facilities maintained by the DOC, you have missed out on a major portion of life at Dartmouth. The special interest clubs that one can join include: Bait and Bullet, Mountaineering Club, Cabin and Trail, Boots and Saddles, Ledyard Canoe Club, Biathlon Club, Bicycle Club, Rifle Club, the Trap and Skeet Shooting Club, Environmental Studies Division, and Women in the Wilderness. If you want to get outdoors but don't have the right equipment, the DOC has a wide variety of skis, in-line skates, camping equipment, mountain bikes and more that can be rented.
The DOC maintains 75 miles of the Appalachian Trail, along with 50 miles of its own trails. Maps and guides are available. Mt. Cardigan is a 20 minute drive, and a fairly easy hour-long hike with an amazing view.
Dartmouth has recently completed an new indoor climbing gym which complements the numerous outdoor rock climbing sites in the area. Rental equipment is available at the climbing gym.
There are numerous swimming holes nearby with names like "The Ledges," "The Coppermine," and "The Chutes." Get a Dartmouth student to tell you where they are. These hot-spots are not officially sanctioned by anyone as they can be dangerous places, especially if you bring beer.
About 20 (usually) well maintained cabins are scattered across New Hampshire and Vermont. Cabins require a reservation and a small fee and can be reserved by calling 646-2834.
27,000 acres in northern New Hampshire. Hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping (in cabins) are all options.
4,700 acres in the southern White Mountain National Forest. Dartmouth owns the entire mountain. The Ravine Lodge at the base is a must and offers 3 meals a day and lodging during the late spring, summer and early fall. Saturday night square dancing is a blast! Call 646-2834 to make a reservation well in advance.
Call 646-2428 for more information on any of the DOC facilities.
For other outdoor opportunities, take a look at these sites:
For tickets contact the Berry ticket office. Call 646-2466.
Relive your athletic glory days through Dartmouth's extensive intramural sports program. If you are worried about excelling in intramurals, Don't. Don't let never having skated before, prevent you from realizing your dream of pounding the boards at Thompson.
For those looking to exercise in the comfort of their own home, Videosmith in the Panda house shopping center has a complete selection of tapes by Jane Fonda, Cindy Crawford, etc. In Hanover, your best bet is alumni gym. The physical fitness department offers classes on a variety of skill levels. Watch for the undergraduate physical fitness registration towards the end of September to sign on. There is a small fee. Finally, for those outside of Hanover or want to venture out, there is the Fountain of Youth Club and Spa in White River Junction 295-3184.
