Local Flavours: The Complete Guide to Riding in North Conway, New Hampshire

I am not normally one to engage in hyperbole. It's like when your friends are taking you for a ride on their local trails for the first time and you're on a grunt of a climb when they tell you that you're only 5 minutes from the top. 15 minutes later you're cursing them between breaths as the top of the climb is nowhere in sight. Okay, that might not technically be hyperbolic, but it's quite annoying and to the point, a bit misleading. More often than not, a rider's excitement toward a particular section of trail, or entire region, can lead them to make some statements that might prove to be a bit misleading about their experience or the expectations of the folks they're speaking with. It's important for me to establish that with you, because what I am about to say is not hyperbolic, and I'm as surprised as anyone to hear it come from my mouth. I think that North Conway, New Hampshire is home to the best trails on the east coast.













Long before European settlers landed on these shores and eventually named this carrot shaped territory New Hampshire, the Pequawket, Abenaki, and Wabanaki Confederacy indigenous people called what is now the Mount Washington Valley home. Flanked to the west by the Presidential Mountain Range which includes Mount Washington, and to the east by Maine, North Conway is home to 2,300 people according to the last census taken a decade ago. The Saco River, its name derived from the Abenaki meaning "land where the river comes out", flows from nearby Crawford Notch, through town and eventually into Maine before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean via the Saco Bay.

North Conway is well known for several outdoor and recreational pursuits, most notably skiing during the Winter months with 4 different resorts a stone's throw from downtown, and of course the legendary backcountry of Mount Washington is also nearby. In fact, Olympic and World Cup DH skier Leann Smith hails from the area and still calls it home. Mountaineering and rock climbing have long been recognized as world class, particularly at Cathedral Ledge, one of North Conway's most notable landmarks.

While outlet shopping has certainly provided a boost in recent years, the heart of North Conway is still full of artisan sensibilities, with loads of mom and pop shops, micro coffee roasters, and classic New England inns and outdoors shops lining the northern portion of the White Mountain Highway, which effectively serves as North Conway's "Main Street". If you were to grab a seat on the patio of Frontside Roasters during peak tourist season, you'd likely enjoy some people watching if that's your sort of thing. Of course, you'd also take note of the growing number of full suspension mountain bikes attached to cars with license plates from up and down the northeast. Those people are here for the same exact thing that we are: the unbelievably brilliant trails that are scattered throughout North Conway and the mountains that surround it.


The thing about traveling to this part of the country is that it won't take you long to notice the lack of interstate highways available to motorists. The densest collection of the interstate system in New Hampshire can be found in the southern portion of the Granite State near its capital, Concord, and points south. Anywhere north of Lake Winnipesauke will be serviced by state and county roads, which means speeds often range from 25 mph to 55 mph on the same two-lane road depending on the community you're driving through. New Hampshire's low population density and beautiful landscape make for decidedly scenic driving nonetheless. Portland, Maine is the closest population center, located 62 miles to the southeast with a :90 minute drive time to North Conway. Other cities and respective drive times include: Boston, MA (2:40), Montreal, QC (3:45), Providence, RI (3:30), and New York, NY (5:30).

The nearest major international airport can be found in Boston, at Boston Logan International Airport, although the Portland International Jetport is about an hour closer, albeit much smaller and with generally higher fares.

While there are notable scenic train tours in the area, including the Conway Scenic Railroad and the Mount Washington Cog Railway, there is no actual passenger service to or from North Conway. There is bus service which brings you to the Eastern Slope Resort in the heart of downtown serviced by Concord Coach Lines. Please check their website for COVID-19 related updates.







































Did you know that the "world's worst weather" is a rather dubious superlative currently held by the granite monster that holds eternal watch over North Conway and the surrounding area, otherwise known as Mount Washington? The top of the 6,288.2 foot summit aside, Spring, Summer, and Autumn are actually quite nice in North Conway. Low lying trails around town typically begin to open up to mountain bikes in mid-March, with the higher elevation trails opening about a month or so later. Average high temperatures range from the mid-40's(F) in March to as high as 81(F) in July. The season typically runs until the snow starts to fly by the end of November. At times the Presidential Range will often stop storms in their tracks while other times causing them to stall out over the Mount Washington Valley, so if you're planning a Summertime trip, be prepared for anything in the mountains.



There is something for everyone in these here parts. Venerable freeride playground Highland Mountain Bike Park is just an hour or so to the south, and one of the east coast's rowdiest race venues in Attitash Mountain Resort is just 15 minutes to the west of town. Both are very much downhill bike appropriate. However, you could easily spend a week in town and not feel particularly compelled to leave the natural playground that surrounds North Conway.

North Conway has trails that could certainly be enjoyed on a dedicated XC bike, particularly in the Marshal Conservation network of trails, but if there's one bike you're going to want to have to maximize your time in town, it'll be that raked out, long travel enduro rig. Even on shuttle missions, you're going to need to do a bit of pedaling as you traverse ridges or punch up climbs before topping out. Of course it's the steep, high speed, very rough, and very rowdy descents that you're here for and it's exactly the kind of terrain most long travel trail bikes were built for.



The White Mountain Bicycle Coalition (a.k.a. Ride NoCo) have been and continue to work their tails off exploring new zones, building new trails, resurrecting old ones, and establishing relationships with various land managers to make this magic happen. This isn't a big town in terms of population, so there's not an especially large pool of people to pull from as far as membership goes which can obviously lead to limited resources. Still, that hasn't stopped these guys from doing something special here, and even if you don't call this place home there's nothing wrong with becoming a member yourself to show them some support.













Tourism is a very big part of North Conway's economy, so you can bet that there are a plethora of lodging and restaurant options in town per capita. Lodging ranges from spacious, high end options, to family friendly themed hotels, to quaint B&B's, all the way to rustic camping in the National Forest. I stayed at the Eastern Slope Resort, which put me within a short walking distance of Frontside Coffee Roasters and other local favorites, and a short pedal away from some of the best trails in the region. I had plenty of space for my bikes, all of my gear, plus the kitchenette came in quite handy for hot coffee in the morning, and a cold cider at night. You can find a complete listing of available lodging options in town here.

NOCO's food scene was stronger than expected considering the rural and remote-ish setting. There's a strong sense of artisan sensibilities, particularly in downtown with places like Frontside Coffee Roasters, who provide small batch coffee roasted in town, as well as delicious sandwiches and baked goods, leading the charge. Of course being a coastal New England state means that seafood is a win, and you can keep your diet as clean as you like with vegan and gluten-free options as well.

Breakfast:
Grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Frontside Coffee Roasters before your all day adventure.
Priscilla's Country Kitchen has you covered for a classic New England breakfast.
Bagels Plus has you covered, you know, with bagels and such.

Lunch:
Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery is an area staple.
Wicked Fresh Craft Burgers is an "indie" take on American fast food where you can build your own burgers and dogs using locally sourced ingredients.

Dinner:
The Flatbread Company cooks up earth-oven fired pizzas with locally sourced, organic ingredients.
I love me some Thai food, and Bangkok Cafe serves it up nicely, plus they're big supporters of the mountain bike community.
American staples plus sushi? You got it at Delaney's Hole in the Wall, a local favorite for drinks and dinner.


Protune & Mtn Cultre is the go-to for professional grade service, applicable riding gear, and is just a few minutes north of town in Jackson, NH.
Bob and Terry's is the local authorized Trek dealer in town.
Stan and Dan's is a well known ski and boot fitter, and also have a solid road and mountain bike sales selection.


1. Hike Mount Washington: Yes, the Cog Railway is a huge tourist attraction here, but if you're up for it, the hike is well worth the extra time and energy. Views into Vermont, Maine, and Canada are abundant, and spending time in the alpine east of the Mississippi is pretty special.
2. Embrace Your Inner Monkey: In addition to world class trails throughout its property, Cranmore Resort is also home to its Aerial and Mountain Adventure Parks. Swing from the trees in our Aerial Adventure Park, zoom down the Mountain Coaster, arch high into the sky on the Giant Swing and zip on the Soaring Eagle Zip Line year round plus so much more!
3. Take a dip in Echo Lake: Situated at the base of Cathedral Ledge, Echo Lake State Park offers up plenty for the family, including swimming, hiking, rock climbing, and fishing.


North Conway mountain biking trails

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