MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Cherry Mountain Loop
1 reviews
4 of 5
Description is from the US Forest Service Web Page:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/biking/cherry_biking.html
Leave from the eastside of the trailhead on Route 302 using the Lower Falls Hiking Trail. At this beautiful stretch of the Ammonoosuc River (0.5 mile), rock strata may capture the interest of photographers and geologists. Go left (north) at 1.0 mile onto the Cherry Mountain Road. Part of this unpaved road follows the Deception Brook Esker, a sand and gravel deposit left by the retreating glaciers. At the height of land (2188 ft.), the Cherry Mountain Hiking Trail diverges left. A 3.5 mile side trail to the 3544 ft. summit of Mt. Martha is suitable for mountain bikes and the views are worth the trip. The main loop trail continues on the Cherry Mountain Road past several private cabins, turning right on the gravel Mill Brook Road which is marked FR93. Follow this road for 1 mile to the gated Mt. Mitten Road on the left. The gate is closed to prohibit motor vehicles, but foot travel and mountain bikes are welcome. The Mt. Mitten Road continues through remote country for several miles ending at the Jefferson Notch Road. Turn right (uphill) and be prepared to meet cars.
Jefferson Notch is 3007 ft. in elevation making this road the highest state highway in New Hampshire. The Caps Ridge hiking trail starts at the trailhead located in Jefferson Notch, but is unsuitable for mountain bikes. The road follows Jefferson Brook and passes by Bretton Woods Cascades before meeting the Base Station Road (paved). Take a right (west) on the Base Station Road for approximately 5 miles to Route 302. At the junction of Route 302 and the Base Station Road, turn right. Travel west along Route 302 to the starting point.
The web page says the trail is impassable. I rode it June 7, 2003 and although there are certainly some wet
sections that require carries, it is very ridable.
This is a great ride with a lot of climbing and
fast descents in a very remote area. The description
of this trail in "The White Mountain Ride Guide" by
Marty Basch is very useful because it marks the all
the turns by distance and although the Mt. Mitten
Road part of the trail is mostly obvious, you
definitely wouldn't want to get lost back here!
Summary: The Mt. Mitten Road section is difficult and remote. Everything else is either gravel road or pavement (although there's a lot of climbing and descents). Mt. Mitten is never super technical, it's rocky in some sections with a fair amount of climbing (a theme in this ride). Mostly the difficulties are climbs in soft sections with stream/mud patch crossings. Be prepared on Mt. Mitten, you're in the middle of nowhere. I tried my cell phone and didn't get coverage. I also carried a GPS but I don't think it's really necessary. I thought this was a great trail. The only drawbacks were the really wet sections. There's also a fair amount of poison ivy.
Recommended Route: As described in the trail description. The reverse direction is more difficult as it contains a tough, wet, climb on Mt. Mitten road.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
4 of 5
4 of 5
