Bear Brook State Park, NH

This ride has been is adapted from Mountain Biking Northern New England (formerly The Mountain Biker's Guide to Northern New England), by Paul Angiolillo. It's a compilation of sixty rides in VT, NH, and ME. A companion volume, Mountain Biking Southern New England, covers MA, CT, and RI. Both are available in outdoor stores and bike shops or from Menasha Ridge Press, 1-800-247-9437. Paul Angiolillo can be reached at 781-893-1341 (Waltham, MA) or by email at angiolillo@msn.com.

Located a few mail east of Concort, NH, this large, 9,500-acre park has about forty miles of ridable trails. The trails become more rugged as they run deeper into the woods to the southwest. Narrower side trails are more challenging. Located just a few miles from Concord, the state capital, this popular state park has many marshes, ponds, brooks, and different woodscapes depending on whether you're in the lowlands or highlands. There's also swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, and ski touring in the park.

The ride can be linked with more riding to the south, outside Manchester, by using a major north-south snowmobile trail, Route 15 that passes through Bear Brook S. P. (Snowmobile routes are often named after nearby roadways.) When this trail leaves the park to the south, it crosses private land, so stay on the trail.

General Location

Allenstown, on NH 28.

Elevation Change

The trails in this state park are fairly level, with occasional short climbs.

Season

You can ride here in all seasons, although trails can be muddy in spring.

Services

The park has restrooms, water, and 80 tent sites. All other services are available along NH 28 and in Concord.

Hazards

Watch out for hikers, especially near the trailheads, and the usual minor obstructions on the more secluded trails.

Land Status

Public State Park

Maps

Pick up a trail map at park headquarters, or contact the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, 105 Loudon Rd., Concord NH 03301, (603) 271-3556.

Finding the trail

The entrance to the park is on NH 28, three miles north of its junction with U.S. 3. Park in an unpaved lot located one-third of a mile up the access road on the right or further in the park.

Sources of additional information

New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, 105 Loudon Rd., Concord NH 03301, (603) 271-3556.

Notes on the trail

The main entry/access road is on the northern border of the park, so ride southward. Many trails are marked and numbered. You might want to stay on the wider, numbered trails. If you get disoriented, ride west to reach another trail, or else NH 28. There is also a major north-south snowmobile trail, Route 15, passing through the park, and linking up with the Massabesic Lake/Tower Hill Pond ride to the south.