Anyone familiar with Blue Job Mountain?

[Flying Bison]

I spend a lot of time at Halfmoon Lake in the summer and I'm looking for somewhere decent to ride in the Barnstead area (I'll take what I can get but something on the technical/challenging side would be preferred). I've been to Bear Brook, but hope to find something closer? I read a review on Bikerag.com about Blue Job Mountain, which sounds interesting, but the post was pretty old so I'm wondering if anyone knows the area - where to park, trail recommendations, is it any good? Or any other ideas? Thanks!

[danodrum]

The areas around Blue Job that I am farmiliar with are OK mountain biking. For most of it your either going up or down. I myself like a mix of climbs, descents and flats, thats why even though I live a few miles from here in Rochester I travel to Fomba, Bear Brook and Fort Rock for most of my biking. In fact I would go as far to say that I would rather ride at Kingman Farm in Madbury than at Blue Job. You at least get a variety and can go super fast at Kingman.
If you can find Sheepboro Road in Rochester off of Crown Point Road take that Road all the way down until it turns dirt, go over a small wooden bridge and there is a few parking spots on the right. Ride your bike all the way up that dirt road until it turns into a jeep trail/double track and take that all the way up to the red house on your left This is about a 3/4 mile climb. Continue straight up/hike a bike section and you will T bone with another trail. Take a left to head out towards the road and when you hit the road take a right to head up the paved road to the trailheads of Blue Job mountain (You'll see the parking lot and trail maps on your right. Or you can take a right at the T bone and I believe this trail takes you up the back side of Blue Job. I have only been here 4 or 5 times myself but there are other people that have a lot more experience here than me and can probably give ideas to trails I don't know. It's ok if you don't mind climbing a lot and getting lost may be a part of your journey as well. Go with lots of light or get a general map of the area so you at least know the roads in case you come out somewhere and have no idea where your at. A compass may help too. I usually go out and then just back track back to the truck. I suppose there are ways to make loops too once you learn the area. Good Luck.

[danodrum]

Oh Yeah, you could also just drive up Crown Point road until you see the Parking lot for Blue Job and park there and explore. But your cutting out one of the big climbs and then descents when you return.

[Flying Bison]

Thanks! I'll probably give BJM a try at some point, but it sounds like Bear Brook is probably still the closest/best option from Barnstead.

[danodrum]

I would agree with that statement. I just raced there last weekend (Bear Brook), what an awesome place to bike.