New Hampshire Granite State Ambassadors Great North Woods
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New Hampshire Granite State Ambassadors www.NHGraniteStateAmbassadors.org Regional Resource & Referral Guide: Great North Woods Region Use this document filled with local referrals from Granite State Ambassadors & State Welcome Center attendants as an informational starting point for guest referrals. For business referrals, please reference your local brochures & guides. Hidden Gems: ● Baby Flume Gorge, 1212 NH 26 West, Dixville Notch – short walk inside Dixville Notch State Park to a waterfall within a small, narrow gorge. The Cascade Brook Falls are across the road about ¼ mile. (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/dixville-notch-state- park) ● Beaver Brook Falls, NH 145, Colebrook – About 2.5 miles north of Colebrook on the right- hand side of the road. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/blog/best-bets-north- country-waterfalls) ● Pondcherry Wildlife Refuge, Airport Rd., Whitefield – Off NH 115, hiking trails, owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with NH Audubon and NH Department of Fish and Game. (http://www.nhaudubon.org/pondicherry-wildlife-refuge/) ● Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and NH 16 North along the Thirteen Mile Woods for moose watching and beautiful landscapes. (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/umbagog/) Curiosity: ● North Hill Cemetery, off NH 145, Stewartstown Hollow in Stewartstown – Grave of Metallak was the last Indian living in NH who had not gone to Canada or assimilated into early 19th century American culture. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/historical- attractions.html) ● 45th Parallel, NH 145, Clarksville – Located in triangular plot at junction of NH 145 and Clarksville Pond Road. At this point you stand at longitude 71 degrees, 24 degrees west from Greenwich, England and half-way between the equator and the north pole. Covered Bridges: For complete descriptions, visit www.northerngatewaychamber.org/bridges-of-coos-county. ● Stark Covered Bridge, NH 110 (Off NH 3, 7 miles easht on NH 110), Stark – Classic NH village ● Pittsburg-Clarksville Covered Bridge, Bacon Road, Pittsburg ● Happy Corner Covered Bridge, Hill Rd. (6 miles north on NH 3), Pittsburg ● River Road Covered Bridge, Lake Francis State Park Rd. (7 miles north on NH 3), Pittsburg ● Mechanic Street Covered Bridge, off NH 3, Lancaster ● Mt. Orne Covered Bridge, NH 35 West (off NH 3), Lancaster ● Groveton Covered Bridge, NH 3, Northumberland ● Columbia Covered Bridge, Bridge Road (west of NH 3, 4 miles south of Colebrook), Columbia Swimming Holes: ● First Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburgh (5 miles northeast of village) – beach near the dam. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html ● Second Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburg (2 miles upstream from First Connecticut Lake. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html ● Third Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburg (5 miles upstream from Second Connecticut Lake, less than 1 mile south of the Canadian border) - https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html ● Lake Francis, east of Pittsburg on border of Pittsburg and Clarksville – man-made lake built by Army Corps of Engineers in 1930s. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html) ● Connecticut River, border between NH and VT – Many swimming holes, canoeing/ kayaking and places to picnic along the river bank. Look for signage for boat access. Try paddling from the Bridge St. bridge in Colebrook, to the Columbia Covered Bridge. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html ● Little Diamond Pond, Coleman State Park, 1166 Diamond Pond Road, Stewartstown – (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/coleman-state-park) ● NH State parks – Jericho Mountain State Park (Berlin), Moose Brook State Park (Gorham), South Pond Recreational Area (Stark) and others – offer swimming, picnicking and fishing, and trails for exploring on foot or mountain bike. (https://www.nhstateparks.com/greatnorthwoods.html) ● Androscoggin River, access in Errol and follow south – Swimming holes along the way. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html) Places to Paddle: ● Umbagog Lake State Park, 235 East Route 26, Cambridge – Swimming, camping, paddling and cottage rentals. (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/umbagog-campground) ● ELC Outdoors, 983 Upton Rd, Errol - Androscoggin River Paddle takes you on a 5-mile stretch of the Androscoggin that was formerly a thoroughfare for log drives. Explore the river and its many tributaries at a relaxed pace. (https://elcoutdoors.com/) ● NH’s Connecticut Lakes Region – general paddling information on their website or call (603) 538-7118. (https://nhconnlakes.com/pittsburg-nh-vacation/paddling-lakes/) ● Pondcherry Wildlife Refuge, Airport Rd., Whitefield – Off NH 115, hiking trails, owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with NH Audubon and NH Department of Fish and Game. (http://www.nhaudubon.org/pondicherry-wildlife-refuge/) ● Connecticut and Androscoggin Rivers – See Swimming Holes above. ● Moore Dam and Reservoir, Dalton and Littleton – (https://wildlife.state.nh.us/maps/bathymetry/moore_littleton.pdf) ● Burns Pond, NH 116, Whitefield – (https://wildlife.state.nh.us/maps/bathymetry/burns_whitefield.pdf) Hike or Nature Walk: ● Presidential Rail Trail, Whitefield to Gorham – Stretches for about 20 miles from Gorham to the Airport (Hazen) Road near the Whitefield airport. (https://friendsofthepresidentialrailtrail.org/) ● Weeks State Park, 200 Weeks State Park Rd. (off NH 3), Lancaster – Mt. Prospect estate of John Wingate Weeks, leading conservationist, U. S. Congressman, U. S. Senator and Secretary of War under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. Magnificent views of White and Green Mountains. The John Wingate Weeks House Museum is also open to the public and tours are offered during the operating season. (https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state- parks/weeks-state-park.aspx) ● Beaver Brook Falls, NH 145, Colebrook – About 2.5 miles north of Colebrook on the right- hand side of the road. Hiking on either side of the falls. (See Hidden Gems above.) ● River Walk along Connecticut River, Colebrook - etails of various tree species along path. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html) ● Clarksville Freedom Trail, Bressett Rd., off NH 145, Clarksville – Only trail in the North Country that is a limited mobility access trail. This mile-long nature trail traverses wooded land and has several loops including difficulties of grades ranging from easy to intermediate. Funded in part by a matching grant from the State of New Hampshire, this trail took three years to develop, with over a thousand volunteer hours to make it a reality. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html) ● 4th Connecticut Lake, NH 3 at Canadian Border, Pittsburg – Origin of Connecticut River, must hike into area which is a beaver pond with a lodge but interesting that you can have one leg in Canada and the other in the U.S. The trailhead is located in back of the US Customs building and parking is located across US 3 from the customs building. ● Extensive hiking throughout area for all skill levels. (https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html) Bike Trails: ● Coos Cycling Club, P. O. Box 92, Gorham – The CCC offers weekly group rides all summer and into the fall. See website for information about that and many trails maintained by them. (https://cooscyclingclub.org/) ● The Spoke ‘n Word, 10 Spring St., Colebrook – bike shop offers repairs, rentals, sales, group rides. (http://www.thespokenwordbikeshop.com/) ● Presidential Rail Trail, Whitefield to Gorham – Stretches for about 20 miles from Gorham to the Airport (Hazen) Road near the Whitefield airport. (https://friendsofthepresidentialrailtrail.org/) Picnic Area Favorites: ● Too numerous to mention. All listed below have views and at least a toilet: Colebrook Welcome Center, Beaver Brook Falls, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Connecticut Lakes, Lake Francis, Back Lake, Boundry Pond, Big and Little Diamond Ponds, Fish Pond. Historical Sites or Notations: ● Weeks State Park, 200 Weeks State Park Rd., Lancaster - Named after John Wingate Weeks, wonderful country estate on Prospect Mt. overlooking the Connecticut River, amazing views of the White Mountains, wonderful grounds, estate tours, well worth a visit. (See Hikes above.) ● Poore Family Homestead, 629 Hollow Road, Route 145, Stewartstown – Historical homestead and settlement showing life from the 1830's to the 1990's. The house, barns, and out-buildings hold a large collection of historical clothing, artifacts, newspapers, magazines, diaries and letters from the civil war to present, tools, horse drawn wagons, farming implements and a collection of everyday items. (https://www.poorefarm.org/) ● Colebrook Historical Society, 17 Bridge St, Colebrook – Second floor of the Colebrook Town Hall. Maps, photographs, local history items and official document are here. A museum annex is located in the lower level of the Tillotson Center at 14 Carriage Lane, Colebrook, NH. It houses an antique fire engine and other displays. Open seasonally. (https://colebrookareahistoricalsociety.weebly.com/index.html) ● Pittsburg Historical Society, Main Street, Pittsburg – Located in the old Town Hall, across from the Police Station. Filled with memories of Pittsburg's past. Open summer hours. (http://www.pittsburg-nh.com/town-history/historic-society) ● Indian Stream One - Room School House, Tabor Rd. just off US 3, Pittsburg – Built in 1897 and operated until 1939. It was one of nine schoolhouses in Pitttsburg.