Navigating the Grand North with the Handled GPS as a Travel Companion

Contributed by Jess Walter, Freelance Writer 

New Hampshire’s Grand North is the perfect place for an adventurer. From fishing to off-roading and hiking, there are so many activities that allow you to become one with nature. However, the snowy mountains and icy patches can be dangerous. It is important to take caution and always bring a handheld GPS on your adventure in case of emergencies. These devices are lifesavers in dangerous situations.

Important Features to Have on Your Handheld GPS
Your GPS should be lightweight and small so that it can easily fit in your pocket. It should also be waterproof especially if you are fishing or traveling by rivers, and have an easy-to-read screen suitable for any weather condition. It is also great to have one with a distress beacon in the event of an emergency.

Top Three Handheld GPS Devices

· eTrex by Garmin: The device has a 65K color display with a 2.2”, 240×320 display screen, making it easily legible in sunlight. There is a microSD slot on the side which provides the ability to download maps. In addition to GPS, it also tracks GLONASS satellites which load 20% quicker than GPS, and has a barometric altimeter which records altitude for additional accuracy. This can come in handy when traversing the mountains of the Grand North. The device is also Bluetooth capable and waterproof for up to 30 minute immersions.

· Montana 680 Touchscreen GPS by Garmin: Another Garmin device, the Montana 680 is GLONASS and WAAS capable and with Hotfix prediction, can maintain your location regardless of the cover and canyons across New Hampshire’s Grand North. It has many additional, nice-to-have features such as a built-in 8-megapixel camera to take great shots of the wildlife and a touchscreen that is glove-friendly for the winter temperatures in New Hampshire.

· Rino 750 by Garmin: This model is a great device to have during an emergency. It has an easy-to-read 3” touchscreen with landscape and portrait views. It is Bluetooth-capable and even has updated current weather forecasts to help you plan your activities. Another special feature is its built-in 5 Watt 2-way radio. It has excellent range and comes in handy if you are ever in a dangerous situation. The Rino 750 also offers Active Weather Support with radar, position report, and emergency alerts, making the device

Ride the Wilds on Coos County’s ATV Trail System

By Eileen Alexander

Fresh air, wildlife, pristine lakes and streams, towering spruce trees, majestic views and an exciting and varied trail system are ready and waiting for you when you go ATVing on the Ride the Wilds trail system in Coös County in northern New Hampshire.

To the wide open spaces and miles and miles of trails to ride, add the friendly welcome you’ll receive whenever and wherever you stop — for gas, for food, for shopping, for lodging, or just to chat with folks — and you’ve conjured up the perfect day, weekend or weeklong ATV adventure in New Hampshire’s great outdoors.

The 1,000+ miles of Ride the Wilds trails make it possible to ride from the Gorham-Berlin area on the east side of Coös County clear over to Colebrook, Pittsburg and Stratford on the county’s western and northern borders, promising great days of riding without trailering your rig from place to place!

Ready to Ride the Wilds for some excellent ATVing? The 2017 season opens on Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few highlights of what you can expect.

Jericho Mountain State Park

Jericho Mountain State Park, located off Route 110 west of downtown Berlin, is New Hampshire’s newest state park, with more than 80 miles of varied terrain and trails designed to let you experience ATVing at its best. Whether you’re looking for an easy ride or more challenging terrain, you’ll want to return again and again as more trails are added to the 7,200-acre park that includes beautiful Jericho Lake and 2,454-foot Jericho Mountain. When you’re ready to take a break from ATVing, take a dip in the lake or eat your picnic lunch in the pavilion. Daily park fees are $4 for adults and $2 for children 11 and under.

Jericho has camping facilities, too. Twenty primitive campsites are available at the park: five cabins, four tent sites, and nine RV sites, with toilet and shower facilities and a coin-op laundry. Find the details at http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/jericho-mountain-state-park.aspx

For a change of pace while at Jericho, you might want to make a run on the 20-mile loop from the park down to Gorham and back up to Berlin.

Eat & Sleep

Northland Restaurant and Dairy Bar, 1826 Riverside Drive, Berlin
A favorite eatery of local residents. Burgers and fries, lobster rolls, daily specials and homemade pies. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business. (603) 752-6210

151 Main Street, Berlin
Located in downtown Berlin. Large breakfast and lunch menu. (603) 752-4419

SAALT Pub, 111 Main Street (Route 16), Gorham
Delightful pub fare, from burgers and fries to international dishes like Vietnamese Beef, Moroccan Chicken Couscous and the Middle Eastern Plate. Supper served Wednesday through Sunday. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business.

Royalty Inn, 130 Main Street, Gorham
A 90-room resort in downtown Gorham, with indoor pool, health and fitness club, game room, laundry facilities, and on-site restaurant.

Town & Country Motor Inn, Route 2, Gorham
A local landmark offering 160 rooms, dining room, lounge, indoor heated pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and game room.

Millsfield Pond

Over 100 miles of great riding await you in Millsfield, on lands owned by Bayroot LLC. Located 15 miles north of Berlin on Route 16 in the towns of Dummer, Millsfield and Errol, the trails ascend to mountaintops with fantastic views, and go clear around the pond on trails and logging roads, for hours of riding pleasure. The Millsfield Pond area is home to remote ponds and streams and plenty of wildlife, so don’t forget your camera!

Eat & Sleep

Log Haven Campground, Restaurant & Lounge, Route 26, Millsfield
Home-cooked meals and daily specials, including burgers, pasta, salads and seafood, and a complete selection of beer, wine and spirits. Open year round. 

A Peace of Heaven B&B, 601 US Route 26, Millsfield
Comfortable rooms and a hearty breakfast. Direct access to Ride the Wilds from the front door. 

Pittsburg

Forest roads, ATV trails, scenic overlooks, and views of Lake Francis are all part of your ATV experience in Pittsburg, New Hampshire’s northernmost town. Choose from over 120 miles of trails on the gigantic 8,000-acre Perry Stream Land and Timber Company tract, where muddy wallows rub shoulders with graveled roads and woods trails. Bring your pole if you’d like to try a little fishing along Perry Stream or Indian Stream.

Eat & Sleep

At Bear Tree, 118 Glen Road, Pittsburg
The Glen and Bear Tree have eleven Lakeside cabins, a six-guestroom lodge, a four-guestroom Inn and five woodland cabins.  No direct trail access.

The Rainbow Grille, 609 Beach Road, Pittsburg
Gourmet fare in New Hampshire’s northernmost town. Listed as the “area’s stand-out dining” by the Boston Globe. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business. Direct trail access.

Murphy’s Steakhouse at Bear Tree, 3329 North Main Street, Pittsburg.
The wide-ranging menu appeals to a variety of tastes. Eat in the dining room or on the patio. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business. No direct trail access.

Buck Rub Pub & Lodge, Route 3, Pittsburg
Burgers, made-to-order pizza, fried chicken, steak tips, and excellent seafood. Wine and beer on tap, a pool table and video games. Buck Rub Lodge offers clean, comfortable efficiency units as well. Direct trail access.

Tall Timber Lodge, 609 Beach Road, Pittsburg
Offering accommodations since 1946. Both cabin and room rentals available. Direct trail access. NH ATV Registrations are sold at the Lodge.

Lopstick Lodge, 45 Stewart Young Road, Pittsburg
A four-season lodging property, with 54 housekeeping cabins. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business for its outdoor adventure packages and Orvis-endorsed outfitter service. Direct trail access from some of the cabins.

Stewartstown, Colebrook, Columbia and Dixville

Over 120 miles of trails are maintained by the Metallak ATV Club. Part of the trail system includes a trail head at Coleman State Park that will take you over Sugar Hill to The Balsams and over the Dixville Peaks and Nathan Pond trail connecting to Greenough Pond Road and The Millsfield Club trail system.

Eat & Sleep

Spa Restaurant, 869 Washington Street, West Stewartstown
A family-friendly restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well-known for its prime rib and daily specials. Eat in or take-out. Direct trail access.

Ledges Motel, Route 3, Stewartstown
Smoking, non-smoking, and pet-friendly rooms, some with kitchenettes, plus a laundry room onsite and a large parking area! Direct trail access. (603) 246-8988

Moose Muck Coffee House, 25 Parsons Street, Colebrook
Open for breakfast and lunch. All the soups, sandwiches, salads and pastries are freshly made. A NH Grand Certified Best of Business. Direct trail access. (603) 237-4677

Mostly Muffins, 51 Parsons Street, Colebrook
One-hundred varieties of muffins, plus whoopie pies, cinnamon rolls and breakfast sandwiches served on home-made buns. Order from the counter, or at the drive-through. (603) 237-4582

Diamond Peaks Motel & Store, Route 26, Colebrook
Comfortable lodging open year-round, and located about six miles from downtown Colebrook. The store carries a large variety of convenience items and essentials. Try the breakfast sandwiches and pizzas made fresh daily. Direct trail access.

Parsons Street, Route 26,Colebrook
Luxury suites designed for a lodging experience that is inviting, warm and memorable. Also features a fine dining restaurant with outstanding cuisine and wonderful wines.

The Keazer Farm Bed & Breakfast, 11 Harvey Swell Road, Colebrook
Four cozy rooms in the 1840s inn that is situated on 400 acres of woods and fields. Includes a full country breakfast with the inn’s own eggs and maple syrup. Direct trail access.

The Northern Comfort Motel, 1 Scott Phillips Highway, Colebrook
Triple AAA rated. Nineteen rooms paneled with tongue and groove pine, heated outdoor pool, basketball court.

Notch View Resort Inn and Campground, 54 Forbes Hill Road, Colebrook
A bed and breakfast inn and campground located on 34 acres of a former dairy farm; offers OHRV rentals. Direct trail access.

Colebrook Country Club, 15 Abenaki Lane (off Route 26), Colebrook
Family owned and operated, with direct access to the Ride the Wilds ATV trail system. Eighteen ground-floor rooms in the motel, and a cocktail lounge open every afternoon and evening.

 

Stratford

You’ll find the longest lineal ATV trail system in New England in Stratford, where there are more than 120 miles of trails that crisscross about 30,000 acres of private land. These trails will take you through wide sweeps of undeveloped land that encompass the mountains, bogs, pastures and vistas of New Hampshire’s Grand North.

Eat & Sleep

Trailside Lodge, 382 Percy Road, North Stratford
Stay in the main lodge or in one of the cabins. Direct access to the ATV trail system.

Big Rock Campground and Cabins, Route 3, North Stratford
A full-service, family campground. Offers a variety of campsites for both tenting and RVing as well as cabins. Direct trail access.

Blueberry Hill Inn, Café and Campground, 484 Route 3, Stratford
A variety of accommodations in the inn, a cabin, and the campground. The full breakfast includes blueberry specials from blueberries picked on the inn property. Direct access to the ATV trails, and a heated garage for your ATV!

Connolly Cabins & Campground, 16 Martha’s Way, Stratford
The ATV trails runs right through this property. Two-bedroom year-round cabins, rustic cabins, tent sites and a campground for rigs and RVs.

 

Success & Milan

A three-mile city trail connects Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin to the trails in Success, where you’ll discover 25 miles of excellent trail riding. A connector trail comes in from Maine at Success.

Eat & Sleep

Milan Village Deli and General Store, 727 Main Street, Milan
Pizza, made-to-order sandwiches, deli meats and cheeses, locally grown fruits and veggies, and lots of convenience items. (603) 449-3322

Mahoosuc Inn, 877 Milan Road, Route 16, Milan
A pet-friendly bed and breakfast with six rooms.

DuBee Our Guest Bed and Breakfast, 2 Bridge Street, Milan
Five comfortable rooms, and a delicious family-style breakfast.

Errol

The Umbagog ATV Club maintains 42 miles of trails on Bayroot LLC lands in Errol, north of Route 26.

Eat & Sleep

150 Main Street Lodging on the Androscoggin, 150 Main Street, Errol
A nine-room guest house. Fall asleep to the sounds of the river rushing by.

Errol Motel & Housekeeping Units, Route 26, Errol
Find recently remodeled rooms and pet-friendly lodging at the Errol Motel.

More Fine Riding

The Kilkenny Trail Riders of Lancaster, the Presidential ATV Club of Gorham, and the Androscoggin ATV Club of Berlin maintain many additional miles of trails.

BONUS: Many North Country towns have opened some roads and streets to accommodate ATVs to access area businesses and to connect trails. Look for the signs and please obey the speed limit.

Save the date: Jericho ATV Festival

It’s not too early to make plans for this year’s Jericho ATV Festival Presented by Progressive, with exhilarating ATV riding, mud races, poker run, freestyle shows, helicopter rides, music, food vendors, and displays. Demo the new ATV’s and SxS’s from major manufacturers. Downtown Block Party & Torchlight ATV Parade. Mark your calendar for August 4 & 5, 2017!

About ATV Clubs

ATV clubs in Coös County help maintain the trails, plan events and provide information on ATVing opportunities throughout the region. All welcome new members. Dues support trail maintenance and building projects.

Many of the region’s ATV clubs plan weekend events like Poker Runs or ride-ins throughout the riding season. Click on Ride the Wilds button on the New Hampshire Grand homepage at www.nhgrand.com or on the links, below, for up-to-date information on parking, trail conditions and special events.

The state maintains information about ATV trails in Coös County, including a NH Bureau of Trails downloadable map. http://nhstateparks.org/experience/atving/trail-information.aspx

Androscoggin Valley ATV Club
PO Box 534, Berlin, NH 03570
www.avatvclub.org
[email protected]

Great North Woods Riders ATV Club
PO Box 218, Pittsburg, NH 03592
www.greatnorthwoodsatv.org
[email protected]

The Kilkenny Trail Riders ATV Club
PO Box 64, Lancaster, NH 03584
www.kilkennytrailriders.com

Metallak ATV Club
PO Box 318
Colebrook, NH  03576
www.metallakatvclub.com

Millsfield ATV Club
16 Chasebrook Circle, Litchfield, NH 03052
www.millsfieldatv.com
[email protected]

North Country ATV Club
PO Box 161, North Stratford, NH 03590
www.northcountryatv.com
[email protected]

Presidential OHRV Club
PO Box 152
Gorham, NH  03581
www.presidentialohrvclub.com

Umbagog ATV Club
PO Box 71, Errol, NH 03579
[email protected]

Rentals & Guided Tours 

You don’t have to own a rig to enjoy the sport of ATVing. These businesses can provide a complete package for a day of riding enjoyment, including an ATV, instructions and all the safety equipment required. Drive yourself or enjoy a guided tour.

Absolute PowerSports (rentals, sales and service)
461 Main Street, Gorham, NH 03581
www.absolutepowersportsnh.com

Bear Rock Adventures (rentals & tours)
545 Beach Road, Pittsburg, NH 03592
www.bearrockadventures.com

Dalton Mountain Motorsports (sales & service)
475 Lancaster Road, Lancaster, NH 03584 www.daltonmountainmotorsports.com

Jericho Outdoors (rentals, tours, sales and service)
232 Jericho Road, Berlin, NH 03570
www.jerichooutdoors.net

Moose Poop ATV Tours
Muzzy Hill Road, Milan, NH 03848
http://www.moosepooptours.com/contact.htm

White Mountain ATV Rentals (rentals & tours)
299 Main Street, Gorham
www.whitemtatvrental.com