Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Fall Colors in the Jefferson Valley 10:00 am start

Thursday, October 13, 2016


The colors are out, so here is a bike ride that I think provides a great fall foliage panoramas. This is a fall version of The Lupine Ride, with great views of the Presidentials, Wambek and Cherry Mountain. It is an easier ride than most, lots of flat, scenic roads and no big climbing. 
The weather looks good in the north, no morning issues, a mix of clouds and sun, no rain expected until after 5:00 pm. Temps at the start will be low 50's, waring to mid 60's mid day. 

Start time: 10:00 am ready to ride. 


Bring lunch or snacks. we will likely lunch at the general store in Jefferson. 


Meet at the parking lot on the west (Randolph) end of Pinkham B Road at the rail trail crossing. 


Carpool: If you want to carpool, meet at the Jackson Ski Touring/Wentworth Golf Club parking area across from the J-Town Deli at 9:15 am.

Ride length: 28 miles, 34 miles if we add the Jefferson loop. 

Route description: Cross Route 2 over to Durand Road. Ride it all the way up to the end of the dead end and walk the grass path up to Route 2. Ride about 2 miles and take a left onto Valley Road. Ride out Valley to Route 115. Take a left and ride up to the intersection with Cherry Mountain Road (on left) and Route 115A (on right). For something different and more views, take a LEFT onto Cherry Mountain Road. Ride out and back, soak up the views on the flat road, turn back where the road goes uphill. Return to Route 115, cross over it onto Route 115A and ride this out past the railcar home and cemeteries to the dairy farm in the Jefferson Valley. If we want, we can ride up to the general store in Jefferson by either the dirt Whipple Road or up on the nicely paved route 115A. Return to the Israel River valley, Head back by Valley Road then choose either Route 2 or Durand Road for the smiling downhill back to Pinkham B. 

Directions to the start: The start is at the Randolph end of the Pinkham B Road. There is parking right next to where the Presidential Rail Trail crosses Pinkham B, near a public works facility. 

Two ways to drive there:  Dirt road:  Access Pinkham B road from the Dolly Copp Campground/Horton Center entrance off of Route 16. As you drive down the hill on Pinkham B and come out of the woods, where there are 2 houses on the left, the rail trail crosses the road at a public works department building. There is parking on the left side near the rail trail.

If you don't want to drive Pinkham B's dirt and "pavement", drive route 16 to Gorham, follow it left at the intersection towards Berlin and then take a left on Route 2 at the traffic light. Go up the big hill and down the other side. Just as the hill flattens, Pinkham B Road will be on your left. Take the left and drive about 0.5 mile to the parking area on the right next to the rail trail.

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