This scenic ride starts on Mt. Clinton Road, across Route 302 from the Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch. Although Mt. Clinton Road is overdue for some paving, just take a relaxed, slow, morning ride picking your way around the potholes. It is a wonderful quiet ride in the cool shade through the woods for 4 miles. Fly down Base Road behind the Mt. Washington Hotel, then turn right on Route 302 towards Twin Mountain. Check out the Ammonoosuc Upper Falls on the left (there is a kiosk there) just at the point where you spot the roof of the hotel in the distance. Turn right on Route 302 and continue past Fabyan's and straight through the lights at the Twin Mountain 4-corners to Trudeau Road at the "Crossroads of America" building. After a gradual climb on Trudeau Rd, take a left onto Route 3 and ride a gradual downhill back to the Twin Mountain 4-corners. Back onto route 302, ride a few miles to the Zealand parking area on the left. The dirt road at the end of the parking lot (a short walk or dirt ride) leads to the Lower Ammonoosuc Falls which is a good spot to have lunch. Continuing up the dirt road for a very short distance leads to pavement again and back to Route 302 for the classic ride by the Mt Washington Hotel and the Presidential Range. The Crawford Notch climb from this direction is not long or too hard, especially if we get a tailwind!!
Start time: 9:00 am, ready to ride
Start place: Parking area on Mt Clinton Road, right near the intersection with route 302. (Take a left into the lot just after turning right onto Mt Clinton Rd from route 302.) This is a Forest Service parking lot - you need a parking pass to park here. If you do not have one, park at the lot located at the top of Crawford Notch, on the left side, just after you pass though the notch. It is a hiker/climber parking area, right next to the railroad tracks. Park there and then ride over to meet everyone at the Mt. Clinton Road parking area (about 1/2 mile).
Total Distance: 34 miles
Lotsa' options....here are a few possibilities...
Shorter version: Cut out 11 miles if you turn back at the Twin Mountain 4-corners.
Another shorter version: Cut out 5 miles if you start on Route 302 and don't do the Mt Clinton/Base Road section.
Longer version, with bragging rights: Start from home, Attitash, Bartlett, 4th Iron or Willey House and climb Crawford Notch to the starting point.
Flat version (very scenic, but fewer calories burned...): Start at the Eisenhower State Park parking area (sledding hill in the winter) on the right side of Route 302, about a mile after Mt. Clinton Road. Ride Route 302 to the gas station/Fabyans area near the Base Road /302 intersection and wait for the riders coming down Base Road to meet you there. You could start from here about 9:20 or so and probably have not too long a wait.
Carpool? If you wish to carpool, meet at the Grant's parking lot 8:15am.
Here is a map:
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