Go North! Springtime on the North Road

Thursday May 20th

Let's head north and enjoy the palette of springtime green colors up on the North Road. The weather looks great for this ride!

Start at the intersection of North Road and Hogan Road, on the north side of the Androscoggin River, ready to ride at 10:00 am. To get to this point, drive north over Pinkham Notch on Route 16. Turn right at the intersection with route 2 in Gorham. Drive about 3 miles, and turn left onto North Road, just after a beautiful stone house and barn. Cross the river at the dam, and proceed about 1/4 mile to where North Road bears sharply right. Hogan Road, a dirt road with access to several trail heads, comes in from the left at this point, and there is a dirt parking area there.

There is also some parking on the left side of North Road, about 50 yards after you cross the dam, for 5 or 6 cars, in a parking area used by kayakers.

The entire ride on North Road to the picnic area alongside the river in Bethel, and back, is 39 miles. The ride is not difficult, no notches! There are flat sections, sections of rolling hills, lots of scenery and occasional views of the river. Near the end, just before reaching Route 2/Route 5, there is a bike path that turns right at a red fire hydrant and goes behind the water slide park. The path goes for 1.1 miles, ending at a nice picnic spot (and porta-potty). There are many options for food in Bethel, or just bring your own.

Shorter Options: Since the ride is out-and-back, you can decide when you've had enough and turn back to the parking lot:

1. To Shelburne and back is 10.2 miles round trip

2. To the Gilead steel trestle bridge, the western portion of North Road, is 18.6 miles round trip

3. Or, to do the eastern (Bethel) portion of North Road, drive to the Gilead bridge (Bridge Street), park there at the canoe parking area on the southwest side of the bridge, and join the riders there as they ride by on North Road at about 10:45-11:00. Starting at the bridge and riding to Bethel will give you a 20 mile round trip.

CARPOOLING! To carpool, meet at the Dunkin Donuts in Glen at 9:00 if you can either take a bike or two in/on your car, or if you would like to join a carpool.

For a map you can play with, click on: