Thursday looks good for a long ride, high seventies, sunshine, so lets head out to do this really great ride.
The full loop is 50 miles, but there is a really nice 27 mile option that avoids many of the climbs. This is a nice 50, the climbing is in the first half of the ride, a good one for your "First 50-Miler".
The Lost Nation Loop starts in Whitefield at the town green with the gazebo in the center. We ride east towards Jefferson on Route 116, then North Road through Grange and Lost Nation (tiny white church) to Groveton. We then ride about 2.5 miles down Route 3 (wide shoulder) to Northumberland and cross the CT River into Guildhall, VT. We ride the VT side of the CT River on Route 102 then cross the long Mt. Orne Covered Bridge just south of Lancaster. We ride almost to Dalton along the NH side of the CT River and then take route 142 back to Whitefield. This riverside cruising downstream from Groveton is superb biking!
Bring a lunch to eat at the white covered bridge in Groveton. Bring plenty of water. There is a convenience store/gas station near the covered bridge that is hopefully still open for water refills and snacks.
Bring a lunch to eat at the white covered bridge in Groveton. Bring plenty of water. There is a convenience store/gas station near the covered bridge that is hopefully still open for water refills and snacks.
Start time: 9:00 am, ready to ride
Carpooling: If you want to carpool, meet at the Attitash parking lot at 7:45 am, otherwise, see you in Whitefield.
Directions to Whitefield: Route 302 through Crawford Notch to the light at Twin Mountain four corners. Take a right onto Route 3 and follow Route 3 to the center of Whitefield, a tiny town green with a gazebo. One hour drive from beautiful downtown Glen.
Parking in Whitefield: There is parking around the town green in the center of Whitefield (intersection of Routes 3, 116, 142).
Parking in Whitefield: There is parking around the town green in the center of Whitefield (intersection of Routes 3, 116, 142).
Ride Distance: 50 miles, majority of the climbing happens early in the ride, when we are still fresh. (see elevation profile, below)
Shorter Option: 27 miles A shorter, easier loop can be done out of Lancaster, parking at the Shaw's Supermarket. If you want to do this version, meet at the Whitefield Gazebo with everyone else at 10:00, get the plan, then drive up to Lancaster. You will meet the 50 mile riders at the big dairy farm at the corner of Grange Road. You will have cut out the longest and steepest climbs.
History ?: Lost Nation seems to always be associated with The Republic of Indian Stream, (perhaps because of the book written about this interesting region of NH? Lost Nation, by Jeffrey Lent). The place called Lost Nation, where we will ride (don't blink or you may miss it...), is not geographically contained within the former Republic of Indian Stream, which is closer to Pittsburg. On the Pittsburg/Colebrook bike ride we travel over the rivers that bounded the Republic of Indian Stream, which was the Lost Nation, but this is well north of where the village of "Lost Nation" is on a map. I have not been able to remedy this inconsistency!
For a history of The Republic of Indian Steam here is a short review: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream
Map, 50 mile ride:
From Whitefield: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28020766
Elevation profile:
Map: Shorter version, 27 miles, from Lancaster: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13191276
Elevation profile:
For a history of The Republic of Indian Steam here is a short review: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream
Map, 50 mile ride:
From Whitefield: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28020766
Elevation profile:
Map: Shorter version, 27 miles, from Lancaster: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13191276
Elevation profile:
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