North Conway, nestled in northern New Hampshire, is a haven for mountain biking enthusiasts seeking a dose of creativity on the trails. Despite our base being in Acton, Maine, roughly an hour south of the trail system, we were determined to make the most of our limited time. With popular areas in the state typically two hours away, we decided to embark on a two-day riding adventure in this picturesque region. Our exploration centered around a small gem known as Hurricane Mountain.
Situated just north of Cranmore Mountain Resort, which boasts a continually expanding lift-assist park, Hurricane Mountain holds great promise for riders. Upon arrival, we found ample parking facilities, easing our logistical concerns. Our focus was on this particular area, where we spent two exhilarating days pedaling through its trails. Our first outing encompassed a challenging 10-mile ride, followed by a more ambitious 20-mile trek, each with vertical ascents of 2,000 and 4,000 feet, respectively.
To begin our adventure, we headed north from the parking lot towards Hurricane Highway. The route demanded our attention as we maneuvered through a series of twists and turns, eventually reaching the final lift and commencing our ascent before the trail transitioned into the dense forest. Once we conquered this initial climb, we encountered the demanding Kettle Ridge. This technical trail featured steep sections, slippery slabs, and unexpected challenges, catching us off guard if conditions were damp. The complete ascent spanned approximately 4.3 miles, ascending 1,600 feet. An option to stop halfway and tackle either Senduro or Tornado trails presented itself, allowing us to potentially revisit them later.
As we ventured closer to the top, we crossed paths with one of the downhill trails, serving as a reminder of the diverse options available. Continuing onward, we connected to a trail that led us all the way to Surfs Up. (It’s worth noting that alternate routes exist, but we followed this particular path.) Some riders prefer shuttling or even pedaling up the road to conserve energy for additional laps. From Surfs Up, we enjoyed a thrilling descent, connecting to Kandagnar before diverting towards Senduro for our first major lap. This trail offered an array of exciting features, including stunning slabs, intensely steep sections, and natural drops that made for an exhilarating ride. After completing half the climb back up, we opted for a more relaxed flow lap on Tornado, rounding off an eventful first day.
On our second day, we embarked on the same climb but mixed up the descents. Venturing a bit further, we explored the Black Cap Connector, a captivating three-to-four-mile backwoods ride. This trail had a distinct old-school feel, complete with quirky sections featuring tree hopping and unpredictable lines. While it carried an air of rawness, it never felt overly treacherous. After returning to our starting point, we regrouped and ascended once more to savor a lap on Senduro. Finally, we capped off our remarkable journey with a thrilling ride down Charlie’s Don’t Surf. This banked flow trail, adorned with loamy, root-strewn sections, showcased several features, including a six-foot rock drop with a steep takeoff and landing into a step-up. Although it wasn’t my personal preference, it undoubtedly provided an adrenaline rush for riders seeking that particular kind of excitement.
In just two days, we explored the captivating trails of Hurricane Mountain in North Conway. Despite its proximity to other popular destinations and our time constraints, this hidden pocket offered a delightful mix of challenges and adrenaline-pumping moments. As we reluctantly bid farewell to this mountain biking haven, we left with memories of steep and technical climbs, and some pretty rad descents. Needless to say, we will be back for more North Conway mountain biking.
Food Stops
On our drive up, we made a point to stop at Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli, which has earned the prestigious “Best of State” award for six consecutive years. While I wouldn’t proclaim it the absolute best bagel I’ve ever tasted, it certainly left me feeling satisfied. The sandwich toppings exuded quality, and the cream cheese generously spread on the bagel offered excellent value for the price. Additionally, the cinnamon roll, although not extraordinary, provided a decent source of pre-ride fuel.
For dinner, we decided to give Moat Mountain a try. We had heard people rave about their beer, pretzels, and burgers. Curiosity piqued, I even stumbled upon a scathing one-star review that criticized everything except the pretzel. Naturally, we had to sample it for ourselves. Unfortunately, our experience fell short of expectations. The burger, regrettably, turned out to be dry, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. The pretzel, well you can find more into here. However, the redeeming factor was the beer selection, which featured a diverse range of flavors and included choices beyond the ubiquitous IPAs. Personally, I found the “Hell Yes” and the “Boneshaker Brown” to be particularly enjoyable options.
