Homegrown trails, world-class thrills

Four seasons of high-adventure fun in the Sugar River Region

Why is outdoor adventure in the Sugar River Region so exceptional? Because here, adventure isn’t just a pastime; it’s a way of life.

Local volunteers often build the world-class trails they run, bike and ski with their own shovels and chainsaws, sometimes by headlamp in the early morning.

For some, the motive is simple: This is their home. They have memories of hiking up Flat Rock Hill or skiing down Mount Sunapee. They love the trails and so they pitch in.

For others, there’s a bigger picture at play: They’re driven to share their beloved Sugar River Region with visitors, too.

Eli Burke says the potential of this mountain biking trail network hit him when he overheard somebody talking about Arrowhead when he was living in Colorado, just before he was about to return home to New Hampshire.

“I was like, holy cow. It’s not just buzzing in the area. People are coming here and then going back home — whether it’s Massachusetts or Colorado — and people are talking about it,” Burke says.

He’s now co-owner of Claremont’s The Wheel House Bike Shop with Rob Walker and Matt Hall, who launched their business in 2022 and moved it within the Arrowhead Recreation Area in 2024. Over the last five years, they’ve been striving to make it an essential destination for mountain bikers.

In addition to building, selling, servicing and repairing bikes, they’re the operators and stewards of the Arrowhead mountain biking trails, which have been a labor of love.

Their efforts have paid off.

Hosting a qualifying race for the Enduro World Championship in 2021 put the trail system on the map and created a buzz about Arrowhead. Word about the trails, which Burke describes as steep, technical and “loamy,” has created an influx of new visitors. This year, Arrowhead hosts two more Enduro races, including the finals of the Eastern States Cup in October.

Arrowhead, naturally, is The Wheel House owners’ local biking place of choice. Not only is it just behind their shop, but they’ve also been able to make it exactly the kind of trail network they like to bike.

“We always laugh because the climb up is really, really tough. You pedal up, and it’s rough. People hate to climb here. But then the downhill is this memory eraser. It’s so exhilarating. It’s like a water slide at a water park. You get to the bottom, and you completely forget how hard it was to get to the top,” Burke says.

But they say what makes the Sugar River Region special is the variety here: Within two miles of the shop there’s the Bobby Woodman Rail Trail (which connects with the Sugar River Recreational Rail Trail) and the Moody Park Trail Network, which is great for beginner and intermediate bikers. Still a short drive away are the Cornish Town Forest, French’s Ledges and Mount Sunapee. Just across the Connecticut River are even more trails. The Ascutney Trails Association maintains more than 45 miles of trails that pass through the Ascutney Outdoor Center, town forests and state parks.

And, for the adrenaline-enthusiasts, many of these mountain biking destinations serve several purposes. In the winter, Arrowhead (arrowheadnh.com) becomes a small downhill skiing hill and snow tubing park, its trails still accessible for activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling; the French’s Ledges trails are groomed for cross-country skiing, Mount Sunapee for downhill.

They might not be the biggest mountains in the state, but locals and visitors say the Sugar River Region amenities have just as much potential to take your breath away (in a good way). And, when there’s adrenaline-inducing activities close by, you’ll likely do them more often.

Check out the biking at 18 Robert Easter Way, Claremont. thewheelhousebikes.com

Enduro Racing at Arrowhead

In Sullivan County, Arrowhead is the spot for enduro racing, and in 2025, it hosts two races. The first was on June 1, part of the Eastern States Cup series, with the finals coming on Oct.12. Walker says it’s a spectator-friendly race, with many trails running next to the road. easternstatescup.com

Alternative route

Some of Arrowhead’s former ski routes allow hikers to reach the summit of Flat Rock Hill. Uppity is a shared ATV, bike, hike and snowmobile trail to get to the viewpoint on Flat Rock. Old Poma Lift trail is a direct route to the top. Note that on shared trails, downhill traffic has the right of way. (Hiking up the marked mountain bike trails is prohibited.) Hikers start and end at The Wheel House for this 2.5-mile out-and-back to the summit with about 700 feet of elevation gain.

Trailforks is a resource used by several organizations to post up-to-date information on trails in the area. You can search for trails based on activity, from hiking and mountain biking to horseback riding and back-country skiing.

Trails for biking and more

The Cornish Town Forest is one of the lesser-known trail networks in Sullivan County, but it’s one of Walker’s favorites, with undulating, mostly forested trails and exposed rock ledges, vernal pools, wetlands and great views of Mount Ascutney.

The Newport Town Forest is also popular with both single- and double-track trails that are anything but flat. Team Pinnacle is an informal group of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts who have helped to maintain the mountain bike trails and run competitions; it provides lots of riding recommendations online. team-pinnacle.org

Claremont’s Moody Park is a 255-acre property that includes a multi-use trail network for walkers, runners, bikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. The park is also home to the Moody Park Disc Golf Course, a playground, two dog parks, a pavilion and picnic tables for post-adventure eats.

Over in Plainfield, there’s French’s Ledges, which is a hot spot for crosscountry skiing in the wintertime (it’s groomed!) and for hiking and mountain biking in the summer. What makes the trails especially sweet is the 360-degree view at the top.

Four seasons of fun

To experience adventure year-round, the place to go is Mount Sunapee Resort. In the winter, it’s a downhill ski mountain, and in the summer, you can bike with full-service lift access from its mountain bike center. Doug Daniels, senior manager at Mount Sunapee Skier Services and Summer Operations, says it’s the perfect place for families to try that “first adrenaline rush,” with beginner-friendly trails that are flat, rolling, and “flowy.” The mountain is also home to an adventure park, which includes an aerial challenge course, climbing wall, miniature golf, disc golf, aerial sky rides, and archery course. After you’re done, you can cool off at Sunapee State Park Beach across the street. 1398 Route 103, Newbury.