Referral Guide – Great North Woods Region

Use this document filled with local referrals from Granite State Ambassadors & State Welcome Center attendants as an informational starting point for guest referrals. For business referrals, please reference your local brochures & guides.


Hidden Gems | Covered Bridges | Swimming Holes | Places to Paddle | Hikes and Nature Walks | Bike Trails | Picnic Area Favorites | Historical Sites | Other Favorites | Local Information Resources & Welcome Centers


Hidden Gems

Baby Flume Gorge, 1212 NH 26 West, Dixville Notch – short walk inside Dixville Notch State Park to a waterfall within a small, narrow gorge. The Cascade Brook Falls are across the road about ¼ mile. https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/dixville-notch-state-park

Beaver Brook Falls, NH 145, Colebrook – About 2.5 miles north of Colebrook on the right-hand side of the road. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/blog/best-bets-north-country-waterfalls

Pondcherry Wildlife Refuge, Airport Rd., Whitefield – Off NH 115, hiking trails, owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with NH Audubon and NH Department of Fish and Game. http://www.nhaudubon.org/pondicherry-wildlife-refuge/

Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and NH 16 North along the Thirteen Mile Woods for moose watching and beautiful landscapes. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/umbagog/

North Hill Cemetery, off NH 145, Stewartstown Hollow in Stewartstown – Grave of Metallak was the last Indian living in NH who had not gone to Canada or assimilated into early 19th century American culture. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/historical-attractions.html

45th Parallel, NH 145, Clarksville – Located in triangular plot at junction of NH 145 and Clarksville Pond Road. At this point you stand at longitude 71 degrees, 24 degrees west from Greenwich, England and half-way between the equator and the north pole.


Covered Bridges

For complete descriptions, visit www.northerngatewaychamber.org/bridges-of-coos-county.

Columbia Bridge, Columbia Bridge Road, Columbia – west of US 3, 4 miles south of Colebrook. Bridge is 146’ long, built in 1912, and listed on National Register of Historic Places. It is the most northerly Connecticut River bridge; it connects Columbia NH to Lemington VT.

Groveton Bridge, US 3, Northumberland. Bridge is 126’ long, built in 1852, and open to foot traffic only. US 3 went through the bridge until 1939 when the road was reconstructed and by-passed the bridge.

Happy Corner Bridge, Hill Road, Pittsburg – 6 miles north of Pittsburg Village, 200 yards east of US 3. Bridge is 61’ long, built in mid-1800s, and closed to vehicular traffic. One story about how it got its name involves an old gentleman who lived near the bridge. He liked to sing and dance, and owned a Victrola which he played frequently. People gather at his house to sing and dance, making it a very ‘happy’ place.

Mechanic Street Bridge (aka Israels River Bridge), Mechanic Street, Lancaster – East of US 2 and 3. Bridge is 94’ long and built in 1862. Shortly after the bridge opened, the citizens of Lancaster voted to put signs at each end of the bridge that prohibited driving across the bridge at a pace faster than a walk.

Mt. Orne Bridge, South Lancaster Road, Lancaster – west of NH 135. Bridge is 266’ long, built in 1911, and listed on National Register of Historic Places. The original bridge of the 1860s or 1870s was destroyed by a log jam in 1908. The towns of Lancaster NH and Lunenburg VT used a ferry service to connect the towns until a new bridge was built in 1911.

Pittsburg-Clarksville Bridge (aka Bacon Road Bridge), Bacon Road, Pittsburg – south of US 3 and west of Pittsburg Village. Bridge is 89’ long and built in 1876. The bridge spans the Connecticut River connecting the NH towns of Pittsburg and Clarksville. It is closed to traffic.

River Road Bridge, Lake Francis State Park Road, Pittsburg – 7 miles north of Pittsburg Village, and 1 mile east of US 3. Bridge is 51’ long, built in 1858, and open to foot traffic only.

Stark Bridge, North Road (NH 110), Stark Village – 7 miles east of US 3 on NH 110. Bridge is 134’ long, built in 1862, and listed on National Register of Historic Places. The bridge has sidewalks on each side and is beautifully set right in the center of Stark Village next to a white church. It’s very popular with covered bridge fans and photographers.


Swimming Holes

First Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburgh (5 miles northeast of village) – beach near the dam. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html

Second Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburg (2 miles upstream from First Connecticut Lake. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html

Third Connecticut Lake, NH 3, Pittsburg (5 miles upstream from Second Connecticut Lake, less than 1 mile south of the Canadian border) – https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html

Lake Francis, east of Pittsburg on border of Pittsburg and Clarksville – man-made lake built by Army Corps of Engineers in 1930s. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html

Connecticut River, border between NH and VT – Many swimming holes, canoeing/ kayaking and places to picnic along the river bank. Look for signage for boat access. Try paddling from the Bridge St. bridge in Colebrook, to the Columbia Covered Bridge. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html

Little Diamond Pond, Coleman State Park, 1166 Diamond Pond Road, Stewartstown – https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/coleman-state-park

NH State Parks – Jericho Mountain State Park (Berlin), Moose Brook State Park (Gorham), South Pond Recreational Area (Stark) and others – offer swimming, picnicking and fishing, and trails for exploring on foot or mountain bike. https://www.nhstateparks.com/greatnorthwoods.html

Androscoggin River, access in Errol and follow south – Swimming holes along the way. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/swimming.html


Places to Paddle

Umbagog Lake State Park, 235 East Route 26, Cambridge – Swimming, camping, paddling and cottage rentals. https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/umbagog-campground

ELC Outdoors, 983 Upton Rd, Errol – Androscoggin River Paddle takes you on a 5-mile stretch of the Androscoggin that was formerly a thoroughfare for log drives. Explore the river and its many tributaries at a relaxed pace. https://elcoutdoors.com/

NH’s Connecticut Lakes Region – general paddling information on their website or call (603) 538-7118. https://nhconnlakes.com/pittsburg-nh-vacation/paddling-lakes/

Pondcherry Wildlife Refuge, Airport Rd., Whitefield – Off NH 115, hiking trails, owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with NH Audubon and NH Department of Fish and Game. http://www.nhaudubon.org/pondicherry-wildlife-refuge/

Connecticut and Androscoggin Rivers – See Swimming Holes above.
Moore Dam and Reservoir, Dalton and Littleton – https://wildlife.state.nh.us/maps/bathymetry/moore_littleton.pdf

Burns Pond, NH 116, Whitefield – https://wildlife.state.nh.us/maps/bathymetry/burns_whitefield.pdf


Hikes and Nature Walks

Presidential Rail Trail, Whitefield to Gorham – Stretches for about 20 miles from Gorham to the Airport (Hazen) Road near the Whitefield airport. https://friendsofthepresidentialrailtrail.org/

Weeks State Park, 200 Weeks State Park Rd. (off NH 3), Lancaster – Mt. Prospect estate of John Wingate Weeks, leading conservationist, U. S. Congressman, U. S. Senator and Secretary of War under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. Magnificent views of White and Green Mountains. The John Wingate Weeks House Museum is also open to the public and tours are offered during the operating season. https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/weeks-state-park.aspx

Beaver Brook Falls, NH 145, Colebrook – About 2.5 miles north of Colebrook on the right-hand side of the road. Hiking on either side of the falls. (See Hidden Gems above.)

River Walk along Connecticut River, Colebrook – etails of various tree species along path. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html

Clarksville Freedom Trail, Bressett Rd., off NH 145, Clarksville – Only trail in the North Country that is a limited mobility access trail. This mile-long nature trail traverses wooded land and has several loops including difficulties of grades ranging from easy to intermediate. Funded in part by a matching grant from the State of New Hampshire, this trail took three years to develop, with over a thousand volunteer hours to make it a reality. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html

4th Connecticut Lake, NH 3 at Canadian Border, Pittsburg – Origin of Connecticut River, must hike into area which is a beaver pond with a lodge but interesting that you can have one leg in Canada and the other in the U.S. The trailhead is located in back of the US Customs building and parking is located across US 3 from the customs building.

Extensive hiking throughout area for all skill levels. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/hiking.html


Bike Trails

Coos Cycling Club, P. O. Box 92, Gorham – The CCC offers weekly group rides all summer and into the fall. See website for information about that and many trails maintained by them. https://cooscyclingclub.org/

The Spoke ‘n Word, 10 Spring St., Colebrook – bike shop offers repairs, rentals, sales, group rides. http://www.thespokenwordbikeshop.com/

Presidential Rail Trail, Whitefield to Gorham – Stretches for about 20 miles from Gorham to the Airport (Hazen) Road near the Whitefield airport. https://friendsofthepresidentialrailtrail.org/

Explore these and more at the NH Rail Trails Coalition

  • Ammonoosuc Rail Trail  (Woodsville to Littleton) 19 miles
  • Profile Rail Trail (Bethlehem) 1.5 miles
  • Warren Rail Trail (Warren to East Haverhill) 10 miles
  • Woodsville (Blackmount) Rail Trail  (Haverhill to Woodsville) 5 miles

Picnic Area Favorites

Too numerous to mention. All listed below have views and at least a toilet:
Colebrook Welcome Center, Beaver Brook Falls, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Connecticut Lakes,
Lake Francis, Back Lake, Boundry Pond, Big and Little Diamond Ponds, Fish Pond.


Historical Sites

Weeks State Park, 200 Weeks State Park Rd., Lancaster – Named after John Wingate Weeks, wonderful country estate on Prospect Mt. overlooking the Connecticut River, amazing views of the White Mountains, wonderful grounds, estate tours, well worth a visit. (See Hikes above.)

Poore Family Homestead, 629 Hollow Road, Route 145, Stewartstown – Historical homestead and settlement showing life from the 1830’s to the 1990’s. The house, barns, and out-buildings hold a large collection of historical clothing, artifacts, newspapers, magazines, diaries and letters from the civil war to present, tools, horse drawn wagons, farming implements and a collection of everyday items. https://www.poorefarm.org/

Colebrook Historical Society, 17 Bridge St, Colebrook – Second floor of the Colebrook Town Hall. Maps, photographs, local history items and official document are here. A museum annex is located in the lower level of the Tillotson Center at 14 Carriage Lane, Colebrook, NH. It houses an antique fire engine and other displays. Open seasonally. https://colebrookareahistoricalsociety.weebly.com/index.html

Pittsburg Historical Society, Main Street, Pittsburg – Located in the old Town Hall, across from the Police Station. Filled with memories of Pittsburg’s past. Open summer hours. http://www.pittsburg-nh.com/town-history/historic-society

Indian Stream One-Room School House, Tabor Rd. just off US 3, Pittsburg – Built in 1897 and operated until 1939. It was one of nine schoolhouses in Pitttsburg. It has been restored with original contents, photos and memorabilia from former students. The bell from the Danforth School (purchased in 1897) hangs in the belfry. The schoolhouse is on the State and National Register of Historic Places. http://www.pittsburg-nh.com/exploring-pittsburg/hunting/9-exploring-pittsburg/35-indian-stream-valley

Roadside Historical Markers – numerous ones throughout the region including one explaining Log Drives on the Connecticut River. It’s located on US 3, less than 2 miles south of the center of Stratford. https://www.cruisingnewhampshirehistory.com/

Visit our GSA Great North Woods Museum and Heritage Site List


Other Favorites

Moose Festival, Colebrook – Celebrate all things moose, held annually the weekend before Labor Day. https://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com/moose-festival.html

Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel and Raft NH, 32 Valley Road, Jefferson – Kennel address, just off NH 115. Dog sledding in winter, other seasons on rolling dog sleds. https://dogslednh.com/

Bear Rock Adventures, 545 Beach Rd., Pittsburg – Ride over 1,000 miles of Ride the Wilds interconnected trails throughout Northern New Hampshire. https://www.bearrockadventures.com/

Santa’s Village, 528 Presidential Highway, Jefferson – Named one of the Top 25 Amusement Parks in the USA by TripAdvisor 2014 Travelers’ Choice Awards. www.santasvillage.com/

NH Campground Owners Association – camping galore in the Great North Woods. See their website or printed guide. https://www.ucampnh.com/

Ride the back roads – some favorite scenic drives
Route 16 from Gorham to Errol
Route 115 from Carroll to Jefferson
Route 135 from Lancaster to Littleton
Route 110 from Gorham to Stark and beyond

Fullers Sugarhouse, 267 Main St., Lancaster – Family owned, pure maple sugar products of all kinds. www.fullersugarhouse.com

Root Seller Market Place, 77 Main St., Lancaster – local meats, produce, eggs, honey and artisan crafts. www.taprootnh.org

Fiddleheads, 110 Main St., Colebrook – Hand-crafted pottery, jewelry, glass, etc., from local, regional and national artists and artisans. https://www.fiddleheadsusa.com/


LOCAL INFORMATION RESOURCES AND WELCOME CENTERS TO SEND GUESTS TO WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THAT AREA:

Colebrook Welcome and Information Center
374 LGL Memorial Highway (US 3), Colebrook
(603) 237-5390

North Country Chamber of Commerce
104 Main St., Suite 206, Colebrook
(603) 237-8939 or http://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce
961 Main St., Berlin
(603) 752-6060 or http://www.androscogginvalleychamber.com

Great Woods Welcome Center
24 Park St., Lancaster
(603) 788-3212

Northern Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce
25 Park Street, Lancaster
(603) 788-2530 or http://www.northerngatewaychamber.org

Umbagog Area Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 113, Errol
(603) 482-3906 or http://www.umbagogchamber.com

Gorham Information Booth
69 Main St., Gorham
(603) 466-3322 or http://www.gorhamnh.org/pages/GorhamNH_RecCal/S018A8876?Access=1