The North Conway area offers fat biking with several local trail networks, including the Marshall Conservation Area and Eastside Network, which provide winter grooming, plus rental options from Nordic areas like Great Glen Trails and shops like The Great American Ski Renting Company.
White Mountains NEMBA
The White Mountain chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (WMNEMBA) maintains two networks that are groomed in the winter for “fat bikers.” The Marshall Conservation area is located in North Conway, with access from the parking lot on West Side Road and Rogers Crossing in Bartlett, which is accessed from either the parking lot behind Attitash Mountain Village or the parking lot on Garland Ridge Road by the railroad tracks.
The Marshall Conservation area is a multi-use network on town property where approximately 8 miles of trails are groomed during the winter months. Groomed trails are commonly used by fat bikers, as well as snowshoers and skiers. The terrain is twisty with some elevation, making for great riding and one of our most enjoyed networks! Marshall connects to a sometimes-groomed snowmobile trail network, and there are usually packed snowshoe trails that can lead to bigger adventures.
Rogers Crossing, located across the road from Attitash Ski area, offers 10 miles of groomed trails accessible from two points.
The western access is at the Rogers Crossing barn on Garland Ridge Road, and the central access is on River Run Road behind Attitash Mountain Village. This entire network is on private property, generously made available to the public at no cost. Please be respectful of the landowner’s wishes. Open carriage roads and twisty singletracks along the Saco River lead to open fields with great views. With little elevation gain, these are very accessible to all abilities—a family favorite both in summer and winter.
Winter grooming is a fickle operation with snow and temperature fluctuations, along with varied volunteer schedules. We do our best to maintain these trails, but we ask that everyone be mindful and respectful of the effort that goes into them. Snowshoers and skiers are welcome on any groomed trail; however, we kindly ask that those who like to walk, hike, or run in these areas do not do so on the groomed surface unless they ARE NOT leaving a track. It takes only minutes to make the many hours of effort our volunteers put in for everyone to enjoy.
Fee-Free Access
Every trail—winter and summer—is fee-free and maintained by volunteers. Funding comes from memberships, grants, and generous donations. If you would like to help fund the fun, please consider a donation or becoming a member.
Visit the WMNEMBA website for more information.
Check here for grooming reports or on Instagram
For updates in the Marshall Conservation area, visit www.facebook.com/marshall.grooming.
WMNEMBA Winter Fundraiser
White Mountains NEMBA is excited to announce a winter fundraiser to support fat bike trail grooming in the Valley!
Join them the weekend of January 9–11 for an orienteering-style Fat Bike Scavenger Hunt with checkpoints spread around Marshall and Rogers Crossing. Wrap-up with Sunday afternoon party and raffle at Pro Tune!
For full event details, visit www.wmnembachapter.org/events
Fat Biking Tips & Etiquette
• Tire pressure should be under 8 psi; 3-6 psi is usually ideal. Bike tires should be a minimum of 3.8” in width.
• Please don’t ride your regular mountain bike on the trails.
• If you are leaving a tire rut, the trail is too soft; try again once the temperature drops.
• If you are a walker, please use snowshoes.
• If you do not have snowshoes and you are leaving a track more than 1” deep, the trail is too soft for walking.
• Bikers should yield to all other users. Bikes have brakes, skiers do not.
• Be respectful to all fellow trail users—slow down and smile.
• Fat bike lane—when using portions of XC trails, always ride on the opposite side from the classic ski tracks, and avoid the center of the trail on the skate ski track.
• NEVER ride in classic XC tracks.
• After grooming, allow time for the track to set up.
• If you’re sinking an inch or more into a freshly groomed trail, turn around and give the trail a cold night to set up.
PRKR MTN trails in Littleton, NH, have been groomed for fat biking for over 10 years! Currently, about 15 miles of the 25-mile network is groomed. Fat biking in the winter on PRKR MTN is a treat since the trails are notoriously technical, but in the winter, the snow fills in many of the nooks and crannies. A favorite ride is to start at the School Street parking lot and ride Orange, to Elm Street, to Fly Bye, to Traversity, to Trailway 95, to PRKR Ave, which turns into Ante Up, to the famous Linda’s Lookout.
The club collaborates with Franconia Area NEMBA (FANEMBA) and Bethlehem Trail Association (BTA) for a Fat bike Poker Run on Presidents Day Weekend, February 13-16. All proceeds go towards trail grooming. For current trail conditions and grooming, follow them on Facebook.
PRKR MTN Trails
288 School Street, Littleton, NH
COÖS CYCLING CLUB
Coös Trails in Gorham, NH offers a 14-mile winter riding route that can be accessed from several points in town. Local grooming efforts, in conjunction with existing snowmobile trails, provide great variety and connect Moose Brook State Park to the Pine Mountain network and Big Day Brewing—with lots of adventure in between. The “out” climb is rewarded with a fast, flowy descent and is worth every calorie burned!
Access Points
Moose Brook State Park (Primary Access Point)
Moose Brook State Park is the recommended and most reliable access point for the winter riding network. Parking is available at the campground office on Jimtown Road, which serves as the primary trailhead for the season. Moose Brook is a start point and a connector into the greater network. There will be no bike-specific grooming within the state park this season beyond the transition over to the Pine Mountain side. Riders should proceed from Moose Brook via: Hinchey Trail/Presidential Rail Trail, to The Strand, to Pete’s Sake, to Carry Onto Alpine Spring Extension (including the newest segment).
Winter riding can also be accessed via the snowmobile trail network from Big Day Brewing, or via the Route 2 pull-off on Lancaster Road in Gorham.
Pine Mountain Side (Primary Riding Zone)
The Pine Mountain side of the network is where all bike‑specific grooming takes place this season. Primary access is from Moose Brook State Park; secondary access is from Big Day Brewing via the snowmobile trail network to the Biscoff climb.
Once you enter the Pine Mountain network, signage leads you up The Strand to Pete’s Sake, then onto Carry On and out the Alpine Spring Extension. Bear Spring (a snowmobile trail) provides a return option to the pipeline at the west end of Howie Get There, and access back to Big Day Brewing.
In total, you’ll see about 7 miles outbound (as well as the entertaining Biscoff descent), creating up to 14 miles of out‑and‑back fat biking—with a fast, flowing return that rewards the climb with great turns on machine‑built, machine‑groomed trail.
Fee-Free Access and Membership Options
Access to the Coös Trails winter network remains fee-free, but to ensure consistent, high‑quality conditions, the Coös Cycling Club employs paid grooming staff—local riders and community members who dedicate remarkable time and effort to crafting an awesome fat bike experience.
Interested in learning to groom? If you’d like to help or train with this crew, reach out to them via social media—they’re always glad to hear from motivated riders, and groomers are paid well for their time and effort.
Coös Cycling Club asks that you use good judgment regarding temperatures and conditions when deciding to ride; and be vigilant when riding on snowmobile trails.
For up-to-date trail conditions, visit www.cooscyclingclub.org, or follow the club on Facebook and Instagram for the latest grooming and updates @cooscyclingclub.
For additional groomed fat biking options, visit these local Nordic centers:
• Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (rentals available)
