Great North Woods Lodging for Early Snowmobile Planning

November is quiet in New Hampshire's Great North Woods. The foliage crowds have gone home, the days are short, and the snowmobile trails are not open yet. For riders, though, it is planning season. Rooms close to the trail system can be limited in the far north, and the best time to sort out lodging, registration and maps is before the first real snow.

This guide covers what to get in order this month and five places to stay that put you close to the trails in Pittsburg, Colebrook, Errol and Milan. Trail openings depend on snow, weather and landowners, so treat every date as "check before you go."

Why the Great North Woods

The Great North Woods is New Hampshire's official tourist region in Coos County, the state's northernmost county. It includes Pittsburg, the largest town by area in New England and the northernmost town in the state, along with Colebrook, Errol, Milan and the city of Berlin.

Snowmobiling is a big part of winter here. Thousands of people visit Pittsburg in the winter months to ride state-funded, club-maintained trails that link to the rest of New Hampshire, with access toward Maine, Vermont and the border crossing to Canada. Statewide, NH State Parks counts about 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails.

What to sort out in November

Registration

In New Hampshire, snowmobiles must be registered to operate anywhere other than the owner's property, according to NH Fish and Game. Annual registrations run May 1 through April 30. You can buy one in person from registration agents around the state, at Fish and Game headquarters, or online for regular annual registrations. If you order online, Fish and Game says you will not get a temporary registration, and you cannot ride until your registration and decals arrive in the mail. That alone is a good reason to handle it in November.

There are no additional trail user fees in New Hampshire. Registration fees are discounted for members of a New Hampshire snowmobile club affiliated with the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association. Check Fish and Game's fee page for current rates.

Clubs and landowners

Most of New Hampshire's trails cross private land. NH State Parks notes that about 70 percent of the state's land is privately owned, and that local clubs get landowner permission and maintain those trails. Riders can only use trails that are designated and signed for snowmobiles, or land where they have written permission. Joining the club that maintains the trails where you ride supports that system and qualifies you for the member registration rate.

Trail reports and maps

Registration does not guarantee trails are open. Fish and Game says it is the rider's responsibility to check for openings and closures. The NH Bureau of Trails publishes trail condition reports in season, and the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association maintains a statewide interactive trail map. Local clubs print and distribute their own trail maps.

Hunting season

November is deer season in New Hampshire, and the woods are busy with hunters. If you are scouting trailheads or hiking around your lodging this month, check Fish and Game's dates and seasons page and dress to be seen.

Where to stay

Each of these properties advertises access to snowmobile trails or sled-focused packages. Call ahead to confirm winter availability, rates and trail access for your dates.

Tall Timber Lodge, Pittsburg

On Back Lake in Pittsburg, Tall Timber Lodge has offered cabin and room rentals since 1946. Lodging ranges from lakeside and woodside cabins to luxury houses and six guest rooms in the knotty-pine main lodge, which also has the Rainbow Grille. Its website lists sled rentals and a Snowmobile Escape package, and links to the local Pittsburg Ridge Runners snowmobile club. Pittsburg is surrounded by the Connecticut Lakes, the headwaters of the Connecticut River.

Diamond Peaks Motel and Store, Colebrook

About six miles from downtown Colebrook on Route 26, Diamond Peaks Motel and Store says it sits right on snowmobile trails 5 and 7 of the Colebrook Ski-Bees trail system, minutes from the Swift Diamond Riders trail system. The motel lists 12 units open all year, most with two double beds. Colebrook's main village is at the junction of U.S. Route 3 and Route 26, with gas, food and supplies.

Errol Motel, Errol

On Main Street in Errol, the Errol Motel bills itself as snowmobile- and ATV-friendly, with direct access to trails. It has 11 guest rooms, two of them efficiencies with kitchenettes, and a pine-paneled North Woods style. The motel says one standard room and one efficiency are dog-friendly with advance notice. Errol sits at the junction of Routes 16 and 26, north of the White Mountains and near Lake Umbagog.

Akers Pond Inn and Cabins, Errol

Also in Errol, Akers Pond Inn and Cabins rents inn rooms and cabins and describes itself as affordable lodging for outdoor enthusiasts in the Great North Woods. Its website is brief, so call to confirm winter availability and trail access.

The Inn at OxBow Acres, Milan

For a bed and breakfast with sled access, The Inn at OxBow Acres in Milan is an eco-friendly log home on 24 acres of farmland with six renovated bedrooms. Breakfast is included, and dinner is available with advance notice. The inn says it has direct snowmobile access to Corridor 19. Milan is a short drive from Berlin, where Jericho Mountain State Park's trail system includes routes that become snowmobile trails in winter, supported by the White Mountain Ridge Runners club.

Getting there

Distances in Coos County are long, and winter driving takes more time than the map suggests. U.S. Route 3 is the only major highway in Pittsburg and runs south through Colebrook, so it is the main road for riders heading to the Connecticut Lakes. Errol sits where Route 16 meets Route 26, which connects west to Colebrook through Dixville Notch. Route 16 connects Berlin with Milan and Errol to the north. Check road conditions before you set out.

If you are towing a trailer, plan your parking with your lodging in advance. Ask whether there is room for your truck and trailer, and whether you can ride from the door or need to unload at a trailhead.

A planning checklist

• Book lodging now for holiday weeks and February school vacation weeks if you know your dates. Ask about cancellation policies in case snow is late.
• Register your sled early so the decals arrive before your trip.
• Join a club for the area you plan to ride.
• Download or order maps from the statewide interactive map or local clubs.
• Watch the trail reports before you load the trailer.
• Plan fuel and food stops. Towns in the far north are spread out, and some businesses keep reduced hours in early winter.

FAQ

When do snowmobile trails open in the Great North Woods?

It depends on snow, weather and landowner agreements. Trails are only open in winter, and there is no fixed opening date. Check the NH Bureau of Trails reports and local clubs.

Do I need to register my snowmobile in New Hampshire?

Yes, to ride anywhere other than your own property. Annual registrations run May 1 through April 30.

Are there trail passes in New Hampshire?

No. There are no additional trail user fees beyond registration.

Which towns are good bases for riding?

Pittsburg, Colebrook, Errol and Milan all have lodging that advertises trail access.

Sources

• OHRV and Snowmobile Frequently Asked Questions, NH Fish and Game (where to ride, registration agents, no temporary registration): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/highway-recreational-vehicles-ohrv-and-snowmobiles/ohrv-and-snowmobile-frequently-asked-questions
• Registering Your OHRV or Snowmobile, NH Fish and Game (registration rules, May 1 to April 30, no trail fees, club discount, check openings): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/highway-recreational-vehicles-ohrv-and-snowmobiles/registering-your-ohrv-or-snowmobile
• Dates and Seasons, NH Fish and Game (hunting seasons): https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/dates-and-seasons
• Snowmobiling, NH State Parks (7,000 miles, private land, clubs, interactive map, trail reports): https://www.nhstateparks.org/things-to-do/snowmobiling
• Pittsburg, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (largest town by area, northernmost town, snowmobile visitors, Connecticut Lakes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg,_New_Hampshire
• Great North Woods, Wikipedia (official NH tourist region in Coos County): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_North_Woods
• Colebrook, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (village at U.S. 3 and Route 26): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colebrook,_New_Hampshire
• Errol, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Routes 16 and 26, Route 26 west through Dixville Notch to Colebrook, Umbagog Lake): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Errol,_New_Hampshire
• Berlin, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (NH 16 links Berlin, Milan and Errol): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin,_New_Hampshire
• Jericho Mountain State Park, Wikipedia (snowmobile trails, White Mountain Ridge Runners): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_Mountain_State_Park
• Business details: Tall Timber Lodge official website: https://www.talltimber.com/
• Business details: Diamond Peaks Motel and Store official website: https://www.diamondpeaksmotel.com/
• Business details: Errol Motel official website: https://errol-motel.com/
• Business details: Akers Pond Inn and Cabins official website: https://akerspondinn.com/
• Business details: The Inn at OxBow Acres official website: https://www.oxbowacresnh.com/