Pittsburg and Colebrook: An Introduction to the Great North Woods

At the very top of New Hampshire, the map runs out of towns. Pittsburg is the last one before Canada, and it is enormous: a vast stretch of forest, lakes and logging roads where moose are more common than traffic lights. A short drive south on US 3, past Stewartstown, Colebrook is the region's practical hub, with a main street, restaurants and a town museum. Together they make a natural base for exploring the Great North Woods. This guide covers the evergreen things to do in Pittsburg NH and Colebrook, plus a few local businesses from our directory.

Pittsburg at a glance

Pittsburg is the northernmost town in New Hampshire and the largest town by area in all of New England, at about 291 square miles. Despite that size, the 2020 census counted just 800 residents. The town is named for William Pitt and was incorporated in 1840.

Its geography is unique in the state. Pittsburg is the only New Hampshire town that borders Canada, and the only one that borders both Maine and Vermont. The entire town lies north of the 45th parallel, the line halfway between the equator and the North Pole. US 3 runs through the village and on to the Pittsburg-Chartierville border crossing into Quebec.

The Republic of Indian Stream

Pittsburg has one of the strangest histories in New England. In the 1830s, the boundary between the United States and British North America was disputed here, and from 1832 to 1835 residents of the area ran their own unrecognized republic, the Republic of Indian Stream, with an elected government and a constitution serving about three hundred citizens. The area later became the town of Pittsburg.

A reminder of the old settlement survives in the Indian Stream Schoolhouse, on Tabor Road, built in 1897 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Connecticut Lakes

The Connecticut Lakes are the reason many people make the long drive north. This chain of four lakes sits at the headwaters of the Connecticut River. The lakes are numbered south to north, and the farther north you go, the more remote they get.

• First Connecticut Lake covers 3,071 acres and is the eighth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire. It holds landlocked salmon and lake trout and has three boat launches. Our hero image shows it on a summer day.
• Second Connecticut Lake covers 1,102 acres farther north along US 3.
• Third Connecticut Lake covers 231 acres, close to the Canadian border.
• Fourth Connecticut Lake is tiny, about 1.8 acres, and is the source of the Connecticut River. The only access is the Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail, a public trail maintained by The Nature Conservancy that crosses back and forth across the border between New Hampshire and Quebec, then loops around the lake. Standing at the small pond where the Connecticut River begins is one of the more memorable short hikes in New England.

South of the chain is Lake Francis, where Lake Francis State Park offers lakeside camping, fishing and canoeing. A marker on the southwestern shore of First Connecticut Lake commemorates Luther Parker, a figure of the Republic of Indian Stream.

Mount Magalloway and the backcountry

Mount Magalloway, at 3,383 feet, is a prominent summit in Pittsburg reachable by hiking trail. It is a good choice for hikers who want a view over the North Woods without the crowds of the White Mountains. Much of the surrounding land is working forest crossed by gravel roads, so check road conditions and carry a paper map. Cell coverage can be thin.

Lakes, cabins and guides

The listing we feature as First Connecticut Lake Outfitters points to Lopstick, a Pittsburg business that rents cabins and offers guide services. According to its website, it has cabins on Back Lake, a 358-acre lake in Pittsburg; the Magalloway cabins near First Connecticut Lake; cabins near Perry Stream; and a Riveredge cabin on the Upper Connecticut River. For visitors who want to fish the lakes and rivers with someone who knows them, a local guide is the fastest way to get oriented.

Where to eat in Pittsburg and Colebrook

Restaurants are spread out up here, so plan meals around your route.

• 1840 Restaurant is on Back Lake Road in Pittsburg. Its menu is built around homemade pizza dough, pasta, sauces and soups, and many items are cooked in a wood-fired oven. The name echoes the year the town was incorporated.
• Black Bear Tavern on Main Street in Colebrook is a sports bar and restaurant connected to the RiverEdge Inn, which offers inn and motel rooms and RV sites. Its website notes on-site access to ATV and snowmobile trails, which makes it a practical stop for riders.

A diner stop in Colebrook

Linda's Diner is a small-town diner in the heart of Colebrook serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its menu runs from pancakes, omelets and bacon in the morning to burgers, wraps and fried haddock later in the day, alongside a separate menu of Chinese-American dishes such as dumplings and wonton soup. It is a dependable, unfussy place to fuel up before a long drive north or after a day on the water.

Colebrook at a glance

Colebrook is the largest town in the area that most visitors will pass through, with 2,084 residents at the 2020 census. The Connecticut River forms its western border with Vermont, and the town sits at the junction of US 3 and NH 26, which leads east through Dixville Notch to Errol. Colebrook was incorporated in 1796 and named for Sir George Colebrooke. Its villages include Kidderville.

For a short outdoor stop, the Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area is in Colebrook and is an easy roadside waterfall to add to a drive.

Colebrook Area Historical Society

The Colebrook Area Historical Society is a volunteer group founded in 1992. Its Town Hall Museum on Bridge Street opened in 1995, and the society added the Tillotson annex in 2011. The collection holds about 15,000 artifacts from the town and the surrounding area. It is the best place in the region to understand how logging, farming and the river shaped life in the North Country. The museum is volunteer-run, so check its website for current open times before you visit.

Planning tips

• Go in fall or summer for lakes and hiking. Snow comes early this far north. In winter the region turns to snowmobiling and ice fishing.
• Fill up the tank. Distances are long and services are spread out. Fuel up in Colebrook or Pittsburg before heading north on US 3.
• Watch for moose. Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, especially along US 3 north of the village.
• Bring a passport for the border. If you plan to cross into Quebec at the Pittsburg-Chartierville crossing, bring proper documents. The Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail crosses the border itself, so follow posted guidance at the trailhead.
• Book lodging early. Cabins fill up in popular seasons, and there is not much else in the way of rooms.

FAQ

How big is Pittsburg, NH?

About 291 square miles, making it the largest town by area in New England.

How many Connecticut Lakes are there?

Four, from First Connecticut Lake (3,071 acres) to tiny Fourth Connecticut Lake, the source of the Connecticut River.

Can you hike to the source of the Connecticut River?

Yes. A trail leads to Fourth Connecticut Lake and runs along the U.S.-Canada border on the way.

What was the Republic of Indian Stream?

An unrecognized republic that existed from 1832 to 1835, when the border in this area was ambiguous. The land later became Pittsburg.

How far is Colebrook from Pittsburg?

Colebrook is south of Pittsburg on US 3, with Stewartstown in between. It is the area's main service town.

Sources

• Pittsburg, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg,_New_Hampshire
• Connecticut Lakes, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Lakes
• Republic of Indian Stream, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream
• Colebrook, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colebrook,_New_Hampshire
• Lopstick official website (First Connecticut Lake Outfitters listing): https://www.lopstick.com/
• 1840 Restaurant official website: https://www.1840nh.com/
• Black Bear Tavern official website: https://blackbeartav.com/
• Linda's Diner official website: https://lindasdinernh.com
• Colebrook Area Historical Society website: https://colebrookareahistoricalsociety.weebly.com
• Hero image: Wikimedia Commons, File:First Connecticut Lake in August 2019.jpg