Tours and Guided Trips in the Great North Woods

North of the White Mountains, past the notches, New Hampshire turns into big, quiet country. The Great North Woods covers the top of Coos County: long stretches of forest, logging roads, headwater lakes and rivers, and very few people. That is the appeal, and it is also why a guide or outfitter is worth having up here. This is country where it is easy to take a wrong turn, and where local knowledge decides whether you find the fish, the moose or the right trail.

June is a good month to come. The rivers are running, the trout are active, the trail systems are open, and the long days give you time to fit in a morning on the water and an afternoon on the trails. This guide covers the tours great north woods nh travelers book most: guided fishing, river trips and ATV adventures. Seasons, rates and trip lengths change, so check with each outfitter before you plan.

Getting Oriented: Pittsburg, Errol and Berlin

Three towns anchor most trips. Pittsburg, at the very top of the state, is the largest town by area in New England and the only New Hampshire town that borders Canada. It contains the Connecticut Lakes, the chain of four lakes where the Connecticut River begins. First Connecticut Lake alone covers about 3,071 acres. Pittsburg also has one of the odder stories in American history: in the 1830s, a boundary dispute briefly left the area as its own small republic, known as the Republic of Indian Stream.

To the southeast, Errol sits where the Androscoggin River begins, at the point where the Magalloway River joins the outlet of Umbagog Lake. Umbagog covers about 7,850 acres and is surrounded by a national wildlife refuge. Farther south, the city of Berlin is the gateway to Jericho Mountain State Park and the region's ATV trail network.

Guided Fly Fishing on the Upper Connecticut

The upper Connecticut River is the reason many anglers drive this far north. Below the Connecticut Lakes, the river offers tailwater fishing below the dams, stretches set aside for fly fishing only, and runs of landlocked salmon.

Points North Outfitters is an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing outfitter with a fly shop in Pittsburg. Its guides run wade trips on the headwaters and drift trips farther downriver, below Murphy Dam, where the Connecticut widens. They also fish the Androscoggin, the small streams and remote ponds of the area, and offer casting lessons for beginners. If you have never fly fished, a guided half day on the river is the fastest way to learn. If you have, a guide who fishes these waters all season can put you in the right spot for the conditions that day.

Drift and Wade Trips Across Coos County

Deadwater Adventures is a Coos County guide service that covers both of the region's big rivers. Its drift boat trips float the Connecticut and the Androscoggin, with stops at productive pools along the way and a shore lunch on all-day trips. Fly fishing from the boat is the most popular choice, but spinning gear is allowed.

The service also runs wade trips. On the Connecticut, those can range from the Canadian border down to North Stratford, depending on water conditions. Both rivers hold brook, brown and rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon at the right time of year. When rain turns the rivers high and murky, the guides head for the area's trout ponds instead. Deadwater also offers upland bird hunting later in the year.

River Trips and Canoeing from Errol

If you would rather float than fish, head to Errol. Northern Waters Outfitters sits beside the Androscoggin River and has been a base for paddlers for about fifty years. It runs family-friendly rafting trips through the season, rents canoes, teaches kayaking, and has riverside campsites, so you can stay right on the water.

The Androscoggin near Errol is a good introduction to North Country paddling. Combine a river trip with a drive to Umbagog Lake, where the refuge protects a large stretch of wild shoreline, and you have a full day without seeing much traffic. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the river and the lake edges.

ATV Rentals and Guided Rides

The Great North Woods has become one of New England's best-known places for ATV and side-by-side riding, with an extensive trail network linking towns from Pittsburg to Berlin.

In Pittsburg, Bear Rock Adventures rents Polaris side-by-sides, including two-, four- and six-seat models, and is a certified Polaris Adventures outfitter. It also offers lodging and camping, so you can ride straight from where you are staying. In winter the same operation rents snowmobiles.

Farther south, Trail Tow and Guiding rents ATVs and side-by-sides near Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin and runs guided tours of the trails around Berlin and Gorham. It also offers trailside assistance and recovery, which is a reassuring service to know about in country this remote. A guided ride is a smart choice for first-timers, because a guide knows the trail rules, the route and how to get you back.

Putting Together a Two-Day Trip

Because the towns are spread out, it helps to split a short trip by area rather than zigzag across the county.

Day one in Pittsburg. Start early with a guided morning on the upper Connecticut, when the river is quiet and the fish are often most active. After lunch, rent a side-by-side and spend the afternoon on the trails, or simply drive north along Route 3 past the Connecticut Lakes toward the Canadian border. Stay overnight in Pittsburg so you do not have to drive the back roads after dark.

Day two from Errol to Berlin. Head southeast to Errol for a morning raft or canoe trip on the Androscoggin, then continue south to Berlin. A guided ATV tour near Jericho Mountain State Park fills the afternoon, and from Berlin it is an easy drive back toward the White Mountains and points south.

If you only have one day, choose one activity and one town. In this part of the state, a slower pace is the point.

Tips for Your Trip North

• Plan for distance. Towns are far apart, and services thin out north of Berlin. Fill your tank when you can.
• Expect weak cell service. Download maps before you go and tell someone your plans.
• Bring bug protection. June is peak black fly season in the North Country. A head net is not overkill.
• Watch for moose. Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, especially on Route 3 north of Pittsburg.
• Check licenses. Anglers need a New Hampshire fishing license, and ATV riders need to follow state registration and trail rules. Ask your outfitter what they provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best guided trip in the Great North Woods?

It depends on your interests. Anglers should look at a guided fly fishing trip on the upper Connecticut River. Families often enjoy a rafting or canoe trip out of Errol, and ATV riders can rent or join a guided ride near Pittsburg or Berlin.

Do I need experience to go on a guided fishing trip?

No. Guides work with beginners and experienced anglers, and some outfitters offer casting lessons.

Where does the Connecticut River begin?

In the Connecticut Lakes in Pittsburg, the northernmost town in New Hampshire.

Can you rent an ATV in the Great North Woods?

Yes. Outfitters in Pittsburg and Berlin rent ATVs and side-by-sides, and some offer guided tours.

Sources

• Pittsburg, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (largest town by area in New England, only NH town bordering Canada, Republic of Indian Stream, Connecticut Lakes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg,_New_Hampshire
• Connecticut Lakes, Wikipedia (four lakes, First Connecticut Lake area): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Lakes
• Errol, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (start of the Androscoggin at the Magalloway and the Umbagog outlet): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Errol,_New_Hampshire
• Umbagog Lake, Wikipedia (area, national wildlife refuge): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbagog_Lake
• Points North Outfitters, fly fishing page (Orvis-endorsed, Pittsburg fly shop, wade and drift trips, Murphy Dam, tailwaters, fly-fishing-only sections, casting lessons): https://www.pointsnorthnh.com/fly-fishing
• Deadwater Adventures official site (Coos County guide service, drift and wade trips, territory, species, shore lunch): http://deadwateradventures.com/
• Northern Waters Outfitters official site (Errol, Androscoggin River, fifty years, rafting, canoe rentals, kayaking, campsites): https://beoutside.com
• Bear Rock Adventures official site (Polaris rentals, lodging and camping, Pittsburg): https://www.bearrockadventures.com
• Trail Tow and Guiding official site (ATV and UTV rentals, guided tours, trailside assistance, Jericho State Park): https://www.trailtowandguidingllc.com