Snowmobile Trails to Stinson Lake in New Hampshire

As soon as the first snow of the season falls in New Hampshire, snowmobile clubs start the annual grooming of trails. In many cases snowmobile trails follow hiking trails, gravel roads and the routes of long-closed railroads. This is the case in the trails that lead to and around Stinson Lake in the southwestern tip of the White Mountain National Forest.

  1. Stinson Lake Loop

    • The Stinson Lake Loop Trail is an 8.1-kilometer snowmobile trail the circles Stinson Lake. Start the trail on Stinson Lake Road at a point in which it joins with Cross Road, but since the trail completely circles the lake you can join it at any point that is convenient. The trail follows the western lake shore northward for nearly two miles before a couple of right hand turns take you southward on the east side of the lake on Doetown Road. After about four miles make a right turn into Cross Road for the final mile to your starting point. This is a scenic rural trail that takes you through some of New Hampshire's finest forest scenery.

    Stinson Lake-Ellsworth-Rumney-Stinson Lake

    • This is an unnamed 21-kilometer cross country snowmobile trail that starts on the western side of Stinson Lake, goes across country to the village of Ellsworth, cross country again to the north of Rumney and then cuts back across to the starting point. The trail starts on the western side of the lake at Kittredge Lane and follows Stinson Lake Road northward. Skip the turn at Doetown Road and continue straight ahead for another half mile before the road takes a right hand bend toward Ellsworth. After about four miles just south of Ellsworth Pond, turn right onto Logging Road and follow that road until you get to Doetown Road where you turn right and follow the road to Stinson Lake Road and back to the start. This trail follows some tarmac roads that are closed to wheeled vehicles in winter as well as a few miles of logging roads.

    Stinson Lake, Ellsworth via Snowmobile Trails

    • This is a 38-kilometer trail that starts off in Kittredge Lane on the western side of Stinson Lake. Start off going northward on Stinson Lake Road and after 13 kilometers make a right turn onto Mason and after another two kilometers, take a left onto Chandler Hill Road. Follow the road for 3 kilometers before turning right onto East Rumney Road. After another 10 kilometers the trail goes right onto Quincy. And right onto Common 3 kilometers later. A right onto Stinson Lake Road will take you back to the start point. This recreational trail has some steep and rough areas as well as paved roads.

    Cosiderations

    • The weather can turn suddenly in New Hampshire. Also breakdowns can occur and accidents can happen, especially when the snows start to melt and conditions underfoot are unpredictable.

      Before setting out on a trail that is of considerable length, make sure your cell phone battery is fully charged, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Take a supply of emergency equipment, food and water.