Bicycling

Where’s the best bicycling in Weirs Beach?

There are quite a few hidden paths where you can go mountain biking through the woods right in Weirs Beach—but you’ll have to find them on your own, because they’re a SECRET! Hint: try exploring off of Hilliard road; Scenic/Roller Coaster road; and White Oaks road.

For a longer, more challenging ride with real hills, there’s an extensive trail system at Gunstock (trail pass required) where you can rent a mountain bike at the resort’s Mountainside Outfitters. There’s also miles of intertwining trails in the Belknap Lakes area. Advanced and technical mountain bikers should check out the Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield. Mountain bikers have several other choices in the area, including Ahern State Park in Laconia, Ramblin’ Vewe Farm in Gilford, and Waukewan Highlands in Meredith.

Easier, more level trails to consider are the WOW trail from Lakeport to Belmont, the Winnipesaukee River Trail from Tilton to Franklin, and the 60-mile, Northern Rail Trail, which can be accessed in Franklin, around its midpoint. Lakes Region Ebikes, located in Franklin, rents electric bikes that make riding any of these three trails a fun, relaxed adventure.

If road biking is your preference, there are many nice, quiet country roads, even in the summertime, in the sparsely populated nearby towns of Sanbornton and Gilmanton. You’ll find the DeLorme New Hampshire Atlas & Gazetteer absolutely indispensible if you wish to explore the byways and backways in these areas. The most recent version of this Atlas was published in 2021 and combines NH with Vermont.

To get to Sanbornton by bike from Weirs Beach, take Roller Coaster Rd to Parade road, head N 1/4 mile, then take a left on Livingston Rd to Meredith Center. Head N on Meredith Center Rd 1/4 mile, then take a left on Chemung Rd. Follow Chemung Rd two miles to Sanbornton.

For more tips on where to bicycle in the area, see the Lakes Region Bicycling website, or the website of the Central NH chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association (NEMBA). Nearby NEMBA trail areas that are quite extensive include Franklin Falls, Page Hill (in Hill), and Spaulding Woods (in Tilton).

History of Bicycling