Located within and adjacent to Milan HIll State Park, this network of groomed trails is open to nordic skiers and snowshoers, with a wide variety of terrain for all abilities. The trails were designed by John Morton, a two time Olympian cross-country biathlon skier and professional trail designer.
EASIEST TRAILS
Bear Waddle: From Jct. 5 by the warming hut, this is a smooth flat trail on Summer Rark Road that soon passes Yurt 1 and dips down gradually with a straight downhill which slowly climbs back to Jct. 12. From here, a short uphill turn brings you to Snow Drift at Jct. 11.
Beaudoin Pass: From Jct. 21, this wide and straight trail climbs continually but smoothly, and has a short 100′ down hill section just before joining back with Pleasant Meadow trail at Jct. 22.
Cabin Connector: Main trail which leaves the parking area and follows the park road uphill gradually passes the warming hut and ends at Jct. 5.
Hare Cut: Ungroomed single track trail that joins Cabin Connector with Cathedral. Great way to go from the parking area to easier trails like Cathedral and Pleasant Meadow.
Norwegian Pass: Ungroomed single track trail that goes slightly down hill from Cathedral to Beaudoin Pass, where there’s a short bridge to cross over right at Jct.
Rocky Cutoff: Short straight connector trail.
Pleasant Meadow: Leaves Jct. 20 near lower part of park road and meanders through open meadow of maples and short growth. Excellent views and smooth trail with very slight climb, ends at Jct. 22.
Tower Trail: Steadily climbs uphill from Jct. 9 with a couple turns, it quickly reaches the Fire Tower on top of Milan Hill. It then drops back down gently to Jct. 7.
Vista Way: Connector trail leaves Jct 12 and gently drops with a slight turn down to Jct. 13. Just 100′ from here on the Screaming Bobcat Trail is Yurt 4 which has some of the best open and expansive views in the park.
Warden Link: Flat connector trail at the top of the park.
Wight’s Way: Leaves Jct. 3 and very gradually climbs with a couple gentle turns to Jct. 5 near the warming hut.
MORE DIFFICULT TRAILS
Cathedral: Leaves Jct. 20 near the lower part of park road and gradually climbs and turns to Norwegian Pass on right. Then it proceeds to a more moderate uphill that soon flattens out above Hare Cut and begins a gradual straight descent to Jct. 23.
Evergreen Pass: This trail connects both ends of Screaming Bobcat and is an awesome up and down trail that winds it’s way through the impressive tall pines. Many short climbs and descents with various turns in the trail.
Hilltop: Leaves Jct. 3 and ascends quickly around a wide turn to large clearing and soon joins Jct. 6 continuing straight into wooded section. It turns sharp right with a short flat, then a sharp left turn climbs steeply up park road for a few hundred feet and flattens out before ending at Jct. 9.
Lollipop: A fun trail with wide variety of terrain. Leaving Jct. 23, the trail is fairly flat to moderate until comes out of forest in a clearing and begins a steady fairly straight drop to the bottom turn around point. This opening has excellent views of the Presidential Range. From here the trail heads uphill and then a quick steep downhill, meanders along smooth trail, then climbs back up quickly with some sharp turns and ends at Jct. 22.
Moose Lope: Plenty of moose signs in this area of the park. The trail leaves Jct. 10 on flat terrain and quickly drops down into a quick dip. It climbs up, and then heads gradually down hill with left turn, and climbs up steadily to height of land where Coaster Chute will be visible on your left. From here, the trail drops steadily and winds to the right, coming back next to itself. It becomes more gradual down hill with a soft turn entering a hardwood forest before straightening to end at Jct. 14.
Pine Alley: Leaves just above parking area from Jct. 1 and has a steady climb with no sharp turns or dips, ends at Jct. 3.
Porky’s Quill: A great trail with lots of ups and downs, sharp turns and varied terrain. It leaves Jct. 12 with a fast downhill section turning left, then a series of ups and downs to eventually come to a gradual climb ending at Jct. 15.
Rich Run: Leaves Jct. 2 and is a steady to steep downhill, curving to the left and running out onto Lollipop Trail ending at Jct. 23.
Trip Trap Turn: This trail meanders its way from Jct. 4 near the warming hut to Jct. 13 near Yurt 4. It then travels over a variety of small hill climbs and dips with hill turns, some sharp. There is a 3-sided lean-to available for a resting stop near the end, close to Jct. 13.
MOST DIFFICULT-ADVANCED TRAILS:
Coaster Chute: Leaves Jct. 10 and climbs steadily up with a right turn, flattens out for a few hundred feet, then turns a sharp right with a quick, steep drop that narrows and sharply turns left at the bottom of the hill. A short flat section takes a sharp left hairpin turn with steep ascent (sometimes this section can be icy or crusty). The trail continues with a slight uphill, then gradual climbs to the right and ends at Jct. 8.
Mahoosuc Chute: Leaves Jct. 6 and ends at Jct. 1 just above parking area. This trail starts out with a gentle downhill through open fields, but soon enters forest with a moderate downhill to a left turn (there are excellent views from here). It then quickly drops very steeply, with sharp switchback turns. From the bottom, the trail climbs steadily back to parking area.
Screaming Bobcat: Leaves Jct. 13 just above Yurt 4 with excellent views, and gradually heads down hill with long cruising straightaways. Eventually it begins a quick, steep descent with a series of sharp turns. From the bottom, a steady straight climb leads to a section with a few ups and downs and sharp turns. The trail ends with a long gradual climb and a left turn to Jct. 15.
For more information, visit the Nansen Ski Club website, or contact:
Take NH-16 North to Milan. In the center of town, turn left onto NH-110B. Drive 2 miles and turn left onto the Milan Hill Fire Tower road, marked with a Milan Hill State Park sign. The Park entrance and parking area is 0.1 miles up a short section of steep hill, on the left. You may park at bottom of hill for access to Lollipop Trail, which is a great loop for beginners on moderate/easy terrain.
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