Pedaling Through the Granite State: New Hampshire's Best Backroads for Cyclists

New Hampshire, a state where nature whispers secrets to those willing to listen, offers cyclists an array of backroads that are as invigorating as they are picturesque. Here, amidst rolling hills and quaint villages, you can discover new corners of your soul and unearth different facets of your personality. The roads less traveled in this part of New England beckon with promises of solitude and serenity.

1. **Kancamagus Highway (NH Route 112)**

Starting Point: Lincoln (Main Street, Lincoln, NH 03251)

The Kancamagus Highway is not just a road; it’s a journey through time itself. Named after Chief Kancamagus ("The Fearless One"), this route slices through the White Mountain National Forest like Hemingway’s prose—sharp and evocative. As you pedal along its winding path, you'll encounter panoramic views that rival any landscape painting by Winslow Homer.

2. **Dartmouth College Loop**

Starting Point: Hanover (Hanover Inn Dartmouth, Two East Wheelock Street, Hanover, NH 03755)

Cycling around Dartmouth College isn’t merely about exercise—it’s an intellectual pilgrimage. This loop takes you past ivy-clad buildings where Robert Frost once taught poetry and John Irving found inspiration for his novels. The ride is gentle but rich with academic history and bucolic charm.

3. **Franconia Notch Bike Path**

Starting Point: Franconia Notch State Park (260 Tramway Drive Franconia/Lincoln NH 03580)

This bike path runs parallel to I-93 but feels worlds apart from modernity's hustle—a Fitzgerald-esque retreat into tranquility. Stretching from Flume Gorge to Echo Lake Beach over eight scenic miles, it offers glimpses of granite cliffs that seem almost sentient under the changing light.

4. **Lake Sunapee Scenic Byway**

Starting Point: Newbury Harbor (Route103B & Route103A Intersection Newbury,NH03255)

Circumnavigating Lake Sunapee on two wheels is akin to tracing Thoreau's footsteps around Walden Pond—but with more elevation changes! This route meanders through charming towns like Georges Mills before rewarding riders with stunning lake vistas framed by verdant forests ablaze in autumn hues.

5 .**Monadnock Region Ramble**

Starting point : Peterborough( Depot Square ,Peterborough,NH03458)

In Peterborough—the town Thornton Wilder immortalized in "Our Town"—you’ll find yourself at home among artists' studios nestled between antique shops lining Main Street . From here embark southward towards Mount Monadnock whose solitary peak inspired Emersonian reflections upon self-reliance .

6 .**North Country Odyssey **

Starting point : Lancaster(Main street,Lancaster,NH03584)

Venture northwards beyond tourist trails into Coos County where pastoral landscapes unfold beneath azure skies dotted occasionally by red barns standing sentinel against encroaching wilderness.This remote region embodies quintessential Yankee spirit resilient yet welcoming epitomizing rural Americana ethos .

Each turn reveals another layer hidden within these storied lands whether traversing covered bridges spanning babbling brooks or cresting hilltops offering sweeping panoramas stretching endlessly horizonward.New Hampshire invites exploration promising discovery both external internal alike.So saddle up dear reader let rubber meet road embrace adventure awaiting round every bend!

# Websites:

- [VisitNH](https://www.visitnh.gov/)

- [White Mountains Attractions](https://www.visitwhitemountains.com/)

# Twitter Handles:

- @VisitNH

- @NHDOT