Cambridge, MA to New Hampshire All-Roads: 145 miles

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Cambridge, MA, US

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Route Overview

Eastern Massachusetts All-Roads Cycling

Gravel and All-Roads Adventures from Greater Boston to Beyond...

145 mi.

6,828 ft.

A long ride from Cambridge, MA to the excellent dirt roads of southern New Hampshire, including Hilltop Cafe, multiple towns and farms, beautiful rail trails and going by the base of Pack Monadnock. Maximized for dirt roads. You can add on a climb of Pack Monadnock for a truly epic day, or split it into several days by bikepacking or staying at a hotel. Some roads that are gravel are listed as paved, so more like 40-50 miles of gravel. Three short sections of single-track and Class VI road mean that you need a bike with tires 35mm or wider.

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Route Details

Escape from the city to the peaceful and bucolic dirt roads of Southern New Hampshire, get brunch at @poi[Hilltop Cafe](39328327), and return back. This route has it all: country roads, rail trails, forest paths; views and swimming; great food and ice cream! The route is majority paved, with a significant amount of dirt roads and rail trails. Mapped from the start of the Minuteman bike path in Alewife, which is available by the MBTA red line.  This can be done as a long day ride, or broken into 2 or 3 days by camping or staying in hotels.  The route is great from spring through late fall. It is amazing to realize that you can go from a major metropolis to farms and forests on your own power!

## Route (elapsed mileage):
* Start at Alewife station, the beginning of the Minuteman Bike Path. This is accessible from the MBTA and there is also parking here.
* Ride 10 miles to the end of the path in Bedford (10.1), then cross the road and join the @poi[Narrow Gauge Rail Trail](89434788) for another 3.1 miles (13.2)
* Ride paved roads across the Nashua River and Northeast into Great Brook Farm State Park where there are bathrooms, waterfountain and a wonderful ice cream stand (18.5).
* Ride paved roads north and east through Chelmsford, Westford and into Groton, where you join the @poi[Red Line Trail](89434787) for one mile of singletrack (30.6).
* Head northeast on paved roads to Pepperell where there is a convenience store and @poi[diner](89434785) (37), and continue northeast to Hollis, NH where you will ride gravel on the Potanipo Rail Trail (40.9).
* In Brookline (44.5), the route is dependent on the time of year. The planned route takes  the Brookline Rail Trail, requiring you to ride through @poi[Camp Tevya](39328326). You are allowed to ride through their property except during session (late June to mid August). When camp is in session take a right on Mason Road and a left to go north on Route 13 for 2 miles where you will take a left on North Mason Road and rejoin the route.
* The next 50 miles are primarily on dirt roads, most of which are extremely high-quality and see little car traffic. 
* The @poi[Hilltop Cafe](39328327) (56.2) is one of the highlights of the route. A wonderful local restaurant, farm stand, and bakery; it is a great place for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Call ahead several miles before so that they will have your order ready for you. Pickup some baked goods that you can snack on later on this long ride.
* Continue down to the town of Wilton (58.7) and up out of town heading north to the northern most point on the route and then to Lyndeborough, Where there is a general store @poi[RK Village Store](89287536) (68.3)
* The next 7 miles are hilly and beautiful.  At mile 73.8 you pass @poi[Ben's Sugar Shack](89434796) where you can get maple products. At mile 75.3 you cross Route 101, where you can make the optional climb up to Miller State Park and climb the road to @poi[Mt. Pack Monadnock](89287538) (4.4mi and 1000 ft. round trip). 
* From here it's a fast descent 2 miles into the town of Temple where you can fuel up at @poi[Willard's Store](89287537) (77.6).
* Head south out of Temple, and take the steep right on Hill Rd., riding dirt and then paved roads to the town of Greenville. Continue heading east and the road will turn back to dirt, and then at mile 89.2 you will take a sharp right to leave the road and join the @poi[Mason Railroad Trail](89434797) which you will ride for the next 6 miles.
* Ride south to the town of Townsend where you will join the @point[Squannacook River Rail Trail](d,161628.32) at mile 100.4) and follow for 4 miles. At several points the trail is not complete and you ride the parallel road for several hundred yards.
* At mile 108 you cross the @poi[Nashua River](89434800) and join a short section of dirt road. It is possible to swim in the river here. From here the path is mostly paved as you head southeast through Groton, Ayer, Littleton, Acton and into Concord.
* At mile 131 you take a sharp left off the road to join the dirt @poi[Reformatory Road](89434803) which runs 6 miles to Bedford Station, where you can rejoin the Minuteman trail for the ride back to the start in Cambridge.
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## Notes
**Seasonal Issues:** This route is wonderful from whenever the spring mud is gone until late fall. It is particularly glorious in the late spring and early summer and during foliage season in the fall. There is one seasonal closure that requires rerouting if @poi[Camp Tevya](39328326) is in session (July/August); details above.

**Variations:**
1) @poi[Mt. Pack Monadnock](89287538) - optional 4.4 mi. 1000 ft. climb in the middle.
2) Shorten route: If you want to shorten the route, you can cut west at multiple points in the northern loop. The easiest way to do this is at mile 52.7, where you can take a left on Pratt Pond Road and then rejoin the route where it joins the @poi[Mason Railroad Trail](89434797). This cuts 47 miles off the route, so you will have a century, but you will miss many of the most scenic dirt roads.
3) Battle Road instead of @poi[Reformatory Road](89434803) from Concord. If you have had a long day and want to cut a few miles off, you can head east out of Concord and take the Battle Road into Lexington rather than taking @poi[Reformatory Road](89434803) which goes a bit north to Bedford.
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**Recommended equipment & attire:** This route Is recommended for a gravel bike with tires 32mm or wider and disc brakes as there are miles of dirt roads and three brief sections (singletrack or class VI unmaintained roads)  which will be too rough for road bikes (except maybe with 35mm tires).

**Required fitness level to enjoy route:** This is a long route, so it requires a high level of fitness if you are going to do it in one day. Alternatively, break it into several days.

**Water, food, and other services availability:** There is plenty of water, food and other services either on the route or nearby.

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Cambridge, MA to New Hampshire All-Roads: 145 miles

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