Press Kit

News from Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce – 12-19-11

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, info@maynelymarketing.com 

                                                      MT WASHINGTON VALLEY IS A SNOWSHOERS PARADISE

Surrounded by 660,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest in the shadow of the largest peak in the Northeast (Mount Washington), the Mt Washington Valley offers six snowshoe and XC Centers within a 30-minute radius of North Conway, NH (at its center).  This is a region that is prime for snowshoe enthusiasts, not only because of the variety of trails, but also given the infrastructure supporting the sport. There are great retailers offering snowshoe equipment and apparel; there are licensed snowshoe guides, and most of all there are a huge variety of events for everyone from beginner to expert.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the great places for snowshoeing in the Valley – click on the links and you’ll see videos of each of these XC/snowshoe centers plus photos and further information about ticket prices and more.

Bear Notch Ski Touring:  Enjoy 70+ km of trails through scenic woods in Bartlett, NH.  Vintage warming hut offers refreshments, rentals. Trailside lodging means snowshoeing right out the back door.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center: 100 km and 45 trails wind around the Mount Washington Hotel and through the White Mountain National Forest.  Snowshoe rentals available at the Nordic Center HQ. Stay at Mt Washington Hotel and ski free.

Great Glen Trails:  40km of trails wind around the base of Mount Washington.  Snow tubing available here too, free with a trail pass.  Premiere ski show offers rentals and instruction.  Events include guided full moon snowshoe tours with Appalachian Mountain Club guides.

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: Largest cross country ski and snowshoe trail system in the Eastern United States. 154+ km of trails for all abilities interlace the village and wander into the White Mountain National Forest. Trails even wind up the back of Wildcat Ski Area for advanced and back country terrain. Rentals and instruction are available daily. Lots of lodging properties and restaurants along the trails for easy snowshoe-in/out access.  Weekly snowshoe guided tours and an active event schedule.

Purity Spring XC Center & Snowshoe Reserve: Features 22km of scenic trails that wind through the forest surrounding Purity Lake, traverse through the grounds of Purity Spring Resort and twist through tall pines in the adjacent New Hampshire Audubon Sanctuary.  Stay midweek, non-holiday and trail passes are free for guests of Purity Spring Resort.

Mt Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Center: Home to the famous Chocolate Festival (last Sunday in Feb – snowshoe or XC ski along trails and pick up chocolate treats along the way), this center features 65 km of trails winding through the Intervale with scenic views of Mount Washington.  Weekly guided snowshoe tours and evening moonlit tours followed by dessert (you will have earned it!) are favorite events here.

Beyond the combined 450km of trails, what makes Mt Washington Valley perfect for snowshoers is the variety of lodging offered either trailside or close-to-it.  Stay at a number of cozy B&Bs or resorts, many of which offer a free trail pass with non-holiday midweek stays.  There are more than 75 restaurants to enjoy some après-snowshoe warm ups or lunch along the way.  At the end of the day, top it all off with a sleighride or dog sledding adventure too. 

For more information and links to all the Mt Washington Valley snowshoe offerings,  click here: http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/recreation.cfm#Cross Country Skiing .  For more information on visiting Mt Washington Valley and planning your snowshoe vacation, go to www.mtwwashingtonvalley.org or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) to  talk with a knowledgeable vacation planner.

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