The Three Lakes Ride

Celebrate Durham
Aug 1
4 min read

This summer one of my regular rides is in the Hidden Valley. It clocks in at 20.72 miles with 1,709 feet of climbing. It has it all. Gravel, country roads, big hill climb, and a scary dog. My 2014 Marin Muirwoods 29er nicked named "The Diesel " was made for this kind of ride.

The Warm Up

The first half mile of the ride starts on an unpaved road well off the beaten path. When I think gravel, this is my speed. At the end of the gravel road, I take a left onto Places Mills Road. I call this part of the ride the warmup because it is the start of the climbing and primes you for what is to come. This is a really good time to get familiar with your granny gear. It is the lowest ring on your crank and the largest gear on your rear cassette. It allows you slowly make your way up big hills. Really need it on this ride. Near the top of Places Mill is the new Sunset Lake Dam. The old one was in rough shape and the state replaced it with a new one. Took over a year and the loss of the lake for a summer, but they did a great job. Thank you State of New Hampshire. I take a left onto Avery Hill Road and drop into granny for the first tough hill. Wake up call for what lies ahead.

Near the end of Avery Hill Road is the Morse Preserve. The Forest Society helped conserve this property. It has a fairly easy 1.7 mile hike that offers spectacular views of Lake Winnipeasukee. and the Belknap Range Added bonus is that since it used to be a commercial blueberry farm, there are blueberrys.

After the Morse Preserve, I take a right onto Alton Mountain Road. There is short easy grade up and then all down hill to Lake Winnipeasukee. At the stop sign, I take a left on Rand Hill Road. Nice quit shaded road to enjoy before connecting with Route 11.

Lake Winnipesaukee

The initial stretch on 11 into Alton Bay isn't great, but it gets better as you get closer to town. Don't have a speedometer on my bike but radar clocked me at 12 heading into town. One day, I noticed a group sitting on a raft waiting to go skiing. I stopped and asked someone about it. Years ago someone with a house across from the lake started taking kids from a camp skiing . After the owner died, they managed to find a way to keep it going . Nice to hear. Two stops worth visiting in the Bay are Stillwells Ice Cream and Pops. Pops has a really good clam roll.

The Climb

At the Junction of 11 and Rand Hill Rd, I go against the arrows and take a right. This is the start of climbing back up the hill I sped down. It is nearly 2 miles so pacing is important. Drop down in granny and grind away. At the Junction of Alton Mountain Road , and Rand Hill I take a left. There is a little flat section to catch your breath and then it hits the tough section. Hard but the view of the lake is worth it. At Morse Farm you hit the peak and start a long down hill. At the fork, I take a left on Avery Hill Road and head to the heart of the hidden valley.

Crystal Lake

This part of the ride is along rolling country roads. You can tell when you have crossed over into Gilmanton by the condition of the roads. Large potholes. Eventually there is a fork in the road and you have a choice. If you go straight, you climb up Canney Hill Road. Steep painful grind. If you go right, it is much easier. For the majority of my rides, I opt for easier. At the junction of Crystal Lake Road, I hang a right. This route takes you by the summer camps on the lake. Old school summer vibe. Nice to see that they have not been torn down and replaced. Sadly this is happening in many places in New Hampshire.

The Scary Dog Zone

At the end of Crystal lake, I take a right onto Places Mill Road. There is about a mile of gravel road before it turns to pavement at the Alton town line. Just after the Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, you enter the scary dog zone. There is a large dog near the top of a hill. Since it has attacked our dog on a walk, I don't trust it. My initial dog defense plan was two rocks and mace spray, but I read I am supposed to use my bike as a shield. Couple of tense encounters but no bites yet.

Sunset Lake