Are you ready for a day of paddling and pedaling at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center? Situated right across the street from Mount Washington, this Gorham, NH adventure hub is as iconic as they come. Outdoor enthusiasts flock here year-round for everything from mountain biking and kayaking in the summertime to cross country skiing, fatbiking, and tubing come winter.
This time of the year, we always feel the call of the water, so we opted to book a half-day guided kayak tour with Great Glen Trails. (We recommend doing so well in advance, as this tour ranks among the best things to do in the Mount Washington Valley area.) Happily, we chose our day well, as the forecast gifted us with a resplendent, warm day just waiting to be explored.
On arrival at the outdoor center, we drove around the back of the building to meet Clark, our guide for the day. Due to water levels on the Androscoggin River, the day’s route would be focused on paddling around Pontook Reservoir, rather than a simple float down the river. We were delighted nevertheless, and after brief introductions with the rest of the group (some of whom were new to kayaking), we tried on our life vests.
We chatted excitedly as Clark went from one person to another to ensure a proper vest fit, the promise of the day potent in the air. Did we have the recommended gear, like sunscreen, bug repellent, snacks, water, and other wardrobe add-ons based on the weather? Fantastic! In short order, we boarded the Great Glen Trails van and charted a course northward.
On our drive up Route 16, Clark gave us a historical background on the Androscoggin River, including the pivotal role Berlin played in the logging industry. We enjoyed the sights of the rocky boom piers, and imagined the endless logs guided down the river by loggers armed with spiked boots and long pikes. Did you know that the boots of the loggers who fell victim to this wild, dangerous industry can still be found nailed to trees in northern New Hampshire? This is just one of the interesting tidbits we learned during our drive.
In little time, we made it to Pontook Reservoir, a glassy expanse where the Androscoggin swells to lake-like dimensions thanks to a nearby dam. Looking at the sparkling waters and listening to frog song, we felt worlds away from the rampant logging industry of long ago.
After parking the van and moving our colorful kayaks to the boat launch, Clark went through the basics of paddling for the uninitiated, including how to hold the paddle and different types of strokes to move you through the water. While some in our crew seemed a bit apprehensive at first, Great Glen Trails’ kayak tours are a great choice for beginners.
Our group set out in a mix of tandem and solo kayaks. Almost immediately, we were greeted by the sights of an osprey dipping down to the water in search of fish, followed by a bald eagle floating high above like a pinprick in the sky. We paddled into secret waterways where purple blossoms and lily pads festooned the surface, and looked for turtles in the shallow water below us. Every now and then we fought the wind. At one point, a dragonfly caught a ride on our kayak, and it felt like a small blessing from Pontook’s thriving ecosystem.
This tour is one rooted in nature, from spotting a mottled juvenile bald eagle and looking for massive nests to learning about the rejuvenation of the Androscoggin River in the decades since the logging industry declined. Clark was a wealth of knowledge throughout, keeping the mood light but informative. We wondered what it would be like to book a full day kayaking tour, which Great Glen Trails also offers. Would we come away veritable experts? And what of the sunset kayak tour? No doubt, we would see a moose in the wallows along Pontook’s shores.
But soon, our time on the water was wrapping up. We slipped through a narrow gap between islands, paddled slowly through a vast expanse of lily pads, and committed the sound of the hull sliding along them to our summer memories. Then, we loaded the trailer and boarded the van for our ride back to Great Glen Trails. A certain quiet settled over the group, and we glowed with that mellow kind of joy that comes from time spent away from it all, exploring the outdoors under peaceful blue skies.
Upon our return to the outdoor center, we made our way across the street for an al fresco lunch at The Glen House. This chic, eco-friendly hotel has great views of the northern Presidential Range (including Mount Washington!) and a tasty, straightforward lunch menu. We were quick to snag a seat on the famous back deck complete with a fire pit and comfy chairs, and as we waited, a hawk circled past.
What would we do after lunch? We pondered our options as we ate. Fortunately, the fried chicken wrap and Arnold Palmer proved positively restorative after all that paddling.
Now, we just had to choose – drive the Mt. Washington Auto Road all 7.6 miles to the Northeast’s highest summit, or hit Great Glen Trails’ carriage roads for some mountain biking? The former is one of the best things to do on vacation in the White Mountains, and the latter is perfection if you’re looking to stretch your legs on mile after mile of scenic trail.
We’ve brought you along on the adventure so far. The rest is up to you! Learn more about mountain biking for beginners, and start planning your trip to Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center today.
