On Foot: Trekking, Hiking, Walking, Backpacking
and On the Water: Canoeing, Kayaking
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There’s no better way to get better at something than doing a lot of it for a long time. These are private excursions for you/your party with our professional guide/instructors, tailored to your interests and abilities.
Experience the Northern Forest walking or paddling--traveling under your own power by day and sleeping under starry skies at night. Tell us whether you want a peaceful leisure trip touring the wilderness, or an outdoor education course to learn knowledge and skills for future excursions on your own. We provide meals, tents for camping, or will arrange other accommodations depending on interest and route. We offer equipment rentals such as backpacks for trekking and canoes/kayaks and dry storage for paddling. These expeditions are for friends, families, and small groups, on date(s) mutually agreed upon with your guide(s). Click here for larger group programs. Prices are subject to change due to customization. There's a map of New Hampshire's regions at the bottom of this page, which may be helpful in planning your visit. Getting Here |
"Earth and sky, |
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Backpacking Journey
Explore New Hampshire's long hiking trails on a fully custom guided trek:
(1) Cohos Trail in the Great North Woods. (2) The Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains, pending guide permit. (3) Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway in western New Hampshire. 
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Our multi-day guided backpacking trips are available May through October. 2-day backcountry guided hikes are also offered as winter camping trips November - May, staying below treeline while using snowshoes or snowspikes as necessary. May and June may still have snow on higher-elevation trails. Peak fall foliage is mid-September through mid-October.
Stay in lean-tos, tents, huts, or cabins (whatever the route offers). The CT and M-SG trails both have considerably less traffic than the AT in the White Mountains. Trekking 2-10 miles a day, you'll have a chance to spot wildlife, waterfalls, and scenic views. There will be time on longer trips for practicing these skills if interested: North Woods survival, backcountry camping, bush craft, and animal tracking and signs. Includes: Pack list, shuttle assistance, meals, nature/history talks, survival tips, skills instruction, and wildlife spotting and photo opportunities. Additional fees may be applied for equipment rentals, shuttle assistance, extra guides, campsite fees, and other lodging and services as needed. Starts 8-10AM on Day 1. Ends 3-5pm on last day, unless other arrangement. |
Custom Private Backpacking Journey
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The Cohos Trail officially opened around 2000 and runs 175 miles (100 as the crow flies) from Crawford Notch to the Canadian border in Pittsburg. Relocating and improving the trail has been an ongoing task due to the trail running mostly through private lands. Each section has unique qualities and offers wild to bucolic experiences. Trail surfaces vary: rocky single-track, damp earth moose paths, grassy farm lanes, and gravel woods roads. Putting yourself anywhere along this route is an unforgettable experience. You'll have a better chance of seeing moose than other humans. Depending on terrain and pace, you'll cover about 6-12 miles a day, and it would take about 12-16 days to hike the entire trail for experienced and fit hikers.
The Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire runs 160 miles from Glencliff to just north of Shelburne. The White Mountains is characterized by having rugged terrain and unpredictable weather, and much of it is above treeline which offers great views on clear days. Depending on terrain and pace, you'll cover 5-8 miles a day max, and it would take about 20-28 days to hike the entire New Hampshire section of the AT that runs from Georgia to Maine (with extensions into Florida and Canada). The southern section in NH, at lower elevations, is less crowded and has nice foliage in the fall. Please note that other trails in the vicinity of the White Mountains are available as alternative routes. The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway was originally laid out in 1921. It was updated starting in 1994 and it runs 49 miles. It's great for novice backpackers and families with it's lower mountains, and it is conveniently located in southwestern New Hampshire, only an 1.5 hour drive from Boston. Depending on terrain and pace, you'll cover 5-10 miles a day max, and it would take about 3-5 days to hike the entire trail. |
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Paddling Voyage
Discover traveling by river:
(1) A Northern New Hampshire section of the Connecticut River, which is an American Heritage River. (2) The headwaters of the Androscoggin River, host of the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. (3) The Northern Forest Canoe Trail that covers some of both watersheds. 
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Explore New Hampshire’s wild water routes canoeing or kayaking May - October with our instructor-guides. May, September, and October are best without bugs around camp. Fall foliage is Sept. through mid-October.
Paddle a leisurely (or driven) pace 4 – 6 hours a day to see wildlife in calm waters and/or to experience the thrill of rolling whitewater--full instruction included as needed. Most campsites are remote (no car access). Some trips will have portages around dams and other obstacles. You may opt to stay at other accommodations if available. There will be time on longer trips for practicing these skills: North Woods survival, backcountry camping, bushcraft, and animal tracking and signs. Includes: Pack list, shuttle assistance, meals, nature & history talks, survival tips, skills instruction, and wildlife spotting and photo opportunities. Additional fees may be applied for equipment rentals, shuttle assistance, extra guides, campsite fees, and other lodging and services as needed. Starts 8-10AM on Day 1. Ends 3-5pm on last day, unless other arrangement. |
Custom Private Paddling Voyage
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The Northern Forest Canoe Trail covers some of the upper parts of both the Connecticut and Androscoggin watersheds in northern New Hampshire, with a land-drive portage in between. Although die-hard through-paddlers sometimes choose to go upstream on one or the other routes, we simply go downstream, which includes a beautiful scenic drive through moose territory. The Androscoggin totals 170 miles from Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire to the Atlantic in Bath, Maine. We also paddle the upper half of the Connecticut River (between Pittsburg and Lebanon, New Hampshire) designated as an American Heritage River, which totals 410 miles from the New Hampshire/Canadian border to Long Island Sound.
A note about river levels and scenery. The entire Northern Forest Canoe Trail through New Hampshire is mostly through forests, on quickwater and flatwater, with some (optional) Class II & III sections. The Androscoggin side always has dependable levels with whitewater options. Sometimes the Connecticut gets scratchy towards the end of July and into August, meaning the river runs out of water in some sections and boats scratch the rocks at the bottom and can stop a trip right there. Both rivers have flatwater due to dams as well as interspersed natural Class I & II sections. The Androscoggin watershed also has Class III sections, as well as inlets to explore, and probably offers a better chance at seeing moose. There are many options for the Connecticut (including beyond the NFCT)--it is mostly gentle flowing quickwater with a few challenges, depending on the duration of the trip. The shoreline of the upper part is more wild (including the upper lakes), the middle section contains a lot of easy quickwater as well as several dammed reservoirs which can be portaged, and the bottom section is characterized by rolling farmland surrounded by cows and corn.
Regarding overnight accommodations, most campsites can be accessed from the river. Otherwise, you'll be transported to your choice of campground, bed and breakfast, or other available lodging nearby.
Timing: 2-Day trips are great for weekend getaways and novice campers, but anything is possible. Paddle Voyage routes offered in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire with Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC include:
Northern Forest Canoe Trail (covers some of the two watersheds below)
Pittsburg to Stratford, New Hampshire, to Umbagog Lake area near Errol, New Hampshire
Duration: 2 to 7 Days (a strenuous vs. leisurely pace)
Androscoggin River Headwaters
The Magalloway River in Wilson's Mills, Maine, to Umbagog Lake National Wildlife Wildlife Refuge, & the Androscoggin River to Shelburne, New Hampshire.
Duration: 2 to 7 Days
Connecticut Lakes and Connecticut River
Pittsburg to Lebanon, New Hampshire
Duration: 2 - 18 Days
A note about river levels and scenery. The entire Northern Forest Canoe Trail through New Hampshire is mostly through forests, on quickwater and flatwater, with some (optional) Class II & III sections. The Androscoggin side always has dependable levels with whitewater options. Sometimes the Connecticut gets scratchy towards the end of July and into August, meaning the river runs out of water in some sections and boats scratch the rocks at the bottom and can stop a trip right there. Both rivers have flatwater due to dams as well as interspersed natural Class I & II sections. The Androscoggin watershed also has Class III sections, as well as inlets to explore, and probably offers a better chance at seeing moose. There are many options for the Connecticut (including beyond the NFCT)--it is mostly gentle flowing quickwater with a few challenges, depending on the duration of the trip. The shoreline of the upper part is more wild (including the upper lakes), the middle section contains a lot of easy quickwater as well as several dammed reservoirs which can be portaged, and the bottom section is characterized by rolling farmland surrounded by cows and corn.
Regarding overnight accommodations, most campsites can be accessed from the river. Otherwise, you'll be transported to your choice of campground, bed and breakfast, or other available lodging nearby.
Timing: 2-Day trips are great for weekend getaways and novice campers, but anything is possible. Paddle Voyage routes offered in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire with Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC include:
Northern Forest Canoe Trail (covers some of the two watersheds below)
Pittsburg to Stratford, New Hampshire, to Umbagog Lake area near Errol, New Hampshire
Duration: 2 to 7 Days (a strenuous vs. leisurely pace)
Androscoggin River Headwaters
The Magalloway River in Wilson's Mills, Maine, to Umbagog Lake National Wildlife Wildlife Refuge, & the Androscoggin River to Shelburne, New Hampshire.
Duration: 2 to 7 Days
Connecticut Lakes and Connecticut River
Pittsburg to Lebanon, New Hampshire
Duration: 2 - 18 Days
