BERLIN, N.H. -- By this fall, approximately 100 miles of ATV trails should be available for riding in Berlin and Success with a trail through the city connecting the two areas. At Jericho Mountain State Park, the Head Pond area will soon be open for riding. N.H. Trails Bureau head Chris Gamache said his agency has reached an agreement with St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad for two crossings that will allow riders to access the east parcel of the park for the first time.
He said that will allow access to about 12 miles of existing roads and trails on the Head Pond parcel. "That will make a large jump in mileage available," Gamache said. More than 50 miles of ATV trails are available on the Jericho Lake parcel on the west side of Route 110. Gamache said the bureau is focusing on adding some longer trails there. He estimated that before the work season wraps up, over 65 miles of trails will be available at the state park.
A five mile trail through the city will allow ATV riders to travel by ATV to Success where there are 25 miles of ATV trails maintained by the Androscoggin Valley ATV Club. Gamache said the state has reached agreement with the necessary private land owners for the route. One section was rerouted after the landowner could not be persuaded to allow ATV use on his property. The next step is for the city to designate the route and pass an ordinance authorizing it. That is expected to happen soon.
The park has benefited this summer from a work crew from the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility. Gamache said a crew of inmates has worked almost daily on a variety of projects at the park. The inmates raked the beach and cleared a lot of brush and trees from the day use area. New picnic tables were added and the result has been increased public use of the beach. One day last week, Gamache said he counted 115 people at the day area.
The crews have painted the gates and done maintenance work on the dams. Two picnic pavilions have been placed at scenic overlooks on the trail network. Next year, the state hopes to arrange for some temporary camping on-site as it prepares to host an ATV festival at the park in July 2010. The Glen Group of North Conway has been hired to promote the event. Also in the planning stage is a trail that would connect Jericho state park with the Moose Brook State Park in Gorham which offers camping.
The master plan for Jericho calls for development of a campground there with RV as well as tent and truck camper sites. The state would enter into a long-term lease with a private developer who would build and operate the campground. Gamache said he is working on a Request for Proposals but said going out for proposals is still about a year away.
Despite the rain, Gamache said it has been a good summer for the ATV park. He said the bureau has a good working relationship with both the Northern N.H. Correctional Facility and the Androscoggin Valley ATV Club. Jericho Mountain State Park is also featured in the promotional video shot by Turnkey Television for the show ‘Local Discovery’ currently playing on two Maine television stations. The video has been posted on Your Tube as well as various web sites.