New England Trail Named Among The Best Winter Hikes
When it comes to winter outdoor adventures, you are typically either strapping your boots or lacing them up. To recognize the latter, Travel and Leisure recently named the eight best winter hikes in America, and a New England destination made the list.
“In the winter, the best hiking trails across the U.S. mostly clear out — you can walk for miles without seeing another soul,” Travel and Leisure exclaims. They also note, many people turn away from winter hikes simply because they are not prepared with the proper gear.
Sure, there are some major technique differences between winter and warm weather hiking, such as having comfortable boots vs. boots that can dig into ice and snow. Of course, the proper clothing and covering is necessary.
Of the eight hikes that were named as the best for the winter, this New England trail was the only one in the northeast to make the list. In fact, five of the eight are located out west. Only Cumberland Trail in Tennessee and Florida National Scenic Trail in Suwanne (yes, Florida) were locations not out west to make the list.
Appropriately, in New England, the trail named as one of the best, requires us to head up north.
Maine – Acadia National Park, The Gorham Mountain Loop
“For this challenging, uneven 3.5-mile loop, you’ll need a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis, so you can float on top of the snow as you climb through a spruce forest and over slick granite,” Travel and Leisure details.
One of the most important things to know about Gorham Mountain Loop is that in the winter, the trails contain challenging terrain. Meaning that your footwear is of the utmost importance, given it will be bumpy and slippery beneath your feet.
Other details to note about this winter hike in Maine include: expect up to three hours to complete the loop. It is free to the public. Furthermore, you are allowed to bring pets with you as long as they are on a leash and are properly equipped to handle the conditions.
Six Of New England's Best RV Sites
Massachusetts - Pine Lake RV Resort
These grounds were completely renovated and reopened in November 2020. It is located in Sturbridge, which is in the south-central region of the state. There is an eight-acre lake onsite, a large pool, and an indoor recreation center for movies and games. Pine Lake also has cottages that you can rent.
Connecticut - Acres High RV Park
Labeled a “luxurious camping resort,” Acres High is open year round. It is located in East Lyme, CT off Chesterfield Rd. There’s a large fishing pond that has a beach area on the south side and a brook with paddle boats available. There are great hikes right at the base of the grounds. Moreover, if you’d like to explore attractions in close proximity to the park, Foxwoods Casino and the Children’s Museum are a close drive.
Rhode Island - Ashaway RV Resort
Settled peacefully near Westerly, RI, Ashaway inspires relaxation. It’s more of a flat ground, but does allow bikes to explore the all the sites. You can chill with your feet up at Ashaway or you can be very active. There are go-carts, basketball courts, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and mini-golf.
New Hampshire - Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort
There are 152 campsites with 65 full hookups for RV’s. Sea Coast is right off US Route 1 in North Hampton, NH. It is surrounded by green trees. The closest shoreline beach is just four miles from the grounds. Onsite they are pet friendly and offer a large playground. While there is not a ton of swimming options outside your door, this is a great location to hit multiple New Hampshire vacation favorites. In addition to the stretches of beach, Portsmouth is only eight miles up the road.
Vermont - Sugar Ridge RV Village
Sugar Ridge is settled on 68 acres of maple and pine trees. You can even rent 40-foot campers at this family-friendly village. It is located on Old Stagecoach Rd. in Danville, VT. There are two swimming pools, horse wagon rides, and dedicated hiking and bike trails. Sugar Ridge organizes daily activities you can partake in as well.
Maine - Balsam Woods, Spacious Skies
Spacious Skies has two locations in Maine, however, Balsam Woods is where RV’s go to really feel the spacious sky overhead. This is in Abbot, Maine, and while you share the grounds with cabins, you have the choice to pull your RV up to a woods or non-woods site. Regardless, there are miles of hiking trails. As for unique amenities – gem mining or jumping on a giant pillow trampoline anyone?
