Start and Finish: Elkins parking lot by Pleasant Lake, New London, NH
Distance: 23.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 830 ft
Terrain: Paved, Rail Trail
Towns: New London, Andover, Wilmot
This is the longer version of the Potter Place RT to Highland Lake bike route. Starting in Elkins by Pleasant Lake, enjoy a rolling decent to down Route 11 towards Andover. After 4.5 miles or so bear right onto Depot Road and head east on the Rail Trail. Enjoy views over various ponds, travel over bridges and after about 4 miles you will bear left and cross Route 11 (Franklin Highway) and take Old College Road. The road climbs steadily until you come to Maple Street. Turn right on Maple Street and enjoy a brief pause from climbing, then get ready for a short but steep climb (one section hit’s 12.7%). From the top of the climb you will enjoy views over Highland Lake and various farms. From here is a nice descent down and around the lake. Take a right onto Channel Road. Stay on this heading towards the public beach. Take a dip or continue straight “into the trees” – you will see a little path that reconnects with the rail trail. Then it’s about 5 miles back to Potter Place (Depot Road). Upon arriving back at Potter Place, turn left onto Cilleyville Road. Take this back to Route 11. At the intersection, cross the road and take your next right onto Pancake Road. At the next stop sign, turn left onto Campground Road and take this into Wilmot Flat. Bear right onto Village Road. You will pass Tannery Pond and Chase Pond on your right. Connect back onto Route 11 and after about a mile, turn right on to Elkins Road and back to Pleasant Lake and the finish.
Check out our Strava Route for this ride
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