Late Winter Snows and Heavy Spring Rains Causing Delay to Start of OHRV Season in Northern NH

05/20/2019

The Bureau of Trails is announcing that the OHRV trail network in much of Coos County will not be open for the Memorial Day Weekend. The OHRV trail network typically opens for the summer season on May 23 of each year, however the wet and cooler than average spring weather has delayed snow melt in several areas and trails and roads are too wet to allow use.

“We do not take this decision lightly and we all fully understand the impact not having these trails open for the upcoming holiday weekend, which is the traditional start of the summer season, will have on local businesses.” Said Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache. “We have spoken with the local clubs and landowners around northern NH and there is still too much snow on the ground in many northern areas and the many of the other trails are still too wet to operate on.”

Many hotels and other lodging facilities have been booked for the Memorial Day weekend, in anticipation trails being open, however opening the trails the wet condition they are currently in will result in unnecessary damages to the properties that these trails are located on and could result in permanent trail closures. The Trails Bureau, local clubs and landowners are all working to protect the trails for continued future use that this season.

It is anticipated that more trails will open for the 2019 riding season on/or about June 1, however there are areas where spring rains have caused trail damages and those areas will not be open until later in June. The Bureau’s website and Facebook page will have all updates of what will be open for Memorial Day Weekend.

The Division of Parks and Recreation is comprised of the Bureau of Park Operations, Bureau of Historic Sites, Bureau of Trails, Bureau of Community Recreation, and Cannon Mountain. The Division manages 93 properties, including state parks, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites, trails, waysides, and natural areas. The Division of Parks and Recreation is one of four divisions of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. To learn more, visit www.nhstateparks.org, follow NH State Parks on Facebook and Twitter, or call 603/271-3556. For more information about the Bureau of Trails, please call 603-271-3254 or visit www.nhtrails.org.