Harmon Notch Loop

Here’s a brand new ride! And it’s a notch ride. What? A fat tire notch ride you say? Yes indeedy! This is a really pretty ride through a notch that most of us have never heard of. Harmon Notch is located between Peary Mountain and Frost Mountain. The best part is that it’s only a 175’ elevation gain and most of the climb is on a good section of dirt road. What a cheap date!

The starting point for this ride is at The Maine Information Center on route 302 in Fryeburg. We’ll head south on Haleytown Road which has been recently repaved and there’s not enough O’s in smooth to do it justice. Then it’s left on Farnsworth, which is a dirt road, and after a mile or so we’ll hop onto a jeep track that crosses the Little Saco and then heads back to Haleytown.

At Hampshire Road we’ll go left and head in the direction of a dirt road called Harmon Notch Road. After the last house this road gets narrower and towards the notch area there is a half mile section that could benefit from better drainage and fewer rocks. Don’t let this “spook” you it’s no harder than other rides we’ve done. And for some of us it will provide an excellent opportunity to walk our bikes. We’ll come out on a different section of Farnsworth Road and head west. Then we’ll head north on Porter Road (dirt) and take the newly constructed Mountain Division Rail Trail in Fryeburg back to our starting point.

Wear bright clothes, it is hunting season. I didn’t see any hunters in this area when I was scouting this ride, but it’s best to be bright this time of year. In all we should cover about 16 – 17 miles. Dress warmly. Expect mud and perhaps a bit of left over snow.

Carpooling – Meet at the scenic overlook in North Conway at 10:20am.

We’ll start the ride at 11am from the Maine info center. Don’t forget to bring a lunch.