A Drive Down New Hampshire's Loneliest Road Will Take You Miles And Miles Away From It All
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Ken MacGray
Author
New Hampshire has its share of hustle and bustle closer to the cities in the southern part of the state. The North Country, however, has a slower pace. It’s a perfect place to take to one of the region’s lesser-traveled roads for a relaxing road trip.
New Hampshire's Route 26 has the distinction of being the only east-west highway north of U.S. Route 2. It stretches 31 miles through the state's North Country from Lemington, Vermont to Upton, Maine. The road offers a quiet and scenic drive through this more remote region of the Granite State.
After a brief start in Vermont, the highway crosses the Connecticut River and begins its journey through New Hampshire at the town of Colebrook. The tow has a long history of manufacturing and lumbering due to its location along the river.
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Route 26 rises and falls through beautiful Dixville Notch, home to a state park. The notch's high-rocky crags are reminiscent of scenes more familiar in the southwestern United States.
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Dixville Notch is also the site of the Balsams Resort. This former grand hotel has had a tumultuous history and has been in a disused state for many years. A plan is underway to reopen the hotel and restore it to its former glory.
After passing through the small town of Errol, the highway crosses the Androscoggin River, the headwaters of which are nearby. The river flows toward Maine for 178 miles before emptying into the Kennebec River and then the Gulf of Maine.
The highway runs along the southwestern side of Umbagog Lake, the largest lake along the Maine/New Hampshire border. The lake is an abundant habitat for wildlife, from bald eagles to moose. Past the lake, the road continues to Upton, Maine, where it continues as Maine Route 26.
Have you taken a road trip along this scenic highway? Let us know your experience in the comments!
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