Yesterday, during the snowstorm we had here in New Hampshire, I was looking for some good suggestions for sledding hills in Northern New Hampshire on the web, when I came across a website that mentioned a road called “Moose Alley”. This intrigued me. I have to admit, as a lifetime NH resident, and avid outdoor enthusiast, it is embarrassing that I have never seen a moose in NH. I have seen them many times while visiting both Maine and Vermont, but never in NH.
Moose Alley, as it is known, is officially route 3, running through Pittsburg in northern NH. It is known for its unusually high Moose populations and according to a variety of websites I found, moose can be seen there on most days regardless of time of day. There are people from all over the world that travel to Moose Alley to spot moose. Some tours offered in the area actually guarantee that you’ll see at least one moose! Because it’s such a popular route, there are also several local accommodations that you can stay at during your search for moose. Personally I prefer to stay in a cabin on these sorts of trips and luckily there are several to choose from.
Cabins at Lopstick in Pittsburg NH offers 37 uniquely different rustic style cabins and is located just 3 miles off Moose Alley. The cabins come in various sizes and have amenities ranging from outdoor grills to in room whirlpools. The best amenities however, are found outside in the natural world where bird watching and moose spotting are at their best. Nearby Garfield Falls and Beaver Brook Trails also offer excellent picnic spots and photo opportunities.
Partridge Cabins, well known for their ice cream stand and blue berry picking is also an excellent choice for accommodations in the Great North Woods. The waterfront cabins offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and fishing (with a license) is permitted off the dock. The cabins here sleep up to eight people and most have full kitchens.
One interesting website I came across lists 10 things about Moose Alley that locals won’t tell you. It lists such advice as when to use that moose call you’ve been perfecting, and what types of trees moose like best.
So in the end, although I was distracted from finding a suitable sledding hill, I am really excited that I came across Moose Alley and am looking forward to visiting it in the near future for my first NH moose sighting.
