5 Hills of Gilford
Distance
51.3 mi
Total ascent
4,711 ft
Wonderful vistas and nature. This ride starts with Halls Hills which gets the heart pumping. From the top of Halls Hill you have an incredible view of Crystal Lake and the Belknap mountains. There is a screaming descent, with a 3 way stop at the bottom. I tend to carefully blast through the stop by staying to the right as there is no cross traffic. Next you climb the backside of Alton Mountain, where you will get a view of the big lake. Another screaming descent down to Alton Bay and nice leisurely ride along the side of the Bay before climbing Gunstock. After Gunstock you will enter Gilford and some of the quietest and most beautiful roads in the area. Wild Acres road in Gilford is the steepest climb in the area, and then you will climb Cotton Hill road which has a spectacular view of Lake Winnisquam. The final climb is Durrell mountain. At the bottom of Durrell Mountain on Middle Route, you will pass a swamp on your left where you will see Great Blue Heron and Osprey nests.
Photos
Categorized Climbs
TdF-style categorization (unofficial) for 5 Hills of Gilford.
| Climb | Category | Direction | Mile | Length | Avg grade | Max grade | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halls Hill | Cat 4 | W | 7.0–9.1 | 2.1 mi | 4.2% | 14.2% | 465 ft |
| Alton Mountain Backside | Cat 4 | NE | 11.7–14.5 | 2.8 mi | 2.7% | 15.7% | 394 ft |
| Gunstock | Cat 3 | W | 23.5–26.4 | 2.9 mi | 3.9% | 18.3% | 600 ft |
| Cotton Hill | Cat 4 | S | 30.6–34.0 | 3.4 mi | 2.4% | 14.5% | 419 ft |
| Durrell Mountain | Cat 4 | SE | 37.4–39.5 | 2.1 mi | 4.0% | 12.1% | 436 ft |
Surface
2.9 mi unpaved of 51.3 mi on 5 Hills of Gilford, from OpenStreetMap road data.
| Road | Mile | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Dam Site Road, Barnstead | 0.0–1.1 | 1.1 mi |
| Horne Road, Alton | 7.7–8.1 | 0.5 mi |
| Canney Hill Road, Gilmanton | 9.6–9.8 | 0.2 mi |
| Dam Site Road, Barnstead | 50.1–51.2 | 1.1 mi |
Food & Water Stops
Convenience stores, cafes, and gas stations near 5 Hills of Gilford, from Google Places.
| Name | Address | Category | Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corner Store | Main St, Alton, NH 03810, USA | General store | 16.9 |
| Gilford Village Store | 7 Belknap Mountain Rd, Gilford, NH 03249, USA | General store | 31.3 |