West Side

Photo: Panoramio

Great views off Cathedral Ledge!

Overview:

When I say West Side, I’m referring to all the trails on the West Side of Main Street in North Conway including Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledge, Stoney Ride, and Marshall Conservation Area. Obviously this is a pretty large area, but I think all the networks by themselves wouldn’t be enough to write a review about, plus you can connect them all in one ride.

Pros:

Since this area is so large, there’s a lot of variety here. To the north, you’ll find lot’s of really cool granite slabs that run right beside the cliff edge. There are so many good views and lookout points here, it’s an epic adventure regardless of whether you’re a hiker, rider, or rock climber. Descending off of Cathedral Ledge, you’ll find a descent with the best dirt in town called half day which gets pretty spicy towards the bottom. To the south in Marshall Conservation Area, there are two downhills called Muzzy’s and Shumway. Shumway is 1.2 miles long and despite seeming mellow and pedallly at first glance, offers a few pretty sick features that advanced riders will enjoy. Muzzy’s is only 0.2 miles long but packs a serious punch with tons of side hits! Even if you don’t hit the option lines, this trail is still extremely fun for all abilities and is probably one of my dad’s favorite trails of all time. All and all, Marshall Conservation Area is basically a good time for anyone.

Cons:

The only negative here is that all these trails and sections are spread out from each other so you’re probably better off hitting them in separate, shorter rides. Also, if I’m being picky, you can’t shuttle any of these trails and there are only 3-4 descents in total.

Rating: 8.5/10

If you’re in North Conway and have a little extra time to explore some new trails, definitely give the West Side a try. While it might not get the same publicity or traffic as Hurricane Mountain, it’s still worth riding and no matter you’re experience you’ll have fun.