Valley Trail

Valley Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in New Hampshire, set within The Balsams, a land unit managed by a non-governmental organization. The trail is an out-and-back of about 0.6 miles, with a total elevation gain of 144 feet from the low point at 2,193 feet to the high point at 2,248 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles in, with a grade of 7%. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at First Connecticut Lake show January highs around 22°F with lows near 0°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Mud Pond Trail lies just 0.1 mile away, and Moose Pond Trail and Sugar Hill Run are each within half a mile. For a change from skiing, the Spruce Trail hike is about 0.4 mile off.