By mid-December, when the snow has finally settled into the trails and the Connecticut River is starting to freeze, Lancaster turns into a different town. The downtown gets quieter. The lobby of Red Fox Inn fills up with helmets and bibs. And for the next ten weeks, this stretch of Main Street is where the Northeast’s most committed snowmobilers come to live.
Coös County is the only county in New Hampshire that takes its snowmobile season seriously enough to build a town economy around it. Here’s where to stay, what to ride, and how to do a real snowmobile trip from a Lancaster basecamp.
The Coös County trail system
New Hampshire has more than 7,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails statewide, and the densest concentration runs through Coös County. The state’s Corridor system — Corridor 5, 7, and 11 in particular — connects Lancaster to Pittsburg, the Vermont border, and the Quebec line. From here you can ride to Canada without putting your sled on a trailer. Few places in the lower 48 can say that.
Lancaster permits snowmobiles on town streets when there’s adequate snow base. That’s the single feature that makes the difference. You don’t trailer between the trail and your room. You ride to the gas pump, you ride to dinner, you ride back to bed. The town built its winter economy around this access.
The Snow Drifters of Lancaster
The Snow Drifters are Lancaster’s local snowmobile club — they maintain a stretch of trails north and east of town and host a strong calendar of rides, fundraisers, and races through the season. If you’re going to ride the area more than a weekend, joining the club (or at least supporting them at the trailhead) is the move. Their grooming is what makes the local trails worth riding.
Park at your door — what it actually means
Red Fox Inn was built as a motor lodge in 1955. Every room opens directly onto its own parking spot. For snowmobile season, that translates into a few specific things:
- Your sled stays at your door, on the trailer or off, all night. No moving it to a back lot at 10 PM.
- Your gear stays at your door. Helmets, bibs, boots — all of it gets dragged twenty feet, not down a hotel hallway.
- You can fire up the sled and ride out — to the trail, to the gas station, to the pizza place — without unbolting anything.
Seasonal rentals — the smarter math
For serious riders, we offer a seasonal package: three months for $3,000, with your trailer parked at your room 24/7. December through February. The math works for anyone planning to be in the North Country more than a couple of long weekends. Call us at (603) 788‑4921 to talk through availability.
Snowmobile season is also when our Extended Stay units earn their keep. Full kitchen, living room, free laundry, private entrance. Cook a real dinner after a long ride. Dry your gear on a rack instead of stuffing it in a closet.
Where to warm up
After a forty-mile ride at 15°F, the goal of the evening is heat, food, and bourbon — in that order. Lancaster delivers all three within a hundred-yard walk:
- The Den — our cocktail bar inside the inn. Open Thursday through Monday, 5–11 PM. Classic cocktails, jazz on weekends. The opposite of a trail ride.
- The Dusk — our cigar lounge. Walk-in humidor, leather chairs, top-shelf bourbon. Drew Estate, A. Fuente, Rocky Patel. Open until 10 PM.
- Polish Princess Bakery — fresh pierogi will fix anything. One block away.
- Copper Pig Brewery — local craft beer in an old brick bank by the Israel River.
- Scorpio’s Pizza & Sports Bar — full menu, easy, kid-friendly if you’re traveling with family.
What else to do during the trip
A typical riding trip is more than just the sled. A few options for layering in:
- Bretton Woods skiing — 45 minutes south. Where Bode Miller learned. Rent gear, ski a half-day, ride back to the trails.
- Cannon Mountain — 45 minutes south, more challenging terrain. (Note: the aerial tram retired in 2025 and is being replaced; focus on the skiing.)
- Crane’s Snowmobile Museum — see the lineage of riding from the 1960s Ski-Doos to modern sleds. A real archive maintained by a real enthusiast.
- Muddy Paw Sled Dogs (Jefferson, 20 minutes) — dog sledding tours. Different gear, different vibe, same snow.
The bottom line
Snowmobile season in New England is short and serious. If you’re going to commit a week or a season to riding, you want a basecamp that takes it seriously back. Lancaster does. Red Fox Inn was built for the sport before the sport existed.
Book your snowmobile season, or call (603) 788‑4921 to ask about the three-month seasonal package.