Driv'n the Tripoli Rd in Livermore NH: Rt 93, Exit 31

fatlazyless · 10-03-2026, 07:52 AM

A couple days ago I drove the 8.2-mile Tripoli Rd in my 2014 Scion XD with about 180-k miles to take a short walk up the Mt Osceola Trail for a few hundred yards before turning around and walking back down. The yellow and black road signs say Narrow Rough Road and that's a fact! It is a narrow, rough road. The signs are correct!

Is possible that driving the 8.2-mile Tripoli Rd is maybe tougher on your car than driving the 7.6-mile Mt Washington Auto Rd since this Mt Wash Rd is now entirely paved, all the 7.6-mile way, which makes for a smooth albeit steep drive that's easier on your tires than the rough Tripoli Rd. Plus driving the Tripoli Rd is free, and driving the Mt Wash Rd is $36/each adult and $15/children.

Tripoli Rd, 8.2-miles, a lane and a half wide with sand and gravel, smooth and broken asphalt, and numerous pot holes is probably this condition by Forest Service choice to keep the speed down which it definitely does to a Scion XB. Probably not so much to a Ford Bronco with much stronger tires, suspension, and attitude.

Rt 93, Exit 31, Woodstock NH is home to the north or west end of the Tripoli, and the south or east end, 8.2-miles down the road takes you to Waterville Valley. Tripoli Rd is closed and gated at both ends from mid-November to mid-May, when the east side becomes a cross country ski trail, and the west side becomes a snowmobile trail. The height of land close to the Mt Osceola hiking trail parking lot has a steel gate to separate the xc ski side from the snowmobile side.

BroadHopper · 10-04-2026, 06:38 AM

I usually use Sandwich Notch Rd from Sandwich, up 97 to Tripoli Rd either before or after Indigenous Day. Great foliage trip!

TomC · 10-04-2026, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I usually use Sandwich Notch Rd from Sandwich, up 97 to Tripoli Rd either before or after Indigenous Day. Great foliage trip!

Route 49 you mean? That's where the Notch Rd comes out. Also, based on this if anyone wants to try this drive - the Notch Rd is kind of "Jeep only".. (or 4WD truck, etc)

thinkxingu · 10-04-2026, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomC

Route 49 you mean? That's where the Notch Rd comes out. Also, based on this if anyone wants to try this drive - the Notch Rd is kind of "Jeep only".. (or 4WD truck, etc)

We drove Sandwich Notch Road from Waterville Valley to Sandwich yesterday, and it's in fine shape for most vehicles. Even the road to Upper Hall Pond, which used to be a washed-out mess, is in good enough shape to drive with anything other than the lowest vehicles.

We drive it every fall after getting breakfast at Benton's Sugar Shack, my current fave breakfast joint.

Here are a couple photos from the outing, after which we hiked Tecumseh so my son can finish his 48 before 18 goal. Tried to avoid expected/reported crowds of the north and succeeded, only seeing half a dozen peeps on the trail and having the summit to ourselves.

Peak/very close to peak foliage there and north, next week for the lake area and just south, so we'll be doing a Belknaps hike then.

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Biggd · 10-04-2026, 09:09 AM

Is peak early this year?

thinkxingu · 10-04-2026, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

Is peak early this year?

I don't think so. I've always planned on Columbus Day (hope this thread doesn't get locked) being peak in the Lakes Region, with north being the weekend before and south coming the week after.

That can be a week or so either way, of course, depending on weather, but pretty close.

This year's foliage is exceptional, though—one of the best in a while, for sure.

Did anyone notice a difference between "weekender" and "day-tripper" traffic, though? What I mean is that my and my son's drives north Friday were essentially traffic-free, but the areas we drove yesterday, including the highway north at 7 AM, were crazy busy during the day.

I wonder if fewer people were staying for the weekend vs. just taking a day to visit (does Sandy Point's availability support this)?

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BroadHopper · 10-05-2026, 08:33 AM

I went west on the back roads to my ancestors farm in Calais VT. Stunning foliage in VT! Did not hit any traffic at all!

Hit a pizza joint in Plainfield, Positive Pie. Excellent pizza!

We did hit traffic taking the highways back. It wasn't too bad, it was moving along.

Descant · 10-05-2026, 10:30 AM

Loved the pic of the lake with foliage reflection. Consider copyright and sell to a jig saw puzzle company? Thanks for posting.

10-03-2026, 07:52 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,251 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 314 Thanked 1,120 Times in 827 Posts	Driv'n the Tripoli Rd in Livermore NH: Rt 93, Exit 31 A couple days ago I drove the 8.2-mile Tripoli Rd in my 2014 Scion XD with about 180-k miles to take a short walk up the Mt Osceola Trail for a few hundred yards before turning around and walking back down. The yellow and black road signs say Narrow Rough Road and that's a fact! It is a narrow, rough road. The signs are correct! Is possible that driving the 8.2-mile Tripoli Rd is maybe tougher on your car than driving the 7.6-mile Mt Washington Auto Rd since this Mt Wash Rd is now entirely paved, all the 7.6-mile way, which makes for a smooth albeit steep drive that's easier on your tires than the rough Tripoli Rd. Plus driving the Tripoli Rd is free, and driving the Mt Wash Rd is $36/each adult and $15/children. Tripoli Rd, 8.2-miles, a lane and a half wide with sand and gravel, smooth and broken asphalt, and numerous pot holes is probably this condition by Forest Service choice to keep the speed down which it definitely does to a Scion XB. Probably not so much to a Ford Bronco with much stronger tires, suspension, and attitude. Rt 93, Exit 31, Woodstock NH is home to the north or west end of the Tripoli, and the south or east end, 8.2-miles down the road takes you to Waterville Valley. Tripoli Rd is closed and gated at both ends from mid-November to mid-May, when the east side becomes a cross country ski trail, and the west side becomes a snowmobile trail. The height of land close to the Mt Osceola hiking trail parking lot has a steel gate to separate the xc ski side from the snowmobile side. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

10-04-2026, 06:38 AM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 3,337 Thanked 1,145 Times in 823 Posts	I usually use Sandwich Notch Rd from Sandwich, up 97 to Tripoli Rd either before or after Indigenous Day. Great foliage trip! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

10-05-2026, 08:33 AM	#7
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 3,337 Thanked 1,145 Times in 823 Posts	Go west I went west on the back roads to my ancestors farm in Calais VT. Stunning foliage in VT! Did not hit any traffic at all! Hit a pizza joint in Plainfield, Positive Pie. Excellent pizza! We did hit traffic taking the highways back. It wasn't too bad, it was moving along. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

10-05-2026, 10:30 AM	#8
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,656 Thanks: 1,448 Thanked 1,733 Times in 1,127 Posts	Great Pic Loved the pic of the lake with foliage reflection. Consider copyright and sell to a jig saw puzzle company? Thanks for posting.

The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to thinkxingu For This Useful Post:
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10-04-2026, 09:09 AM	#5
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,537 Thanks: 2,506 Thanked 1,296 Times in 833 Posts	Is peak early this year?

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