Ware Preserve

Preserve

Public Access
Trails
Trailhead

April 25, 2018

In partnership with Granite Backcountry Alliance, USVLT worked hard to purchase the Ware Preserve on East Branch Road in Intervale, NH, once owned by local resident and passionate conservationist, Dick Ware. The Ware Preserve makes access to backcountry skiing at the Maple Villa Glades possible.  It’s located on East Branch Road in Intervale where it protects 48 acres of forestland contiguous with the White Mountain National Forest and the historic Maple Villa Glade located within the national forest.

Skiing History of Bartlett Mountain
The landscape around the property has a rich history of skiing that began in the mid-1930’s when the Civilian Conservation Corps first cut a ski trail from East Branch Road behind the New England Inn to the summit of Bartlett Mountain (elev. 3,004’). Initially, skiers hiked up and skied down – re-establishment of this historic use is exactly the collective vision of USVLT, Granite Backcountry, and the White Mountain National Forest.
Quickly following the establishment of the Maple Villa Trail, Fred Pabst, Jr., the inventor of the J-Bar, built the Intervale Ski Area in 1936 and installed one of his new J-Bars. Pabst then sold Intervale in 1947 to New Hampshire local Dick Stimpson, and the Intervale Ski Area remained in operation through 1976, complete with a rudimentary base lodge and a 2400-foot Poma lift. The lift served about 400 feet of “vertical” across 15 acres of developed ski runs. Remnants of some of the old lifts can still be found on the Maple Villa Trail, and the regenerating forest makes it clear where the ski runs were.
Another period of local ski history followed the closing of the Intervale Ski Area, when Eastern Mountain Sports established their Cross-country Ski Touring Center at the former ski area base lodge. This same Ski Touring Center later transitioned to the Mount Washington Valley Ski & Snowshoe Foundation Touring Center, which at its height maintained over 21 kilometers of cross country ski trails. While the MWV Ski & Snowshoe Foundation Touring Center remains in operation, some trails near the East Branch have been closed because of concerns from private landowners.

 

Access & Directions

• A downloadable map of the ski glades at Maple Villa is available HERE.
• Access caution: If the parking lot is gated, up to two cars are welcome to park in front of the gate to access the Ware Preserve. During spring, summer, and fall, the parking lot remains gated at the request of the Forest Service, as the above ski glades on national forest land are closed in non-winter months.
• From downtown North Conway, head northwest on US-302 W. Shortly after the train tracks in Intervale, turn right onto NH-16A N. After 1.7 miles, turn right onto E Branch Road. In .3 miles, the parking lot will be on your right.

 

 

State(s): NH
Town(s): bartlett
Acres: 48
Back to All Lands