Things to Do Near Errol, NH

Errol is an ideal base for exploring the Great North Woods, with many outdoor attractions right here in the Errol area and numerous scenic destinations within an easy day trip. Stay at Errol Motel and spend your days exploring nearby lakes, rivers, trails, waterfalls and mountain scenery before returning to Errol each evening.

• L.L. Cote Sports Center (1 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – A one-stop shop for all
  outdoor gear needs, from fishing and hunting supplies to camping and clothing. 
• Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge (5 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Spanning over 25,000 acres, this refuge is ideal for birdwatching, paddling, and hikes like the Magalloway Trail.
• Androscoggin Wayside Park (7 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Riverside stop offering a peaceful place to take in the views of the Androscoggin River and enjoy a picnic.
• Thirteen Mile Woods (Entrance is 6 Miles from Errol Motel) – Scenic stretch of forest and the Androscoggin River along Route 16 with opportunities for fishing, paddling, photography, and wildlife viewing.
• Magalloway and Rapid Rivers (10 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – These waterways are favorites for fishing, paddling, and soaking in the serene North Country landscape.
• Mollidgewock State Park (10 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Located along the
  Androscoggin River, this park is perfect for canoeing and moose watching in the scenic Thirteen Mile Woods.
• Umbagog Lake State Park (10 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Offering kayaking,
  canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing. It’s a prime spot for spotting moose and bald eagles.
• Dixville Notch State Park (20 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Known for its dramatic gorge, waterfalls, and hiking trails to Table Rock, this park offers breathtaking views and a peaceful escape into nature.
• Aziscohos Dam (25 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Popular stop in western Maine for scenic drives, photography, and fishing.
• Milan Hill State Park (30 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – From the fire tower, you can get a complete view of the mountain ranges in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Canada.
• Beaver Brook Falls (35 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Waterfall and popular hiking spot.
• Coleman State Park (35 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Popular for boating, hiking, and canoeing.
• Grafton Notch State Park (35 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Maine destination known for rugged mountain views, waterfalls, and excellent hiking. Visitors can explore popular spots such as Screw Auger Falls and Moose Cave and enjoy access to trails in the
  Mahoosuc Range and surrounding wilderness.
• Poore Family Homestead Historic Farm Museum (40 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – 100-acre original homestead offering a rare glimpse into rural life from the 1830s to the 1980s.
• Lake Francis (60 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Popular for boating, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.
• Smalls Falls (65 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Series of waterfalls in Maine,
  surrounded by forest and rocky ledges with a colorful gorge and swimming holes.
• Quill Hill (1 Hour 15 Minute Drive from Errol Motel) – Offers sweeping 360-degree views of surrounding lakes, mountains, and forests.

From late May – October (Check for exact dates) Errol Motel has direct access to over 1000 miles of Northern NH’s ATV trail system.

Errol Motel and the Town of Errol is accessed by the Thirteen Mile Woods Trail off Millsfield Pond Road. This trail gives us access to the entire North Country trail system. Remember to stay on all marked trails and all ATVs must have valid NH OHRV registration. This can be purchased at LL Cote’s Sports Center.

With many thanks to the Umbagog-Millsfield ATV Club!

From mid-December – Mid-April (Check for exact dates) Errol Motel has direct access to
Corridor 18 from our back yard.

With heavy snowfalls and over 250 miles of groomed trails in the area, you will find many
sledders coming to Errol. Remember to stay on all marked trails and all Snowmobiles must have valid NHSA voucher and registration. Registrations can be purchased at LL Cote’s Sports Center.

Registered in Maine?  Maine ITS trails are also close by.

With many thanks to the Umbagog Snowmobile Association!

For years Errol and the surrounding area have played host to some of the best hunting in the state. The abundance of moose, deer, bear and small game has kept hunters from near and far returning year after year. For those of you lucky enough to be picked in the annual Moose Lottery, we are located smack in the middle of Zones A-2, B, and C-2.

The Great North Woods is home to a vast majority of New Hampshire’s moose population. The Errol Motel is centrally located among several active moose viewing hot spots. Guest specifically come to Errol to drive the 98-mile byway or 15-mile stretch of Route 16 at dusk and dawn for the opportunity to spot moose grazing in roadside marshes.

Our guests often boast of their multiple encounters with the clumsy but swift creatures. Depending on the area, time of day, and length of your drive, it is not uncommon to sight six or more moose in one evening!

Moose aren’t the only wildlife draw – Errol is home to bald eagles, loons, and other wildlife, making it a hotspot for photographers and nature lovers.

The Great North Woods around Errol is an excellent destination for birders, with a mix of boreal forest, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and higher-elevation habitats that attract a wide variety of northern bird species. Umbagog Lake, Thirteen Mile Woods, and the surrounding forests offer opportunities to explore different habitats, while the Dixville Notch area and the Turbine Road are especially popular with birding groups looking for boreal species.

During spring and early summer, birders may have opportunities to spot species such as Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, warblers, and other northern forest birds. The area also attracts birders interested in waterfowl, raptors, and birds associated with lakes, wetlands, and river corridors.

Several birding groups have made Errol a base for multi-day trips to explore the region. Whether you’re an experienced birder looking for speciality species or simply enjoy watching birds while exploring the Great North Woods, Errol Motel provides a convenient home base for your birding adventure.

Planning a birding trip? Bring your binoculars, download your maps before heading into areas with limited cell services, and allow plenty of time to stop and listen.

Whether it’s the thought of fresh trout in your freezer or a salmon on your hook that lures you to the fishing areas of the Great North Woods, you can be sure your time will not go without reward.

If smallies are your preferred catch – we got ’em! Lake Umbagog is known throughout New England as a ‘small-mouth bass factory,’ along with some mighty fine perch and pickerel. You won’t find yourself having to resort to making up ‘fish stories’ given the record number of fish caught in the nearby lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

Some of the Area’s Fishing Spots:

Akers Pond – Errol, NH

Androscoggin River – Errol, NH and points south

Greenough Pond – Wentworth Location, NH

Lake Umbagog – Errol, NH, Upton, ME, and Magalloway, ME

Little Greenough Pond – Wentworth Location, NH

Long Pond – Errol, NH

Long Pond – Millsfield, NH

Millsfield Pond – Millsfield, NH

Mountain Pond – Errol, NH

Munn Pond – Millsfield, NH

Round Pond – Errol, NH

Sessions Pond – Dummer, NH

And we are only 40 minutes from the Rangeley Lakes Region.

NH sporting licenses, gear, and equipment are available at L.L. Cote Sports Center, 0.2 miles from the Errol Motel.

Errol Motel is conveniently located near the Androscoggin River, providing easy access to some of the Great North Woods’ best paddling opportunities. The Androscoggin, Magalloway, and Rapid rivers, along with nearby lakes and ponds, offer options ranging from peaceful paddles and wildlife viewing to more challenging whitewater adventures.

The 170-mile-long Androscoggin River flows through Errol and continues through the scenic Thirteen Mile Woods, where paddlers can enjoy a beautiful northern forest setting. For those looking for whitewater, the upper section of the Magalloway River can offer Class II-III rapids during summer dam releases. Farther downstream, Pontook Reservoir provides calmer water for paddlers looking for a more relaxed experience.

The Rapid River flows into the northeastern portion of Umbagog Lake, connecting another beautiful paddling destination to the region’s network of waterways.

For canoeists and kayakers looking for a quieter experience, the area’s lakes, ponds, and slower-moving stretches of river provide excellent opportunities to explore, photograph the scenery, and watch for wildlife. Keep an eye out for moose, deer, loons, bald eagles, and other wildlife that call the Great North Woods home.

Lake Umbagog is one of New Hampshire’s best-kept boating secrets!

It is also one of New Hampshire’s largest lakes, encompassing over thirteen square miles. With over fifty miles of sparsely populated shoreline, the lake also serves as a playground for area wildlife.

Have you ever had the opportunity to water-ski, tube, or board past a bear, deer, or moose?

If you are seeking the solitude and serenity of quiet rural waterways surrounded by unspoiled shores and magnificent scenery – we got ’em! Pack the cooler, load the family into the car, hook up the boat, and venture to nature’s playground!

The Errol Motel is conveniently located within 2 miles of three public boat launches for small to medium size boats 18 feet and under, and 7.5 miles to the ramp best suited for boats larger than 18 feet.

If sailing is your interest, let the warm summer breeze take you for the ride of a lifetime! There are also several ponds and rivers located within the immediate area that are great for powerboats, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting as well.

Hikers and Cyclists enjoy surreal views from Dixville Notch State Park, Diamond Peaks, Signal Mountain, Sanguinary Ridge, The Balsams, and pretty much anywhere your legs or wheels will take you.

There are also many hiking and bike trails that are not marked on all maps. The immediate area is home to many 3000+ foot peaks and notches.

Please, before heading out dress accordingly, and make sure you have the proper supplies for your trip. Always be sure someone knows your route, destination, and approximate time of return!

Northern New Hampshire and the Great North Woods offer miles of scenic roads that are ideal for motorcycles and sports cars. Errol is a natural home base for touring, where NH Route 16 and NH Route 26 meet, giving riders and drivers easy access to some of the most scenic roads in the region.

Popular rides from Errol include:

• Thirteen Mile Woods, Milan & Belin – Head south on Route 16 through Thirteen Mile
  Woods.
• Dixville Notch & Colebrook Loop – Take Route 26 west from Errol through Dixville Notch
  and toward Colebrook.
• Rangely & Western Maine – Follow Route 16 northeast from Errol into Maine.
• Grafton Notch Loop – Head east on Route 26 into Maine.

Whether you’re planning a weekend motorcycle trip, a sports car getaway or a longer New
England road tour, Errol Motel gives you the opportunity to stay in one convenient location, ride
a different route each day and return to Errol each evening.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times to explore Errol and New Hampshire’s Great North
Woods. Scenic roads wind through forests, along rivers and around mountain lakes, offering
spectacular views of the changing foliage. From Errol, follow the Moose Path Trail, a scenic
route through the Great North Woods with opportunities for fall colors and wildlife viewing. You
can also drive through Thirteen Mile Woods, follow Route 16 toward Dixville Notch, or explore
the roads around Umbagog Lake. For a longer day trip, continue into western Maine toward
Grafton Notch State Park and the Mahoosuc Mountains.

The Great North Woods is filled with beautiful waterfalls, rivers, lakes and other natural
attractions to explore. Visit Beaver Brook Falls, take in the dramatic scenery of Dixville Notch, or head into Maine to explore Grafton Notch State Park, home to Screw Auger Falls and Mahoosuc Notch. Smalls Falls and Quill Hill offer additional opportunities to enjoy waterfalls, mountain views and scenic landscapes. Closer to Errol, Umbagog Lake, Thirteen Mile Woods and the Androscoggin River offer opportunities to enjoy peaceful scenery, wildlife, and photography throughout the year.

The Great North Woods is one of the darkest regions in New Hampshire. On clear, moonless nights you can often see the Milky Way stretching overhead, thousands of stars, satellites, meteor showers, and, when conditions are right, even the Northern Lights. Several popular spots are North Mountain Pond Road, Umbagog Lake Public Boat Launch, Steamer Diamond Boat Launch, and Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. Guest books in each of our rooms contain specific directions to several recommended spots along with QR codes to the Moon Phase and Aurora Forecast.

New Hampshire is home to 54 historic covered bridges. Errol is in a great location for exploring some of northern New England’s most beautiful historic covered bridges, all within about a one- hour drive of Errol Motel.

• Historic Bennett Bean – The closest covered bridge to Errol Motel. Built in 1901, this bridge crosses the Magalloway River near Wilsons Mills. It’s one of Maine’s most photographed Northern bridges.
• Historic Stark – Built in 1862, this bridge spans the Upper Ammonoosuc. The historic church beside it makes for an excellent backdrop to photographs.
• Historic Groveton – Dating to 1852, this bridge crosses the Upper Ammonoosuc River in Groveton and offers beautiful river views.
• Historic Columbia – Built in 1912, this bridge spans the Connecticut River between New Hampshire and Vermont. It offers scenic views of both states from one location.
• Historic Mount Orne – Constructed in 1911, this two-span bridge connects Lancaster, NH, with Lunenburg, VT. It’s one of the longest covered bridges in northern New England.