Testing one's off-roading skills from start to finish is what you can expect at the Jericho Mountain State Park 4x4 Off-Road Trail. Not for the faint-at-heart, the Green Trail West will challenge drivers of all levels. The forest can quickly turn on you to become your enemy as the tightly lined tree complicates your line choice. You may never see this beautiful forest drive because you focus on the trail from start to finish. The trails at Jericho Mountain will certainly leave you with a sense of accomplishment once you return to the Park's entrance gate.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
Recommended Vehicle:
Lightly Modified 4X4 (Small Lift and Larger Tires)
Concerns:
Summary:
The trail gets its 5 rating from constant boulders to maneuver over. Particularly notable are the rock obstacles at Waypoints 4, 5, and 7.
Community Consensus
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Mandatory
5 -
DIFFICULT
The hardest part of the trail that you
cannot bypass - you have to drive it.
Optional
5 -
DIFFICULT
The hardest part of the trail that is
purely optional - you can bypass it.
Rocky or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 24" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 24" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 54" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep and off-camber.Read More about our Rating System
Jericho Mountain State Park lists four color-coded trails by their difficulty levels. This is a green trail, according to the Park's signs. The Trails Offroad difficulty rating will show this a "red" trail on our map since it is rated a 5 by our standards.
The Park has the following rating system:
Green: Easiest. A lightly modified vehicle with at least 33" tires and a winch is recommended.
Blue: More Difficult: A modified vehicle with at least 35" tires, a locker, and a winch is recommended.
Black: Most Difficult. A heavily modified vehicle with at least 38" tires, a locker, and a winch is mandatory.
Red: Extreme. Custom-built vehicles with at least 40" tires, (2) lockers, (2) winches, and a roll cage are mandatory.
While the Park shows only one green trail, we have separated the green trails into two sections, east and west. This trail guide covers the western end of the greens.
This dirt trail is a rocky, bumpy ride from start to finish. Granite rocks must be climbed and negotiated through a narrow pine and hardwood forest trail. Scraping undercarriage, rock rails, and differential covers is likely.
This trail is one obstacle after another from start to finish. The granite rocks range from 1-3' and show evidence of past vehicles scraping in many locations. The trees along the trail will limit the line you can choose to climb over the rocks. Many trees show evidence of vehicle strikes, and nicking a tree must be considered part of the obstacles.
A vehicle with a lift and 35" tires is recommended to mitigate scraping. This trail is best suited for drivers with rock crawling experience.
1. Trailhead (0
mi)
After entering the trail gate, a right turn takes you to the "Black Trail," and a left turn puts you on Jericho Mountain Green Trail East. You must take the Green Trail East trail to reach the trailhead of the Green Trail West. Rocks start almost immediately.
2. Black Trail Entrance and Green Loop - Turn Right (0.03
mi)
A sharp turn right (north) here will put you on the Green Trail West. There is a short loop immediately ahead at this intersection. Longer wheelbase vehicles may find it easier to drive the short loop ahead to avoid the hard right turn and make it a more soft left turn. There is also a Black Trail segment to your left (south).
3. Black Trail Exit - Keep Straight (0.09
mi)
The Jericho Black 5 trail segment exits onto this loop here. If you take this Black Trail segment to exit the Green Trail West, you will come out at this loop, pointing in the right direction to head out. Although you can travel either direction on the Green Trail, the direction on the Black trail is set by the park officials.
4. The "S" Turn - Keep Straight (0.31
mi)
This is a tight turning area because of the tree placement. Large rocks complicate the trail here. A short-wheelbase vehicle will make the turn much easier than a long-wheelbase. Making a multi-point turn here is a probability.
5. Boulder Corner - Keep Straight (0.45
mi)
A sharp turn with a couple of large boulders greets you at this point. Carefully choose your line and tire placement to avoid scraping your slider on the rocks. Good articulation and larger tires are your friends as you complete this obstacle.
6. Blue Connector to Black Trail - Veer Left (0.64
mi)
On your right is a short blue connector trail that leads to the Black Trail. Veer to your left to remain on the Green Trail West. A particularly prominent rocky section is right after you veer to the left.
7. Sharp Turn With Rocks (0.76
mi)
It seems that every time there is a sharp turn, trees and large rocks complicate the issue. It is no different here. The placement of the rocks here forces you to strategically choose your line carefully.
8. Trail Ends - Black Trail (0.92
mi)
The Jericho Mountain Green Trail West dead ends at the start of the Jericho Black 5 trail segment. you have a choice here to exit. Turn around, follow the Green Trail West back the way you came, or take Jericho Black 5. A couple of obstacles on Jericho Black 5 are equivalent to the difficulty of the trail you just finished.
Not allowed
No camping is allowed on the trail itself. Designated camping is available at Jericho Mountain State park, but getting a reservation can be difficult since it is usually booked weeks out. Milan Hill State Park and Moose Brook State Park are nearby and have camping. There are several hotels in Berlin, NH, and Gorham, NH, where lodging can be found, such as the Top Notch Inn.
Starting Point
Berlin, New Hampshire
Take Jericho Lake Road northwest from Berlin for 4.5 miles. The Jericho Mountain State Park is on your left (west) and is well marked. Drive into the park to the Visitor's Center for trail check-in.
What a fun trail, but wow was it a mental challenge for me in my JLU diesel with an Ursa Minor top and an awning. I was really wishing I was in a little 2-door! The turns required thought and patience with such a big rig. Glad I had 35s, but my 35s really measure 33". I got my sliders a few times pretty good and my control arms, but no damage other than some coatings removed. Overall, I think this is a great trail for anyone beginning rock crawling - just be patient and pick your lines.
What a blast!! I really enjoyed this trail from start to finish. It had rained overnight when we completed this run which made the rocks a little slick. This trail took concentration and some trial and error because of the slick rocks. I was able to get through the trail without any damage. While on the trail, I did notice several trees sporting paint transfer in some key locations. The trees may have reached out and grabbed a few jeeps. I'll be back here again.
From the Community
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Todd
Founder
Todd is an avid wheeler who loves to explore new trails whenever and wherever possible. They say necessity is the mother of all invention, which is true for Todd. His want and desire to find passable trails and new nooks and crannies of the Great American west to explore were his reasons behind starting Trails Offroad. On any given day, you can find Todd on an obscure 4x4 trail, curating Trails Offroad guides, or using his legs to hike to an alpine lake.
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