Click here for Inns and Bed & Breakfasts in the Area

For Shelter Rental Information - scroll down

Windblown is located in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, which abounds with country inns and bed and breakfasts, many just a few minutes away. A complete description of the closest ones are listed at the link above. Some adventurous skiers choose to stay overnight in our Warming Hut, a rustic cabin in the middle of our trail system. Serious winter campers can rent two of our three-sided shelters.

The Warming Hut is a cabin that Al built in 1986 that is open to all our skiers during the day and may be rented overnight (during the winter season only) by a group of one to fifteen people. Overnight users ski or snowshoe in a half a mile, packing in their food and sleeping bags. The Warming Hut PHOTO is fully insulated, heated by a wood stove and lit by gas and kerosene lamps. Two outhouses are in the back. It has a kitchen equipped with a gas stove and oven, pots and pans, and dishes, cups and utensils for twelve people. Seven gallons of drinking and dishwashing water is provided. Firewood is provided in an interior wood box. There is one double bed with a futon, seven wide benches for adults and one shorter bench for a child, all with foam pads. You are welcome to bring more pads to sleep on the floor. The most it will fit is fifteen people, but that's a crowd.

Warming Hut Rates:
Adults  - $15, Ages 8 to 17 - $10. A $75 non-refundable deposit is required and is the minimum charge for Friday, Saturday and Holiday nights, i.e. if your group is one to five adults the total cost is $75, if your group is six adults the total cost is $90 ($15 x 6). The maximum charge is $125 no matter how many people in your group. The non-refundable deposit and minimum for Sunday through Thursday non-holiday nights is $60.

If you want to make a reservation for the Warming Hut you need to know the following details:

1. We start accepting reservations for the winter season on the first Monday in October at 7 am by telephone only. Weekend nights fill up on that day so make your plans early! We ask that you reserve only one Saturday night per winter to give other folks a chance to enjoy this special place.

2. You need to send us a non-refundable deposit of $75 within two weeks of making your reservation, (or $60 for weeknights). Send it to: Windblown, 1180 Turnpike Road, New Ipswich, NH 03071

3. The Warming Hut is for overnight use regardless of whether or not we have snow. We do not return deposits for lack of snow or poor weather conditions. If we feel the trail or weather conditions are dangerous (which rarely happens), we will give you a credit to use on another date. No refunds are available.

4. If we are open for skiing, you will need to check in at our Ski Shop before 5 p.m.. If this is not possible, you may make arrangements with us to arrive later, but only if you are familiar with the route to the Warming Hut. If you are arriving late and need rental gear we can make special arrangements to meet you. If we are closed for skiing,  please call to let us know if you are coming or not and to arrange for paying your balance.

5. All members of your group must purchase a minimum of one part-day trail ticket per person. When you check in you will be asked to pay the balance of your bill (see rates above), and to purchase trail tickets for the day you arrive and for the next day, for each member of your group. If you arrive after 4:30 p.m. there will be no charge for skiing that day. You will not be charged for skiing the next day if you are off the trails and back at your vehicles by 9 a.m. A weekend morning part-day rate is available if you check out by noon.

6. No one is permitted to walk in unless the trails are closed for lack of snow. Footprints on ski trails are dangerous to skiers.

7. We offer the service of transporting your gear to the Warming Hut on a large sled pulled behind our snowmobile when there is enough snow. We will take one trip out between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. and return between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to hitch up the pre-loaded sled. Please have it ready to go by 9 a.m. The round trip cost is $25.  Additional round trips are each $10.

The Shelters
We have three open shelters on our trail network that skiers use during the day for a dry place to sit down for a rest or a picnic. Two of them are available for overnight camping year-round, and are often rented by Wapack Trail hikers. Reservations are required. Please call 603-878-2869 to make a reservation. We do not take reservations by email. There is an $8 fee per person with a $25 minimum charge. The Maximum charge is $90. To complete your reservation  you need to send a non-refundable $25 deposit  to Windblown, 1180 Turnpike Road, New Ipswich, NH 03071. You will not need to check in when you arrive. Please pay the balance of what you owe by leaving a check in the mailbox located by the Windblown sign on Rte. 124. Renters may  park in our main parking lot. Please do not drive your vehicles beyond the main parking lot, (located next to the big green building). Note:  Toilet paper is not provided in the outhouses except in the winter. Winter use is restricted to skiers and snowshoers with trail tickets.

The Valley View Shelter is nestled in the woods on a knoll overlooking a ravine with a small stream. Six to eight campers can sleep under the roof and there are a few good tent sites as well. A fire pit with firewood is in front and an outhouse is in the back. Renters are permitted to park in our main parking lot. Water is available from the stream just below the shelter unless it is a particularly dry period - which is certainly possible. If you need water and the stream is dry, hike to the "Barn" on the trail map, just above the "Swimming Pond". There is a hydrant located on the far left corner with well water. Caution: The hydrant is not a pump. To operate it, lift the handle up as far as it goes and be sure to leave it in the down position when you are done. You may need to disconnect a garden hose first.

Directions to the Valley View Shelter:

Hiking from the south on the Wapack Trail - On the top of Barrett Mountain you will pass through a stone wall and enter Windblown property. The Wapack Trail turns left (north) right away. To get to the shelter leave the Wapack here by going straight and turn left onto the wide ski trail that heads north , turn right at the sign that says Valley View Renters with an arrow. This is a snowshoe trail in winter. You will cross two more ski trails on the way down the east side of Barrett Mountain. At the bottom turn right (south) onto a ski trail (Valley Trail) and in about 50 yards you will see the Valley View Shelter up on a knoll to the left (east).

Hiking from the north on the Wapack Trail - You will enter Windblown property at the sign on Route 124. Follow the Wapack Trail about 1/4 mile along the ski trail called Stagecoach Road. When you reach the yellow trail ski trail sign for Old Logging Road turn left. At the end of the Old Logging Road stay right at the fork and continue straight onto the Pond Loop trail. At the southern end of the Pond Loop, go straight ahead onto the Valley Trail. Go south about 150 yards and you will see the Valley View Shelter up on a knoll to the left (east).

From the Windblown Parking Lot - Walk back to the entrance road and turn left onto the Wapack Trail. Follow directions from the north above.
 

The Mountain Top Shelter is on the top of Barrett Mountain facing distant views to the north and west. It is an Adirondack style shelter that sleeps six campers.  There is an  outhouse  but no water. Fires are permitted except in dry periods. For most of the year, water is available from a stream by hiking east down Barrett Mountain half way down to where a wide ski trail crosses and there is a small bridge. If you need water and the stream is dry, hike to the "Barn" on the trail map, just above the "Swimming Pond". There is a hydrant located on the far left corner with well water. Caution: The hydrant is not a pump. To operate it, lift the handle up as far as it goes and be sure to leave it in the down position when you are done. You may need to disconnect a garden hose first.

Directions to the Mountain Top Shelter:  

Hiking from the south on the Wapack Trail - On the top of Barrett Mountain you will pass through a stone wall and enter Windblown property. The Wapack Trail turns left (north) right away. To get to the shelter leave the Wapack here by going straight ahead and turn left onto the wide ski trail that heads north. The shelter will be on the left in about 100 yards.

Hiking from the north on the Wapack Trail - You will enter Windblown property at the sign on Route 124. Follow the Wapack Trail until you are most of the way up Barrett Mountain. Look for the red sign on the left that says Shelter Renters. Turn left (east) there and follow that trail to the shelter.

From the Windblown Parking Lot - Walk back to the entrance road and turn left onto the Wapack Trail. Follow directions from the north above.
 

Special Notice to Wapack Trail Hikers:

The Wapack Trail passes through Windblown property and many other privately owned lands. Our neighbor has closed the section of the Wapack Trail that crosses his land just to the east of Windblown which includes Stony Top and the Old Farm Trail. He has closed it in protest to the view tax imposed by the Town of New Ipswich. The Wapack Trail has been re-routed through Windblown. Please honor private property signs.