Nansen Wayside Park

🏆🏆🏆 North Country Rest — Wayside park near the Nansen Ski Jump in the North Country — scenic stop in Coos County

Nansen Wayside Park is a scenic rest area near the historic Nansen Ski Jump in Milan — deep in New Hampshire’s North Country (Coos County). Coos County is the largest and least populated county in the state, with vast forests, covered bridges, and the headwaters of the Connecticut River. The North Country was once dominated by the logging industry — river drives floated millions of logs down the Androscoggin and Connecticut Rivers to mills downstream.

Visitor Information

About Nansen Wayside

Nansen Wayside Park in Milan provides a roadside rest area in New Hampshire’s North Country — the remote, sparsely populated region above the White Mountains. Milan (population ~1,300) sits in the upper Androscoggin River valley, historically a center of the logging industry that stripped New Hampshire’s forests between 1850 and 1910. The park connects to the nearby Nansen Ski Jump historic site.

Things to Do

Picnicking, resting on the North Country drive, accessing the Nansen Ski Jump site, fishing in the Androscoggin River, and experiencing the quiet remote landscapes of northern New Hampshire.

Getting There

Located on Route 110A in Milan, Coos County — accessible from Route 16. The park connects to the Nansen Ski Jump site via a short walk. Milan’s North Country landscape is quintessential rural New Hampshire — dense forest, quiet streams, and long winters. The area receives 100+ inches of snow annually.

Insider Tips

North Country: Nansen Wayside sits in the Great North Woods — New Hampshire’s most remote and sparsely populated region. Pro tip: The North Country has more moose per square mile than people — moose-car collisions are a serious hazard on northern highways. Paper mills: The North Country economy was built on paper mills — the Androscoggin River powered massive mills in Berlin and Gorham.

Best Time to Visit

Fall: North Country foliage — quieter than the White Mountains. Summer: Moose watching (dawn/dusk). Spring: Ice-out on northern lakes. Winter: Snowmobiling trails connect towns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see moose in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has an estimated 3,000-4,000 moose — the densest population south of Canada. The Great North Woods (Coos County) is the best area — moose feed in wetlands, along roadsides, and at salt licks near roads. Dawn and dusk are prime viewing times. Route 3 north of Pittsburg is known as “Moose Alley.” Drive carefully — moose-vehicle collisions kill several people annually.

Wildlife & Nature

Nansen Wayside Park — in the North Country near Milan — provides a roadside rest area and picnic stop near the historic Nansen Ski Jump. The surrounding boreal forest of spruce, fir, and paper birch supports moose (frequently seen from the road), snowshoe hares, and boreal chickadees.

Nearby Attractions

Nansen Ski Jump State Historic Site — nearby — has the historic 171-foot jump. Milan Hill State Park — 3 miles east — has a fire tower. Berlin — 5 miles south — has services.