Loon is located in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. Going beyond mountain adventure— Loon is committed to being a responsible partner in the National Forest. A national forest is a tract of land owned and managed by the federal government for multiple public uses. The White Mountain National Forest welcomes millions of visitors every year and is managed for many different purposes including wildlife habitat, forest products, clean water, and recreation.

The White Mountain National Forest was established in 1918 and has endured a challenging past. Though once ravaged by logging, clear cuts, and fires, the forest’s resilience has led to a remarkable recovery over the past century. Loon has a deep and long-standing commitment to continue taking care of it.

Choosing the Right Stuff:

When maintaining the trails, materials that support the forest's health, including specific grass seed and hay are specifically chosen.

During summer and fall, when mountain biking takes center stage, trail construction minimizes carbon footprint by using on-site resources. Loon’s trail crew strategically digs pits, called borrow pits, outside the planned trail path. The removed material is then used to build the finish trail tread. Once finished, the pits are backfilled with leftover materials like logs, stumps, and loam soil. This technique keeps all carbon in the forest that it came from.

The South Peak expansion project (opened in 2023/24) followed this same philosophy. Some of the cleared wood was chipped and sent to a local biomass plant to be converted to energy while the rest was sent to local mills. Loon also partnered with One Tree Planted, an organization whose mission is to restore forests, create habitat for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact around the world. For each tree that was removed from property, more were planted. Loon has donated to this organization which is one of the U.S. National Forest’s official reforestation partners.

Coexisting: 

The White Mountain National Forest is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Loon recognizes this, and when undertaking projects, appropriate steps are taken to minimize disruption and ensure operations coexist peacefully with the creatures who call these mountains home.

Loon is proud to participate in the Sponsor-A-Highway program to help maintain the surrounding environment and community. Each year, team members roll up their sleeves for the annual Kancamagus Clean Up. Together a significant amount of waste is removed from the White Mountain National Forest.