Claremont, New Hampshire: Natural Beauty Abounds
Quality of Life means different things to different people, and Claremont, New Hampshire checks many of those boxes. Located three miles from Vermont, and two hours of scenic driving from Boston, Maine, upstate New York and Connecticut, Claremont is home to thriving manufacturing industries as well as numerous retail stores, restaurants, and cultural activities.
Another quality of life strength Claremont possesses is in the area of recreation. Step outside and you’re surrounded by the natural beauty of New Hampshire’s Upper Valley. Adventures abound in our city as well as our state.
Locally, Claremont offers year-round recreational activities. Summer highlights include hiking, running, biking on our nationally-recognized mountain biking trails, fishing, paddling, kayaking, parks, playgrounds, a skatepark and golf. Winter highlights include in-town downhill skiing, tubing, sliding, skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATV and hiking trails. We also have a state-of-the-art Community Center featuring workout equipment, an elevated track, basketball and pickleball courts, exercise classes, a 25-yard indoor swimming pool and programmed activities for all ages.
Always looking to improve and expand opportunities for their citizens, the City of Claremont applied for and was one of twenty-five locations across the nation selected to receive planning assistance through the second round of the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USDA Forest Service, and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), this program helps communities develop action plans to strengthen their outdoor recreation sectors and revitalize their downtowns.
While Claremont has successfully taken on projects to revitalize our downtown and outdoor recreation in recent years, this program is helping the community connect these interests and create a vision and action plan to move the community towards development opportunities specific and unique to our city.
A local steering committee was formed to work remotely with federal and state agency partners for six months before gathering for a two-day public workshop in Claremont. Citizens were invited to present ideas and concerns and worked together to set goals and timelines. This has been an extremely positive and invigorating program, helping to guide Claremont, a city filled with passionate people who truly care about our future.
Another strong asset has recently emerged with the creation of the Discover Sugar River Region Council. Started in 2022, Discover Sugar River Region is a nonprofit destination management organization which was formed to help locals and others discover everything our region has to offer. The mission of Discover Sugar River Region is to promote the 528 square miles which include our city and 14 towns in Sullivan County. As in Claremont, recreation is a big draw for the entire region and the quality of life question is easily answered by living and visiting here.
