Nansen Ski Jump State Historic Site in Milan, Coös County, is one of New Hampshire’s most fascinating and little-known landmarks — the remnants of what was once the largest ski jump in the Eastern United States. Built in 1936 by the Nansen Ski Club, a group founded by Norwegian immigrants who brought their ski jumping traditions to the Great North Woods, the steel-and-timber jump tower drew thousands of spectators to competitions through the mid-20th century. Today, the 14-acre site preserves what remains of that remarkable structure and the story behind it.

Visitors come here primarily for the history. An interpretive trail leads to the base of the towering jump scaffold, where you can crane your neck and try to imagine launching off the top — a genuinely dizzying thought. The surrounding woods offer pleasant walking, and the site connects to the broader story of Scandinavian immigration in northern New Hampshire, which shaped this region’s culture in ways most travelers never discover.

This is not a full-day destination — plan for an hour or two. There are no camping facilities on-site, but the region offers plenty of options, including nearby state parks and private campgrounds in the Berlin-Gorham corridor. The best time to visit is late spring through fall when the access road and trails are clear. Autumn foliage in Coös County is spectacular and far less crowded than the White Mountains to the south.

Come for the quirky history, stay for the quiet beauty of New Hampshire’s northernmost reaches. It’s the kind of place that makes a road trip memorable.

Explore Nearby

• Mount Orne Bridge — Covered Bridge in New Hampshire
• Mount Orne Bridge — Covered Bridge in Vermont
• White Mountain National Forest — National Forest in New Hampshire, Maine
• White Mountain Trail — Scenic Byway in New Hampshire
• Kancamagus Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in New Hampshire