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The White Mountains of northern New Hampshire are the highest range in the northeastern United States, much of it protected within the White Mountain National Forest. Mount Washington, the tallest summit, is notorious for severe and rapidly changing weather. The region has drawn hikers, painters and tourists since the nineteenth century, and the Appalachian Trail crosses its high ridges.
Getting to the top of Mount Washington is possible by car on the Mount Washington Auto Road or aboard the historic Cog Railway, both offering wide views on clear days. Pinkham Notch is a hub for hikers, with Glen Ellis Falls nearby. In Franconia Notch, the Flume Gorge leads along boardwalks through a narrow granite chasm, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway rises to a summit observation area, and visitors still stop at the Old Man of the Mountain site, Echo Lake and the Basin, a pothole carved by water. The Kancamagus Highway crosses the mountains with scenic pullouts, while Crawford Notch State Park has waterfalls and trails. North Conway and Jackson provide shops, inns and dining.
The mountains suit hikers, leaf-peepers and skiers. Fall foliage weekends are crowded. Above treeline, conditions can be dangerous, so checking forecasts and turning back when needed is essential.
WiserMap travel guideWhite Mountains New Hampshire Franconia Notch and the FlumePlan a White Mountains trip: Mount Washington, Franconia Notch, the Flume, the Kancamagus Highway, Crawford Notch, North Conway and Jackson, with seasonal tips.Read the guide
The Mount Washington Auto Road is a private toll road of 7.6 miles climbing to the summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet. You can drive yourself or take a guided van tour. At the top are the summit weather observatory and a museum. Check the road status, as winds can close it.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway, opened in 1869, was the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway and still pushes trains up very steep grades to the summit from Bretton Woods. The round trip takes about three hours with an hour on top. Book tickets ahead, and bring warm layers even in summer.
The Omni Mount Washington Resort is a grand white hotel with a red roof, opened in 1902 at Bretton Woods below the Presidential Range. It hosted the 1944 Bretton Woods conference that set up the IMF and World Bank. Non-guests can visit the long veranda for drinks and mountain views, or ski at Bretton Woods.
The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway carries up to 80 people to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch in about eight minutes. At the top a short Rim Trail loop leads to an observation tower with views across four states and Canada. It runs from spring to fall and in ski season.
The Flume Gorge is a narrow granite chasm at the south end of Franconia Notch State Park, with walls up to 90 feet high. A loop walk of about two miles follows boardwalks through the gorge and passes Avalanche Falls, covered bridges and pools. Buy timed tickets online, as summer and fall slots sell out.
Lost River Gorge in Kinsman Notch near North Woodstock is a glacial gorge where the river disappears under a jumble of huge boulders. A boardwalk loop with many stairs leads past waterfalls and into small caves you can crawl through if you wish. Allow about 90 minutes and wear shoes with good grip.
Diana's Baths is a series of small waterfalls and shallow pools on Lucy Brook in Bartlett, near North Conway. An easy, flat trail of about 0.6 miles through the woods leads to the cascades, where families wade and sit on the smooth granite ledges. A parking fee applies, and the lot fills early on summer days.
Pinkham Notch is the mountain pass on Route 16 at the eastern foot of Mount Washington, with the AMC Joe Dodge Lodge and trailheads such as Tuckerman Ravine. Glen Ellis Falls is a 64-foot waterfall reached by a short stepped path from a roadside lot. The trail to Tuckerman Ravine is a serious hike.
In Franconia Notch State Park, the Old Man of the Mountain Profile Plaza remembers the famous granite face that fell in 2003, with steel profilers that recreate it. Echo Lake below Cannon has a beach and boat rentals. The Basin is a round granite pothole carved by the Pemigewasset River, a short walk from its lot.
Crawford Notch State Park protects a steep mountain pass on Route 302, with waterfalls visible from the road such as Silver and Flume Cascades. Arethusa Falls, one of the highest in the state, is a hike of about three miles round trip. The historic Willey House site has a small store and picnic area.
The Kancamagus Highway is a 34-mile scenic road on Route 112 between Lincoln and Conway, crossing the White Mountain National Forest with no gas stations or shops. It has overlooks, Sabbaday Falls, the Lower Falls swimming area and the Rocky Gorge. It is famous for fall foliage. Fill the tank first.
North Conway is the busy hub of the Mount Washington Valley, with outlet shopping, restaurants and the Conway Scenic Railroad, which runs from a Victorian station. Jackson, a few miles north, is a small village with a red covered bridge, Jackson Falls and cross-country ski trails. Traffic is heavy in foliage season.
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