Guide to the White MountainS OF NH/ME

It's impossible to get bored in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire and Maine! Here you will find world-class hiking, over 300 waterfalls, 1,500 miles of trails, some of the finest swimming holes in the country, remarkable ski resorts, dozens of campgrounds, charming small towns, and beautiful scenic drives.

Here is a guide to some of my personal favorite things in the White Mountains, obtained from 15 plus years of visiting (and absolutely loving) this region.

Enjoy!

FAVORITE (RELATIVELY) EASY DAY HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Mt. Willard
Middle & North Sugarloaf
West Rattlesnake
Welch & Dickey
Arethusa Falls
Artist Bluff / Bald Mountain
Pine Mountain
Lonesome Lake
Bridal Veil Falls

FAVORITE MODERATE HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Kearsarge North
Mt. Chocorua (via the Champney Falls Trail)
Mt. Morgan & Mt. Percival
Boulder Loop Trail - take note that a forest fire in November 2016 closed this trail; it is unknown when it will reopen
Mt. Osceola (via Tripoli Road)
North & South Doublehead

FAVORITE HARD HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Mt. Lincoln & Mt. Lafayette loop (the "Franconia Ridge")
Mt. Monroe & Mt. Washington loop
Mt. Adams
The Bonds
The Baldfaces
Mt. Moosilauke

FAVORITE 'DEATH MARCH' HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Bonds Traverse (includes the following mountains: Zealand Mtn > West Bond > Bond > Bondcliff; can also be done in reverse order)
Presidential Traverse (includes the following mountains: Madison > Adams > Jefferson > Washington > Monroe > Eisenhower > Pierce; can also be done in reverse order)
Kinsman Range Traverse (includes the following mountains: South Kinsman, North Kinsman, Cannon Mountain; can also be done in reverse order)
Moriah-Carter Range Traverse (includes the following mountains: Moriah, Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome; can also be done in reverse order)
All eight AMC Huts in under 24 hours

FAVORITE LAKES & PONDS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Lonesome Lake
Mountain Pond
Echo Lake - North Conway (when it's not crowded)
East Pond
Sawyer Pond
Ethan Pond
Greeley Ponds
Star Lake
Lakes of the Clouds
Shoal Pond
Gentian Pond
Flat Mountain Pond
Zeacliff Pond

FAVORITE WATERFALLS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Arethusa Falls
Ripley Falls
Crystal Cascade
The Flume
Sabbaday Falls
Falls on the Falling-Waters Trail
Glen Ellis Falls
Nancy Cascades
Silver Cascade

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Woodstock Station North Woodstock
Common Man, Lincoln
Six Burner Bistro, Plymouth
Common Man, Ashland
Red Parka Pub, Jackson
Red Fox Bar & Grill, Jackson
Moat Mountain Brewery, North Conway
May Kelly's Cottage Restaurant, North Conway
Delaney's Hole in the Wall, North Conway
Flatbread, North Conway
Polly's Pancake Parlor, Sugar Hill

FAVORITE BASE TOWNS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Gorham
Jackson
North Conway
Lincoln
Woodstock

FAVORITE BACKCOUNTRY SKIING IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Black Mountain Ski Trail
Doublehead Ski Trail
backside of Mt. Hale
backside of Wildcat Mountain
Tuckerman Ravine & John Sherboune Ski Trail
other areas on Mt. Washington
Cathedral Ledge Road

FAVORITE BREAKFAST SPOTS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Peachs, North Conway
Sunrise Shack, Bartlett
Yesterdays, Jackson
Polly's Pancake Parlor, Sugar Hill
Red Fox Bar & Grill, Jackson
Flapjack's Pancake House, Lincoln
Sunny Day Diner, Lincoln
Big Dave's Bagels, North Conway

FAVORITE SNOWSHOE HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Mt. Willard
Mt. Tom
Mt. Carrigain
Greeley Ponds
Kearsarge North
Mt. Pierce
Mt. Starr King & Mt. Waumbek
Arethusa Falls

FAVORITE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Mt. Washington Auto Road
Mt. Washington Cog Railway
Storyland
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves
The Flume
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
Santa's Village
Pemi Valley Moose Tours
Ice Castle, Loon Mountain

FAVORITE OFF THE BEATEN PATH ATTRACTIONS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Madison Boulder
Rattlesnake Pool
Waterville Cascades
Rattle River Falls

FAVORITE DRIVES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

NH 112 - The "Kancamagus" Highway from Conway to Lincoln (or in the reverse direction )
US 302 - from Bartlett to Twin Mountain (or in the reverse direction)
Mt. Washington Auto Road
Cathedral Ledge Mountain Road
NH 16 - from Bartlett to Gorham (or in the reverse direction)

FAVORITE SKI RESORTS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Bretton Woods
Wildcat
Attitash
Cranmore
Loon

FAVORITE BACKPACKING TRIPS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Pemi-Loop
Presidential Traverse
Kinsman Range
Moriah-Carter Range
Mahoosuc Notch
Sandwich Range

FAVORITE SWIMMING HOLES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Upper Ammonoosuc Falls
Lower Ammonoosuc Falls
Swiftwater Falls (Bath)
Rattlesnake Pool
Emerald Pool
Lower Falls
Franconia Falls

FAVORITE LOOP HIKES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Welch & Dickey
Franconia Ridge Loop - Mt. Lincoln & Mt. Lafayette
Mt. Jackson & Mt. Pierce
Mt. Monroe & Mt. Washington
The Baldfaces
Morgan & Percival

FAVORITE SNOW-TUBING IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

King Pine/Purity Spring Resort
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Loon Mountain

FAVORITE CAMPGROUNDS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Dry River Campground
Dolly Copp Campground
Hancock Campground

FAVORITE TIME TO VISIT THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

January 15 - March 15th (peak of winter for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, etc.)
May 1 - Memorial Day (spring hiking before the black flies arrive)
July 15th - August 15th (summer swimming, kayaking & canoeing)
August 15th - October 15th (fall hiking)

FAVORITE EVENTS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Tuckerman Inferno
Fryeburg Fair
New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival
Seek The Peak
Attitash Oktoberfest

FAVORITE ADVENTURES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Monkey Trunks Extreme Aerial Adventure
Spring Skiing in Tuckerman's Ravine
Alpine Adventures

FAVORITE THEME PARKS/WATER PARKS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Storyland
Whale's Tale Water Park
Six Gun City
Santa's Village
Clark's Trading Post

FAVORITE CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Bretton Woods
Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Foundation
Jackson XC Ski Touring Foundation
Bear Notch Ski Touring Center
Great Glen Trails
Loon Mountain Adventure Center
Franconia Village X-C Ski Center
Waterville Valley
King Pine

FAVORITE 4000-FOOTERS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Carrigain
Lincoln
Lafayette
Monroe
Washington
Madison
Adams
The Bonds (Bondcliff, Mt. Bond, West Bond)
Garfield

FAVORITE SUMMITS/OUTLOOKS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

West Bond
North Baldface
Mt. Garfield
Mt. Monroe
Mt. Osceola
Mt. Carrigain
Mt. Hight
Bondcliff
Zeacliff
Mt. Clay
Mt. Adams
Mt. Willard
Webster Cliff Trail

FAVORITE RETAIL STORES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Mountain Wanderer, Lincoln (the best guidebook and map store in New England)
Zeb's General Store, North Conway (one of the best general stores in New England)
Handcrafters Barn, North Conway (large select of local crafts)
The Christmas Loft, North Conway (one of the largest christmas-themed gift shops on the planet)

EXPLORE MORE OF NEW ENGLAND!
Connecticut / Maine / Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Rhode Island / Vermont
Home Page / About the Book / Book Updates / Top 40 Waterfalls / Swimming Holes / How To Use This Guide / Contact Us
Waterfall Photography / Top 25 New England Hikes / 4000 Footers of NH / Bigroads.com
© newenglandwaterfalls.com
photographs/images may not be used without permission

Waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking can be extremely dangerous. Hundreds of people have been injured or killed in the waterfalls and swimming holes of New England over the years. Never swim in strong water currents. Don't jump into a swimming hole without scouting it first. Do not climb up or along the side of waterfalls. Be wary of slippery rocks. Never swim in pools above waterfalls. Use of this website and all of its information is at your own risk! Newenglandwaterfalls.com will not be held liable for your actions. Be safe out there - and always use common sense!

As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or come highly recommended by trusted peers.