The White Mountains of New Hampshire

by Arthur Wooten
White Mountains New Hampshire National Forest

Whether itโ€™s an exhilarating winter day of downhill skiing, a gorgeous spring morning of birdwatching, a warm summer day of hiking, or a stunning afternoon of fall leaf peeping, the White Mountains of New Hampshire has it all.

Arthur Wooten

White Mountains Resources

MOUNTAINS
Loon Mountain (60 Loon Mountain Rd. Lincoln. Tel: 800-229-5666). Summer activities include gondola rides, mountain biking, disc golf, and even yoga! Great skiing and more in winter season. www.loonmtn.com

Mount Washington is he granddaddy of the Presidential range. Rising to a height of 6288.2 feet, it is the tallest peak in the Northeastern United States. www.visitwhitemountains.com

Tuckerman Ravine is a famous ravine tucked into Mount Washington. It is popular for hiking and skiing, but not for the faint of heart. www.summitpost.org

Waterville Valley (1 Ski Area Road Waterville Valley. Tel: 800-468-2553) Exceptional skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing in winter. Warmer months, biking, hiking, summer camps. Plus, award winning accommodations. Seasonal rates range between $ 129 – $199. www.waterville.com

Wildcat Mountain (542 NH-16, Gorham. Tel: 603-466-3326). In summer you can enjoy scenic chairlift rides, zip-lining, hiking trails. and waterfalls. In Winter there is fantastic alpine skiing and snowboarding. www.skiwildcat.com

ATTRACTIONS

Jackson Public Library and Community Church

Jackson Public Library and Community Church
Photo: Tom Caughey

Cog Railroad (3168 Base Station Road, Mount Washington. Tel: 800-922-8825). Hop on for a ride to the summit of Mount Washington from May 1 to December 31, weather permitting. Schedule and ticket information can be found at www.thecog.com

Glen Ellis Falls Jackson. A magnificent 64-foot-high waterfall. Easy hike and area for picnics.

Jackson Honeymoon Covered Bridge (Intersection of N.H. Route 16 and 16A on Village Street, Jackson, NH.) Spans the Ellis River. A Paddleford truss construction, built circa 1876. Lovers kiss under it for good luck. www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p97

Polar Caves (705 Rumney Route 25, Rumney. Tel: 603-536-1888). Granite caves formed during the last ice age are great for exploring. There is also an animal park and nature trails for the whole family to enjoy. www.polarcaves.com/explore

Swift River. A 25.6 mile river that is a tributary of the Saco River and transverses the White Mountain Valley. The river offers hiking, fishing, swimming, covered bridges and waterfalls. www.naturalatlas.com/rivers/swift-997694/fishing-accesses

The Conway Scenic Railroad. 38 Norcross Circle, North Conway Tel: 603-356-5251). Vintage trains operate to Conway, Bartlett and over Crawford Notch. Wonderful way to enjoy fall foliage. www.conwayscenic.com

The Flume Gorge (852 Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln. Tel: 603-271-3556) Enjoy a 2-mile walking loop of the Flume. The 800-foot gorge was created 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Enjoy the waterfalls, covered bridge and an upclose and personal exploration of flora. www.nhstateparks.org/visit/park-sites/flume-gorge

The Wentworth Golf Club (153 Main Street, Jackson. Tel: 603-383-9641). A beautiful 18-hole course with amazing views of the Presidential Range as well as the beautiful Wildcat and Ellis Rivers weaving in and out. www.wentworthgolf.com

Settlers Green Outlet Village (2 Common Ct, North Conway). Scores of boutiques, stores, restaurants as well as public art and an everchanging line up of events and promotions. Plus, no sales tax! www.settlersgreen.com

Seven Birches Winery (Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain 22 South Mountain Drive Lincoln. Tel: 603-745-7550). Local Winery mixing European grape varietals with local fruits to create unique wines. www.sevenbirches.com

Tuckerman Brewing Co. (66 Hobbs Street, Conway. Tel: 603-447-5400). The brewery has a beer garden with live entertainment, which changes nightly. www.tuckermanbrewing.com

INFO AND SERVICES
Birding – All Trails (Tel: 603-536-6100). Great resource for birders with hand-curated trail maps. www.alltrails.com

Birding – Audubon (Tel: 844-428-3826). Reliable maps indicating birding hotspots in New Hampshire. www.audubon.org/news/birdingnew-hampshire

Driving up Mount Washington (Tel: 603-466- 3988). Also info on renting bikes for trails, birding tours, and kayak tours. www.mt-washington.com

Kancamagus Scenic Byway. A breathtakingly beautiful traverse drive following the Swift River. www.northconwaynh.com/kancamagus- highway-nh

The Appalachian Trail is the longest hikingonly footpath in the world, ranging from Maine to Georgia. 89.5 miles of the trail can be found in the White Mountains. An exhilarating if not treacherous hike at times. www.alltrails.com

White Mountains Pride (Tel: 207-200-1396). Your guide to all things โ€œPrideโ€ in the White Mountain Valley area. www.whitemountainspride.com

THE TOWNS
Eaton (Tel: 603-447-2840) Includes villages of Eaton Center and Snowville. Picture postcard pretty, sleepy and beautiful New England town surrounding Crystal Lake. www.eatonnh.org

Jackson (Tel: 603-383-9356). One of several charming villages found in the White Mountains. Chock-full of Inns, restaurants, boutiques and sports for all seasons. www.jacksonnh.com

North Conway (Tel: 800-346-3687) Another White Mountain village, home to several ski resorts and many restaurants, pubs and shops. www.visitwhitemountains.com/town-listing/north-conway

RESTAURANTS, INNS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Eagle Mountain House (179 Carter Notch Road, Jackson. Tel: 800-966-5779). Only one of a handful of the โ€œGrand Resortsโ€ of the 1800s left, Eagle Mountain House is now a member of and listed by the National Registry of Historic Places. It also has a 9-hole golf course. Rooms range between $109 – $199 depending on season. www.eaglemt.com

Inn at Crystal Lake (2356 Eaton Road, Eaton. Tel: 603-447-2120). Partners Chef Bobby Barker and Tim Ostendorf own and operate the Inn. Nestled up and overlooking Crystal Lake, the Inn is very quiet and secluded except for Opera/Musical Theatre Nights. Tim is a classically trained singer and with fellow guest artists they offer concert style productions of Operas and Musicals on designated nights. Room rates vary, $129 – $179. www.innatcrystallake.com

Maxโ€™s Restaurant and Pub at Snow Village Inn (136 Stewart Road, Eaton Center. Tel: 603-447- 2818). The restaurant headed by Josh Burkett has one of the most jaw-dropping views of the white mountains from almost every angle. Room rates depending on season range between $179 – $249. www.snowvillageinn.com

Wildcat Inn and Tavern (Route 16-A Jackson. Tel: 800-228-4245). Both an Inn and a Tavern. The inn offers country classic charm while the dining room serves up an eclectic menu ranging from the classic Maine lobster roll to a braised duck confit. Rooms at the inn range between $79 – $194 depending on season. www.wildcattavern.com

Notchland Inn (2 Morey Road off Route 302, Hartโ€™s Location. Tel: 603- 374-6131). Notchland Inn is owned and operated by partners Ed Butler and Les Schoof. The Inn, as the two declare, is indeed โ€œmagicalโ€ and romantic with wood-burning fireplaces in every room. Wednesday through Sunday a fixed four-course menu is offered at 7 P.M. for guests as well as the general public. Rooms range from $199 – $350. www.notchland.com

The Cranmore Inn (80 Kearsarge Road, North Conway. Tel: 603-356-5502). Married couple Eddie Bennett and Christopher Bellis are the innkeepers at the Cranmore. Along with their children, David and Sherie, they welcome you to the Cranmore. Just steps away from Cranmore Mountain and close to the Conway Scenic Railroad, its central location is ideal no matter what your interests are. Room rates vary by season, $119 – $479. www.cranmoreinn.com

The Garden Stage Dinner Concert (Tel: 800- 228-4245) Wildcat Inn and Tavern. Regular bands entertain Wed-Fri, the other nights, guest artists appear. Every Tuesday is Hoot Night Open Mic hosted by Jonathan Sarty and on Saturdays itโ€™s the Garden Stage with guest artists. Reservations suggested. www.wildcattavern.com/events-calendar

The Wentworth Inn (1 Carter Notch Road, Jackson. Tel: 800-637-0013). The rooms are unpretentiously romantic with a European flare. The restaurant, under the guidance of Chef Brian Gazda, is farm to table and dedicated to using the freshest of local, seasonal ingredients. The room rates vary according to season, $251 – $409. www.thewentworth.com

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