After telling story about Rome, now this incredible journey through the White Mountains of New Hampshire includes beautiful views, a visit to the home of world record wind speed, and one of the most spectacular train trips in the east. White Mountain National Forest is a 4 hour drive north of Boston, Massachusetts. Deep in New Hampshire, the mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain system that covers the eastern United States. Within the forest park is the way to White Mountains, and is a unit that is possibly the most picturesque 100 miles of New England. Here is a selection of my favorite places on the road – some of them require advance planning and day trips are in themselves.
White Mountain NATIONAL FOREST VISITOR CENTER
Most people start the drive of the White Mountains Visitor Center in North Woodstock on route 112 and head along the route 3N to the Franconia Notch area.
If traveling with children, then you want pencil dates in this area in the Clark’s Trading Post, and attractions of the Whale’s Tale – both on route 3N Lincoln. A Clark can see Bears, ride a steam train, climb towers, and generally keep young people happy. The Whale’s Tale is a water park with wave pool, picnic areas, and live entertainment.
Back on the road north towards Franconia Notch, and soon will see the sign for our first stop – the gorge channel.
The throat of FLUME
The Flume Gorge was formed over 200 million years ago when the White Mountains were molten rock. As the ground cools rapidly here, softer material was forced into the fractures that formed. These fractures wore down with natural erosion much quicker that the surrounding granite rock – leaving the gorge. And so now you can enjoy a geological marvel at the base of beautiful Mount Liberty.
The Gorge has a visitor center where your tour starts and ends, one of the oldest covered bridges in the path of White Mountains and some spectacular photo opportunities.
Continue to head north on Route 3 until it joins Route 302 and follow 302 towards Bretton Woods. Here the mountains get higher and higher until finally see the big daddy of them all – Mount Washington at 6288 feet.
The roof of the White Mountain National Forest …
Depending on time, you have three options to experience Mount Washington: take the rack railway to the summit, the path of the car unit to the summit – the quickest way, or you can walk if you’re well prepared. But I do not consider hiking to the top unless you are in perfect condition and with somebody. According to this mountain of lives every year – even in the summer – as the conditions in this area can deteriorate dramatically within minutes.
And yes, it pays to reach the summit. On a clear day the view is breathtaking. Visit the museum at the top and learn about the day in 1934 when the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was taken – 231 MPH. You’ll learn why its unique geographic position provides the mountain with the worst weather on earth.
Now go to Route 302 south to the town of North Conway.
CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD
At least enough time to take the shortest of the valley scenic train, which collects in North Conway. Trains offer wonderful views of the scenic valleys and notches in the surrounding area.
The valley train is a 55-minute roundtrip, and the Notch train is 5 hours. Both have a first-class car if you want a different experience. The first-class train has a dome car as well, where you get magnificent views of the canyons and sheer cliffs. The trains usually run from mid June to mid-October.
Kancamagus ROAD
We will complete our White Mountains Trail tour reconnect with route 112 at Conway and driving back to the White Mountain National Forest Visitor Center.
Route 112, or better known as the Kancamagus Highway, is the only road that goes directly to the east and west through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. This is a dramatic way that shows the magnificence of one of the best in New Hampshire wanted to tourist sites. In this way its wildlife and landscapes are the highest peaks in the presidential range.
During the summer and fall foliage is very likely that many companies in your reader. But if the weather is clear who cares if things are a bit slow – this unit is not to give a tip anyway. But it is a great end of our 100-mile scenic drive.
