Western White Mountain Chamber

Basecamp of the White Mountains in New Hampshire

Loon Mountain

Get Your Thrills On in the White Mountains

Are you an adrenaline junkie or fueled by awesome adventures? The Western White Mountains is the perfect destination to experience year-round adventurous activities. From skiing and dog sledding in the winter to downhill mountain biking and rock climbing in the summer, you’ll experience all sorts of thrills that will leave you coming back for more. Choose from a variety of day tours or weeklong adventures to fill your next vacation itinerary.

 

alpine adventures zipline nh

Ziplining (and more!)

A fixture on Main Street Lincoln, Alpine Adventures provides year-round fun for people of all ages. The Thrillsville Challenge Course is a self-guided ropes course designed with bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders, a treehouse, and much more! It’s fun for all ages and a great add-on to the other adrenaline-filled activities that Alpine Adventures has to offer on their private mountain. Alpine Adventures is most known for its zipline courses and unlike other places in the White Mountains, Alpine has two different zipline tours with varying degrees of length and speed. If high flying fun isn’t quite your speed, the Off-Road Adventure Tour in the Pinzgauers is an exciting way to explore Barron Mountain. And don’t miss the new Side x Side off-road tour where you can explore Barron Mountain in your own Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000s. There are very few places in the world you can ride in a 6×6 Swiss Army Pinzgauer, Zipline across a 1500’ ravine 240’ above the ground at speeds up to 60 MPH, ride down a four-story ramp in a snow tube onto a BigAirBag Stuntzone, and challenge yourself at an aerial course.

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Downhill Mountain Biking

Loon’s Bike Park is a network of over 7.2 miles of terrain located at Loon Mountain Resort. A work in progress, the mountain plans to offer over 25 miles of downhill and cross-country biking trails once completed. Whether you’re new to the sport or an old pro, this is a bike destination for all riders to enjoy. No gear? No problem! Loon rents equipment and also offers beginner lessons to help you get started.

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Rock Climbing

Climb to new heights with North County Climbing Center, the only indoor climbing gym in the White Mountains. North County Climbing Center, also known as N3C by the locals, offers both indoor and outdoor ice and rock-climbing experiences for all ages and abilities. The indoor gym has a variety of routes ranging in difficulty, style, and terrain making it the perfect fair-weather day activity or just to try something new. Never climbed before? No problem! Try the Learn to Bely Package to gain knowledge on all the basics. For those who want to transition their skills from the indoor gym to the crags, you can book a private guide or join their crag days.

team oneil rally school nh

Rally School

Live out your Fast and the Furious dreams with Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton. Founded in 1997, Team O’Neil is an off-road driving school offering courses in rally driving, winter driving, and off-road driving for people looking for a unique experience. The facility has 583 acres with a road course consisting of corners, blind crests, and other features that you’d only see in the movies. Each course lasts approximately one to five days depending on the course and what you hope to learn. As your lessons conclude, you’ll get to take one of the specially designed cars out on the course to test your new knowledge and experience the thrill of a lifetime!

cannon mountain

Skiing and Riding

Home to Olympic gold medalist, Bode Miller, Cannon Mountain is New Hampshire’s highest ski area standing at 4,080 feet. With 97 trails and glades and the longest vertical drop in the state, Cannon Mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders from around New England and beyond every winter. Cannon has three terrain parks where you can progressively work on your big air tricks to wow the crowds of onlookers or just your friends on Instagram. Make sure you hashtag Cannon Mountain! Cannon Mountain is located within Franconia Notch State Park and during the warmer months, it’s a great place to hike.

Known as one of New England’s best ski mountains, Loon Mountain is a favorite among families for its skiing and resort amenities. The mountain offers 61 trails and glades of varying difficulties and from atop the 3,050-foot summit, you have panoramic views of the White Mountains. While the resort is geared more towards beginner and immediate trails, Loon Mountain has quite a few black diamond trails that will get your heart pumping. Angel Street is one of the most notorious black diamond trails offering devilish pitches that pass underneath the Gondola. There’s great tree skiing on North Peak with Walking Boss Woods and Bucksaw. For those with goals of competing in the X Games or just like to show off their tricks, Loon has six different terrain parks and the only superpipe in New Hampshire.

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Dog Sledding

Experience the thrill of being pulled by a team of dogs through the woods and fields of the White Mountains. Muddy Paws Dog Sledding provides year-round dog sledding fun for all ages. During the winter months, Muddy Paws offers several tour options. The 1.5 Hour Tour is the most popular where you have the opportunity to meet the sled dogs and then embark on a five-mile ride. During the summer and fall months, Muddy Paws offers snowless tours where you ride in a wheeled cart, so no matter what time of year you visit the White Mountains, you can give lots of belly rubs to the hardworking sled dogs.

History of Lincoln and North Woodstock

A lot of tourists and a few locals commonly think that Lincoln, New Hampshire is named after President Abraham Lincoln, but the town dates back almost 100 years before he became the 16th President of the United States. The town dates back to 1764 when Benning Wentworth, the Royal Governor of The Province of New Hampshire, granted 32,456 acres to a group of 70 investors from Connecticut on behalf of King George III. The town was named after Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, the 2nd Duke of Newcastle, 9th Earl of Lincoln, who was Wentworth’s cousin.

history of lincoln woodstock nh

The Beginning

In 1782, Lincoln finally became a town when Nathan Kinsman and a few other people moved to the area to establish the town. It’s important to note that New Hampshire was home to indigenous people long before European settlers even landed on Plymouth Rock. The Abenaki populated much of New Hampshire, including the White Mountains.

During the 19th century, Lincoln was primarily a tourist destination for the wealthy city-dwellers who wanted to escape the hot city summers for some fresh mountain air. Stephen Russell opened the first hotel just below the Flume in 1808. The new railroad built in 1882 brought thousands of  tourists and several hotels to the area, but it wasn’t until James E. Henry came to Lincoln in 1892 that the town would see real growth.

history of lincoln woodstock nh

The Logging Empire of JE Henry

In 1892, JE Henry, who built the town of Zealand, purchase several thousand acres of virgin timber and moved his logging operations to Lincoln. At the beginning of the 20th century, Henry built and owned almost the whole town – the mill, school, company store, hospital, jail, boarding house, hotel, and most of the houses. He also built the East Branch and Lincoln Railroad, which became the largest logging railroad in New England spanning 72 miles. Construction of the railroad began in 1894 and was built over several years. The last train to run on the rails was in 1948, outliving all the other logging railroads in the region.

For several decades, JE Henry grew his small logging operation into a massive empire of lumbar and paper attracting more and more workers and their families every year and putting Lincoln on the map. JE Henry died in 1912 and his three sons who worked alongside him sold the company and most of the town in 1917 to the Parker Young Company for $3 million (or approximately $64 million in 2021 money).

The Rise of Modern Tourism

The paper mill ran until it was shut down in 1981. Today, much of the local economy is focused on tourism and outdoor recreation. Sharman Adams, who was born and raised in Lincoln, served as a Congressman, two-time New Hampshire governor, and chief of staff to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s. Upon his return to his hometown in 1958, he realized the town was struggling and needed a new industry besides the ailing papermill.

A profile outdoorsman, Adams decided to snowshoe up Loon Mountain one day and discovered the mountain would make the perfect ski resort. Construction of Loon Mountain began in the spring of 1966 and opened for the first skiers on December 27, 1966. Five hundred people showed up on opening day to enjoy the 12 trails, two lifts, and one toilet. Over the decades, Loon Mountain has grown into the modern-day ski resort that you know and love. The popularity of Loon Mountain and the White Mountain National Forest has since attracted lots of hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, and shops.

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The Growth of Neighboring Woodstock

The small neighboring town of Woodstock, New Hampshire has a similar story to Lincoln. Royal Governor Benning Wentworth established the town in 1763 with the name of Fairfield. In the 1790s a group of people from Southern New Hampshire purchased the land rights from the original grantees and divided the land in 231 100-acre lots. The town became known as Peeling.

Farming was not super successful in the town due to its granite mountainous terrain. Logging and tannery became the primary industries in the town, along with maple syrup production. Similar to much of the region, tourism was also popular in the mid-19th century. The town officially became Woodstock in 1840.

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At the time of the name change, there were four sawmills and logging began to grow fast. Logs cut in the region were floated down the Pemigewasset River into the Merrimack and finally to the sawmills in Lowell, Massachusetts. Hardwoods logged in the region were used to make bobbins for the textile mills in Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

The government began purchasing large land tracts to form the White Mountain National Forest in 1911. Logging stopped in 1915 when the Woodstock Lumber Company went defunct after a huge mill fire in 1913.

For more information and an abundance of old photos about Lincoln and the surrounding area, visit the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society website.

Biking in the Western White Mountains

The Western White Mountains is an incredible hub for cycling with miles of mountain biking trails weaving throughout the forest, a paved recreational path with stunning views of the mountains, and brag-worthy road cycling routes. Plus, each year we host White Mountain Bicycle Week! Celebrate New Hampshire’s other bike week with the communities of Lincoln, Woodstock and Franconia Notch as we pedal through the great outdoors to support regional non-profits. So, what are you waiting for? Pump up your tires, fill up your water bottle, and hit the trails or road for some two-wheeled fun!

Mountain Biking

Catch a ride on the Northeast’s most technological advanced lift, the Kancamagus 8, and get ready to hit the trails at Loon! Opened in 2019, the new purpose-built downhill mountain biking trails at Loon Mountain are epic! Designed and built by the people who built Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield, New Hampshire, the Loon Mountain Bike Park offers a huge variety of freeride, technical, and cross country trails over 9 miles for every level of riders. Learn more about Mountain Biking at Loon.

For the more experienced rider, day passes are available online. If you’ve never been downhill mountain biking then the Your Turn lesson, rental, and ticket package might be just for you. The Whistle Stop Bike Center at Loon Mountain offers downhill, cross-country mountain bike, and e-bike rentals for whatever trails you choose.

If you’re looking to get off the beaten path in the White Mountains, hit the six miles of cross-country trails through the forest of lower Black Mountain along the banks of the Pemigewasset River. The East Ridge Trails are open to the public and can be accessed near the Whistle Stop Bike Center. Drive north on I-93 and check out Franconia Area Nemba and Profile Trails. where the terrain is more rocky and technical. Stay at the Franconia Inn and you have direct access to the trails for fat biking and mountain biking year round. Just a bit further north in Littleton is PRKR MTN Trails offering 22 miles of hand-built mountain biking trails for all abilities. And just a little bit further over the border in Vermont is Kingdom Trails. If you’re looking for a mountain biking mecca then you have come to the right place!

Road Cycling

While the mountain biking trails in the Western White Mountains are incredible, we can’t forget about road cycling. If you love to climb, then we have you covered! Cyclists from all over New England come to Lincoln every year to compete to earn bragging rights by riding all 34 miles of the Kancamagus Highway. If you have ever driven the “Kanc” then you know it’s one tough ride, but at least it’s beautiful! From the Conway side, the first 16 miles are relatively easy with a slight grade, but after that, you’ll start climbing towards the sky. The last stretch to the top of the Kancamagus Pass is about a 7% grade and then it’s downhill all the way to Lincoln.

For the overachievers or just the cycling fanatic, the Tour de Notches is one of the legendary New England rides for road cyclists. Start from Main Street in Lincoln and climb north through Franconia Notch on Route 3. In Twin Peaks, take a right on to Route 302 where you’ll ride past the beautiful Mount Washington Hotel and Bretton Woods through Crawford Notch. In Bartlett, take another right on to Bear Notch Road where you’ll climb for five miles to the Kancamagus Highways. By the time you’re done, you rode 77.3 miles and climbed over 5,300 feet in elevation. Make sure you rehydrate with a cool beverage at one of the many breweries or wineries in the Western White Mountains!

Paved Bike Paths

If you have young kids or just prefer a more leisurely ride on a paved path, the Lincoln/Woodstock area is home to a few paths. The Franconia Notch Recreation Path runs 8.7 miles through Franconia Notch State Park and passes some of the park’s most famous attractions. While there is a little bit of climbing on the path, it is relatively easy for any age and riding ability. The Lincoln Loop from Loon Mountain to downtown Lincoln is another great paved, family-friendly loop for all ages. The two-mile path follows along the Pemigewasset River.

Fat Biking

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When the snow starts to fly, you don’t have to put your bike away or ride the dreaded trainer in your basement! Fat biking has become very popular in the White Mountains in recent years thanks to groomed trails and local bike shops carrying these bikes that are outfitted with super-wide tires. Both Profile Trails in Franconia and PRKR MTN in Littleton groom miles of trails and many of the local trails. Just like the Lincoln Woods Trail which are great for fat biking.

Hit the Trails or Road This Year

Life is better on two wheels with the wind in your hair (under your helmet of course!). Whether you are a complete newbie or an experienced cyclist, the Western White Mountains offers something for everyone when it comes to biking. We hope to see you on the trails or roads soon!

The Western White Mountains Winter Resource Guide

Winter is right around the corner in the Western White Mountains. The temperatures have dropped, and the local ski resorts have started to make snow. The New Year will be here before you know it, and this winter will be like no other.

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Plan Ahead

The keys to having a great travel experience (regardless of whether it’s taking place during a pandemic or not), are to find out what you need to know before you go, be respectful of local communities, businesses, and environments, and be prepared to follow guidance that is designed to keep you and the local residents safe. Planning ahead and pre-booking your accommodations, activities, and restaurant reservations are even more important now while many businesses’ capacity is limited due to the pandemic.

Both Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain have implemented special mountain operations to help keep everyone safe this ski season. If you have an Ikon Pass for Loon Mountain, you must make a reservation online at IkonPass.com. You must purchase your ticket online for daily lift tickets and pick up at a contactless pickup box at the mountain. Lift tickets will be limited, so plan ahead for your desired dates! Cannon Mountain does not plan to require season pass holders to make reservations at this time, but that could change in the future. Limited daily lift tickets will be sold online only.

Other popular winter attractions such as the Ice Castle and Alpine Adventures are open for business with advance reservations. Pick your date and time, book your tickets online, and have tons of fun. Many hotels and resorts have limited capacity due to current state guidelines, so it’s important to book ahead of time, especially during peak weeks, such as the Christmas holidays and school vacation weeks. Hotels have heavily invested in sanitation and cleaning procedures to ensure everyone’s safety.

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While You’re Here

Local businesses have worked hard to make your visit as easy, safe, and fun as in previous years. All businesses in the Western White Mountains, including the ski resorts, require face coverings to be worn at all times. Both Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain will offer limited access to their lodges. You’ll be required to boot up at your vehicles. Lift lines will likely be longer due to social distancing, but with a little patience, you’ll get to the top in no time. Ski school is still in session this winter! With limited capacity and smaller classes, though, you’ll want to book in advance to ensure your spot.

All your favorite restaurants are open and ready to serve up your favorite dishes. Indoor seating is limited, so it is best to call ahead, and many restaurants are now offering take-out menus, so you grab and go.

If you’ve been coming to the Western White Mountains for a while now, then you know what the weather can be like during the winter months. It is important to dress in layers and be prepared for the worst. For winter layers and winter accessories, like hats, gloves, and face coverings, stop by Rodger’s Ski & Sport, Village Ski & Snowboard, and Burgeon Outdoor.

If you’re looking to escape for socially distanced winter fun, then you have come to the right place! The Western White Mountains offers an abundance of opportunities to escape the crowds. With hundreds of miles of hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing trails, you could spend all day without seeing another person. Granite Backcountry Alliance has tons of great information about the best backcountry ski areas in the White Mountains. For winter hiking trails and tips, visit the Appalachian Mountain Club or AllTrails. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll have fun in the Western White Mountains!

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Book Your Next Winter Visit to the Western White Mountains

The Western White Mountains are ready to host all your winter fun. Just plan ahead and you’ll be sure to have a wonderful time.

Loon Mountain Resort: Family-Friendly Fun Without the Snow

Loon Mountain Resort: Family-Friendly Fun Without the Snow

Frequently named as one of the best ski resorts in the East, Loon Mountain Resort is home to over 370 skiable acres in the Western White Mountains. During the snowy winter months, thousands of people visit the family-friendly ski resort to learn to ski, to nail a backflip in the terrain park, or earn first tracks on a fresh powder day. But, did you know that Loon Mountain is a four-season resort?

When the last snow pile melts, Loon transforms into a whole different world. The perfectly groomed snow-covered trails turn into grassy and rocky mountain bike trails. Families from all over the world come and enjoy the high-flying fun on the Aerial Forest Adventure Park and zipline across the Pemigewasset River. There is tons of stuff to do all year long at Loon Mountain!

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Mountain Biking

Loon Mountain Resort has committed to becoming New England’s premier all-season mountain destination with its Flight Path: 2030 plan.

Catch a ride on the Northeast’s most technological advanced lift, the Kancamagus 8, and get ready to hit the trails at Loon! Opened in 2019, the new purpose-built downhill mountain biking trails at Loon Mountain are epic! Designed and built by the people who built Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield, New Hampshire, the Loon Mountain Bike Park offers a huge variety of freeride, technical, and cross country trails over 9 miles for every level of riders.

downhill mountain biking

Have you never tried downhill before? No worries! Loon offers lessons for beginners and has plenty of rental bikes. Lessons with professional instructors will walk you through the anatomy of a downhill mountain bike, body position, and how to ride the trails and brake effectively. If downhill mountain biking is not your style, Loon is also home to six miles of cross-country mountain bike trails. The trail network of various difficulties follows along the scenic Pemigewasset River and wind through the forest along the shoulder of Black Mountain.

Loon has a full-service bike rental shop with an extensive fleet of bikes for the whole family. The shop has a variety of Giant and Rocky Mountain downhill mountain bikes along with cross-country (hardtail) mountain bikes in various sizes, including women-specific bikes. Hybrid and kids’ bikes are also available for rental to ride around town and the Franconia Notch Recreation Path. All rentals include a helmet and body pads.

Disc Golf

Loon Peak Disc Golf

Located in the White Mountain National Forest, Loon’s alpine-style Loon Peak Disc Golf Course offers incredible views of the mountains with a mountainside course. Take a scenic ride up the Gondola Skyride to the first hole at the top of the mountain. Open to both beginner and advanced players, the 18-hole disc golf course continues downhill to the base lodge. Enjoy the panoramic views of Loon Peak summit while playing a fun family-friendly game of disc golf!

Hiking for the Best Views

Experience the natural beauty of Loon Mountain from the summit. Who needs a chairlift when you can break a sweat hiking up the snowless ski trails to the summit? The gondola can do the heavy uphill work for you too! Incredible panoramic views are not the only thing the 3,064-foot summit has the offer. The Glacial Caves will sure to be a big hit for the whole family. Thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age, Mother Nature deposited a huge jumble of boulders at the summit. Explore the maze of giant rocks and enjoy the views.

Loon Mountain is also home to three miles of well-marked hiking trails. The scenic Brookway Trail is the perfect hiking trail for less experienced hikers. Enjoy the lovely views of Boyle Brook has you hike your way to the Bear Claw Trail junction where you can continue your journey on to the summit. And just as the name implies, the Sunset Loop Trail that leads to the summit of North Peak is a great place to catch the sunset over the western White Mountains.

Four Seasons of Fun at Loon

Loon Mountain Resort is committed to becoming one of Northern New England’s Premier four-season resorts. This summer, spend a weekend or week in the Western White Mountains and enjoy the many activities at Loon for the whole family.

Loon Mountain Ministry: Bringing God Outdoors

Marcus Corey grew up on the small ski slopes of Titcomb Mountain in Farmington, Maine. As the son of a part-time pastor, he found God through his love of the outdoors. Fast forward a few years, Marcus and his new wife moved to Jackman, Maine where he was the retreat director at Moose River Outpost, a Christian summer camp on Heald Pond. During the winter months, Marcus and his family enjoyed skiing at nearby Sugarloaf Mountain where he became good friends with the Chaplain.

Winter is Coming!

The leaves have all fallen off the trees after a beautiful showing from Mother Nature and the temperatures are starting to fall. This is a sure sign Winter is Coming!

Cannon Mountain and Loon Mountain both fired up the snow guns to start creating winter with goals to open in the next couple weeks. It’s time to get your skis and board out of storage! Stay tuned for opening dates!

Now is the time to purchase your passes and lift tickets for the ski season if you haven’t already secured your passes! Cannon Mountain has multiple passes for you and your budget, including 10 packs and special value days throughout the season.  Loon Mountain offers a variety of passes and options to purchase lift tickets in advanced on their website. Are you in Boston area or heading to Boston for the long weekend? Check out the Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo at the World Trade Center Thursday, November 9th through Sunday, November 12th! You’ll find great deals on gear & lift tickets, and many different contests throughout the show. Ski area representatives from Cannon Mountain and Loon Mountain will be on site to answer questions you have about the upcoming season and give you the latest on projected opening dates. Need another incentive to visit the show? Click here for $3 off your admission!

This time of year is also the time to make some family memories with Christmas Tree Weekend Packages. These packages are offered a wide variety of lodging members in the Western White Mountains Region and usually include an overnight stay for your family and a visit to The Rock’s Estate to select and cut down your own Christmas Tree! Some packages also include dining and special gifts, please contact the lodging property with questions and to book your package. These packages are wildly popular, be sure to book early!

Woodstock Inn– North Woodstock, NH
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Woodwards Resort & Inn– Lincoln, NH
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The Kancamagus Lodge– Lincoln, NH
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The Lodge at Lincoln Station– Lincoln, NH
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Riverbank Motel & Cabins– Lincoln, NH
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The Indian Head Resort– Lincoln, NH
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Parker’s Motel– Lincoln, NH
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Rivergreen Resort– Lincoln, NH
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EconoLodge Inn & Suites– Lincoln, NH
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Bear Mountain Lodge– Bethlehem, NH
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Inn at Sunset Hill– Sugar Hill, NH
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We’ll be updating this list as we hear from more lodging properties!